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Crabbie's Grand National: Balthazar King heads Philip Hobbs quartet

Balthazar King, ridden by Richard Johnson, jumps the last on the way to victory in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase.
Image: Balthazar King: Worked well on Tuesday

Philip Hobbs could launch a four-pronged attack on the Crabbie's Grand National on April 11, with last year's runner-up Balthazar King heading the Minehead team.

The 11-year-old was second to Pineau De Re at Aintree last year on the back of success at the Cheltenham Festival in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, but he missed that meeting this year in a bid to turn up at Liverpool in prime condition.

Hobbs, speaking to Racing UK following the victory of Free Of Charge at Exeter, said of his main Grand National hopeful: "He’s very well, he worked well on the grass this morning.

"It was blowing a gale but he worked well so that was good. He’s in very good nick.

"The thinking behind that [missing the Cheltenham Festival] was that if you look through his form he’s better when he’s fresh, and the other thing is he tries so hard.

"His form overall suggests he’s better after a long break, so, off a high handicap mark, he was probably going to get beat at the Cheltenham Festival this year so I didn’t see any point in running him.

"He’s been phenomenal, he’s won seven races at Cheltenham, apparently there was a horse years and years ago that won eight round there, but he’s been fantastic and it would be phenomenal if he could do the job."

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Balthazar King could be joined in the National by last year's sixth and former Becher Chase winner, Chance Du Roy, while Gas Line Boy and Duke Of Lucca might also line up, if the latter gets in the race.

Hobbs did, however, warn that Chance Du Roy would need some rain to produce his best form.

"Chance Du Roy wants softer ground and if it was soft it would help him," Hobbs said.

"He finished sixth last year and ran very well, he’s in very good form.

"Gas Line Boy wouldn’t be the most obvious because his jumping isn’t the most regular. Hopefully he’ll get it together and he stays very well so he’ll run.

"Duke Of Lucca might run as well if he gets in, if the ground’s good, he wouldn’t run on soft ground.

"He wasn’t beaten that far in the Cross Country race [at the Cheltenham Festival]. He got a bit interfered with at the Canal Turn fence which didn’t help him as he does need things to go well, maybe it wasn’t a great run but it wasn’t far below par either.

"He won there [at Aintree] last year on National day over the Mildmay fences. He might not want the rough and tumble of the National but if he gets in and the ground is good he’ll run."

Balthazar King is 11/1 with Sky Bet for the Crabbie's Grand National and they are already offering five places on each-way bets (plus Non Runner No Bet).

New Sky Bet customers: Free matched bet up to £50!

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