Horse Power: Blackjack Magic is just the trick in the Coral Trophy at Kempton

BLACKJACK MAGIC can win the Coral Trophy Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (3.37pm) at Kempton Park on Saturday afternoon. While at Newcastle CHRISTOPHER WOOD can land the marathon Betting.Bet Eider Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2.08pm).

Following the release of the weights for the 2024 Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse earlier this week at the traditional lunch at St George’s Hall in Liverpool city centre, several of the leading candidates for glory in the world’s greatest steeplechase will be having their prep runs starting from this weekend. Strangely none of those lining up in the Coral Trophy are doubly engaged in the Grand National, while Tommie Beau is the only one in the Eider also entered at Aintree and at 82nd on the list he will almost certainly not make the cut for the big day on April 13. But both races could conceivably be won by future National hopefuls.

Full list of weights and entries for the 2024 Grand National

Anthony Honeyball’s Blackjack Magic – whatever the future holds in staying handicaps – can at least land the feature at Kempton. He may be a nine-year-old but the gelded son of Black Sam Bellamy remains fairly unexposed over fences and should still be improving. He has had seven starts over the bigger obstacles, winning three times. The latest – and probably the most impressive – was in the extended 3m1f Badger Beer Handicap Chase at Wincanton back in November. He beat Threeunderthrufive – a winner at Ascot last week and a Grand National contender – as well as star veteran Frodon to triumph then. That form seems rock solid and although he has only been fourth and fifth on his two most recent starts at Ascot and Sandown, he looks to have been targeted at this top handicap.

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