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Ante-post favourite Blaklion bids to boost his Aintree prospects when he lines-up for the Betfred Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

Last season's RSA Chase hero, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, has yet to win this season but has run creditably in three notable races in the calendar - the Charlie Hall Chase, the Hennessy and the Rowland Meyrick.

The eight-year-old is set to face 13 rivals in this stamina test over an extended three and a half miles.

They include Goodtoknow who returned to form with victory at Hereford at the beginning of the month.

He bids to give trainer Kerry Lee back-to-back victories in this race after Bishops Road 12 months ago.

Philip Hobbs' Kruzhlinin won the valuable 'Fixed Brush' handicap hurdle at Haydock in November and was second to Our Kaempfer over fences at Kempton last month.

Among others in the mix are David Pipe's Becher Chase scorer Vieux Lion Rouge, Ian Williams' Gas Line Boy and Sue Smith's Wakanda and Vintage Clouds.