King Fontaine, one of North Yorkshire’s chief hopes for the John Smith’s Grand National, can bolster his claims for the Merseyside marathon on April 9 by completing a seasonal hat-trick at Haydock tomorrow.

Trained at Norton by Malcolm Jefferson, the gelding, owned by Trevor Hemmings, is set to contest the £75,000 totesport.com Grand National Trial and has outstanding claims in the hands of Graham Lee, who has developed such a good rapport with him.

Trained earlier in his career by Paul Nicholls, who failed to win a race with him, King Fontaine has proved a revelation for Jefferson, who has placed him to win six of his nine races.

Both his wins this season have been gained on this course, which clearly suits him.

Tomorrow’s step up to three and a half miles is new territory for King Fontaine, but he races like a horse who will relish this extended distance.

Owner Hemmings likes nothing better than having winners in his native North-West, and success tomorrow will surely earn King Fontaine a confirmed ticket for Aintree on the second Saturday in April.

Haydock’s high-class programme kicks-off with the Victor Ludorum Hurdle, in which Local Hero, trained in Lincolnshire by Steve Gollings, will aim to take his unbeaten run to four in advance of heading to Cheltenham next month for a crack at the Triumph Hurdle.

Local Hero should not be inconvenienced by the expected testing ground and, improving with every race, he should make a bold bid in the hands of Tony McCoy.

In the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, Court In Motion brings a useful level of form to the table. Emma Lavelle’s talented recruit should certainly be involved in the finish.

At Lingfield, Hambleton trainer Kevin Ryan has good prospects of a double with Beautiful Day and Pelmanism.

The first-named, owned and bred by Guy Reed, was a beaten favourite over six furlongs on this course last month. He reverts to the minimum distance in the Lingfield Marriott Hotel & Country Club Maiden Stakes and is worth another chance.

Pelmanism, who runs in the Blue Square Sprint Handicap Series (Qualifier), was a winner here two starts ago and came close to doubling up on his latest visit, when he was beaten less than a length into third after being forced to race wide. He has every chance of resuming the winning thread.

David Nicholls sends out Dream Catcher to contest the opening claiming race and Jamie Spencer looks a significant jockey booking.

The three-year-old has a good record, having won four of his eight career starts, which includes one of his two races on an artificial surface.

Baharat (2.20), a beaten favourite here two weeks ago, may be able to recover losses, equipped with a first-time visor, while also worthy of attention is the Mark Johnston-trained Realisation (4.35), who has finished in the frame in both his races this year.

He is napped to make it third time lucky.


Racing selections

Haydock (selected TV races)
1.40 Local Hero, 2.10 Court In Motion, 3.20 King Fontaine.

Lingfield
1.45 Dream Catcher, 2.20 Baharat, 2.55 Beautiful Day, 3.25 Pelmanism, 4.00 Advertisement, 4.35 Realisation (NAP), 5.10 Titan Triumph.

Tomorrow’s other meetings:
Ascot, Uttoxeter and Wincanton.

Today’s meetings:
Fakenham, Lingfield, Newbury, Sandown and Wolverhampton.