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Blade Sharp For Ayr

Kilbeggan Blade will be targeted at the Coral Scottish Grand National on April 19 as connections look to plunder a second decent staying prize this season.

The nine-year-old sluiced home at Sandown in December and was running a sound race at the Cheltenham Festival until a costly error effectively ended his chances.

Kilbeggan Blade currently sits just out of the handicap on 9st 8lb, with Welsh National runner-up Halcon Genelardais topping the weights on 11st 12lb.

Trainer Tom George said of the former: "He´s in the Scottish National and that´s what we´re aiming him for.

"He came back from Cheltenham fine and I think he was very unlucky at the Festival. He was running a very big race in the cross-country and he was loving it.

"But he just jumped on to the bank too well and left his legs behind. It was very unfortunate as he couldn´t have been going better at that stage.

"We´ll just hope it keeps on raining before the Scottish National now."

Cloudy Lane, ante-post favourite for the John Smith´s Grand National on Saturday week, also holds an entry in the Scottish equivalent.

He currently sits on 11st 4lb in the Ayr race, while Royal & SunAlliance winner Albertas Run is on 10st 12lb.

That duo could form part of a very strong challenge for owner Trevor Hemmings, whose Old Benny, himself a Cheltenham Festival winner, currently has 9st 12lb.

(C) PA Sport