THERE could be a couple of Grand National pointers in today’s Grand National Trial at Haydock, with Blaklion and Vieux Lion Rouge high in the betting for both events. Interestingly, winners of the Haydock race have a really poor record in the Aintree showpiece, but Neptune Collonges was beaten a neck in the Haydock race by Giles Cross in 2012 before going on to win the Grand National under the steadier of 11st 6lb.

Both market leaders are players in today’s race. Blaklion hasn’t won yet in three attempts this season, but he ran well for a long way in the Hennessy, when he travelled as well as any of his rivals into the home straight. Next time in the Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby over Christmas, he seemed to get out-paced when they quickened in front on goodish ground over three miles.

A handicap rating of 152 is relatively low for an RSA Chase winner, and there is a chance that the step up to three and a half miles today will bring about the requisite improvement. He has a real chance, he is the correct favourite, but odds of 7/2 and 4/1 are short enough now.

Vieux Lion Rouge also has a real chance, but you have to think that Aintree is his target, that this is just a stepping stone. He ran a cracker in the National last year as a seven-year-old. He was only seventh in the end, but he was right there with the leading group and travelling well when they joined the racecourse proper again with two fences to jump. His youth probably told from there, which was not surprising given that the last seven-year-old to win the National was Bogskar in 1940.

David Pipe’s horse battled on really well to win the Becher Chase last time off a mark of 142. He is not harshly-handicapped today on a mark of 146.

However, it is interesting that his trainer said during the week that he would have a run somewhere before the National. This is his run, obviously, but it is unlikely that this race has been his target. Vieux Lion Rouge did win a good handicap chase last season at Haydock but, such is his affinity with Aintree and with the big fences, it might be a better idea to back him for the Grand National now than for today’s race.

PROGRESSIVE NOVICE

By contrast, Vintage Clouds could be worth backing for today’s race at 8/1. Sue Smith’s horse does not win very often, he won just once over hurdles, he has never won over fences, and he has finished second in each of his last six completed runs. However, he was a progressive novice hurdler last season, and he has resumed that progression this term over fences.

Second to the talented mare Briery Belle on his chasing bow at Carlisle in November, he stepped up on that to finish second, beaten 10 lengths by the exciting Politologue. Paul Nicholls’ horse has obviously enhanced that form since, he is now rated 152, so Vintage Clouds’ mark of 136 today looks reasonable.

Second to Delusionofgrandeur stepped up to three miles at Carlisle next time, he was running a big race behind Bristol De Mai in the Peter Marsh Chase last time when he came down at the third last fence. He was a tired horse when he fell but, the only novice in the race, he had raced aggressively and prominently from flag-fall.

Also, he was racing from 6lb out of the handicap that day. He is effectively 6lb better off today.

He is interesting, stepping up to three and a half miles. He is only seven and he has raced just four times over fences, so he still retains lots of scope for progression as a staying chaser.

The fact that the ground will not be bottomless is in his favour, he has the excellent Brian Hughes for company and Sue Smith’s horses continue to be in top form. She loves to have winners at Haydock.

Vintage Clouds goes well at Haydock, his record there reads 12222F, and he could go well again today.

THE ONE TO BEAT

Cue Card is obviously the horse that they all have to beat in the Ascot Chase. Colin Tizzard’s horse is one of the best staying chasers that we have seen in years, and he is officially 9lb superior to his highest-rated rival.

That said, he is 11 years old now, and he is not invincible. He has underperformed in two of his three runs this term, and we haven’t seen him since he ran below himself in the King George, despite the fact that he finished second.

It is probable that this is a stepping stone to Cheltenham again, that this run is set to bring him forward with another tilt at the Gold Cup his ultimate aim. Also, he is back down to two miles and five furlongs. He hasn’t run over a trip as sharp as this since he was beaten by Don Cossack in the Melling Chase in 2015. He was only nine then, a mere whipper-snapper.

Traffic Fluide is a really exciting horse, but this is his second run back after a long break, just a week after he ran in the Game Spirit Chase last Saturday. He is highly talented, but it is a big ask.

Royal Regatta loves Ascot but Taquin Du Seuil is classier, and Jonjo O’Neill’s horse could offer some value against the warm favourite at 8/1. He could finish only fifth in the Lexus Chase the last time we saw him, but that was on ground that was faster than ideal for him and over a distance that was further than ideal.

The Voix Du Nord gelding is probably at his best over a stiff two and a half miles and on soft ground, so he should have conditions that are close to optimum today. He is 10 years old, he is only a year younger than Cue Card, but he proved that he retained all his ability when he won the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November, over two and a half miles on soft ground.

That was just a handicap, but he carried 11st 11lb and, in beating Village Vic by a neck, he put up one of the best performances of his career.

He will have to be at his best to beat Cue Card, even a below-par Cue Card, and we haven’t seen him since December, but he goes well fresh, and he has won on his last run before Cheltenham in three of the last four seasons.

RECOMMENDED

VINTAGE CLOUDS, 1 point win, 8/1 (generally)

TAQUIN DU SEUIL, 1 point each-way, 8/1 (generally)