Killeshin can gain some compensation

KILLESHIN, deemed not good enough to run in the Martell Grand National, can gain a good measure of compensation by winning the Marstons Pedigree Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter today.

To qualify for Aintree a horse has to be rated 120, which the John Manners trained 10 year old was not when the weights for the race were unveiled at the beginning of February.

However, he has since made it through the qualification barrier and would be a leading fancy for Liverpool had he been able to run. The black gelding took time to find his feet this season but now finds himself on the threshold of a hat trick after victories at Taunton and in the Tote Eider Chase at Newcastle.

He produced a convincing performance to get off the mark for the season at Taunton in January, going to the front six fences from home and driven out to beat Vicompt de Valmont by three lengths.

He was competing from 9lb out of the handicap in the Eider Chase last month but confirmed himself a chaser very much on the upgrade with another success. Held up during the early stages, he was asked to improve his position at the 15th of the 24 fences.

Having stayed on under pressure from Sean Curran, he took up the running approaching the final obstacle and had soon settled matters, coming home five lengths to the good of Mick Easterby's Silver Stick. The four miles and one furlong of the Eider was clearly ideal for him and this stamina glutton won't be found wanting over another 220 yards.

Manners, one of racing's more eccentric personalities, has proved he can train winners given the right tools, and Killeshin is taken to make it three from his last three.

General Rusty, off the course since winning the Charisma Gold Cup at Kempton in October, is taken to make a successful return to the fray in the Dermot Dunleavy Novices' Handicap Chase.

The Charlie Mann trained grey has been victorious on his last three starts, and there was much to like about the way he beat Bas de Laine by nine lengths at Kempton, eased on the run in once the prize was in safe keeping.

He has been given a rest by his trainer, who considers him very much a fast ground horse, and a reproduction of his final run would see him pick up where he left off.