HOOF IT will warm up for All-Weather Championship Finals Day by aiming to scoop a £19,000 handicap at Kempton today (Saturday).

The Mick Easterby-trained seven-year-old goes for the Grand National 6 Places At BetVictor.com Handicap over six furlongs at 3.30pm.

Third in the Group 1 Haydock Park Sprint Cup last year, Hoof It, bred by Pocklington tyre boss Reg Bond, will use the race as preparation for the overall final at Lingfield on Good Friday.

The Sheriff Hutton gelding, who hasn't won in more than two-and-a-half years, has had two starts in the championships, finishing fifth to Tarooq under top-weight in a lucrative six-furlong handicap at Lingfield Park in December before staying-on strongly to take third behind the same rival in the Listed Cleves Stakes over the same course and distance on February 22.

David Easterby, assistant to his father, said: "We have been very happy with Hoof It since his run at Lingfield and we can't wait to get him out again.

"He nearly got up last time but hopefully he won't be coming with such a late run and I think the track at Kempton will give him more opportunity to show how good he is.

"You can't give the jockey too many orders because it's all about getting him in and out of the stalls.

"We will get that out of the way and let him run from there. This will be his third run on the All-Weather and the plan after this would be to go to Lingfield on Good Friday."

Hoof, who is owned by top golfer Lee Westwood and his manager Chubby Chandler, will be ridden by Freddie Tylicki for the first time and is set to face 11 rivals.