Kirby happy with Blaklion shape

Horse Racing
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Phil Kirby was very satisfied with the shape of Blaklion on his first public appearance ahead of a tilt at next month’s Grand National.

The 10-year-old was purchased from Nigel Twiston-Davies’ stable for £300,000 by Darren Yates and has since been prepared for a push to win the National at Aintree on the back of finishing fourth in the race in 2017 and winning last year’s Becher Chase at the Merseyside venue.

And Kirby was beaming after he opted to give him a first run out on Tuesday, with two circuits of the Wetherby track alongside National partner Sean Quinlan.

‘That was just what we wanted,’ Kirby told the Racing Post.

‘We came for a strong canter, we weren’t trying to win any races.

We tried not to do too much but enough to get a nice blow into him.

‘I’m trying to keep him fresh.

We half thought about giving him a race but this was the plan just to freshen him up, to have a nice gallop round and finish hard on the bridle.

‘He enjoyed himself and Sean was happy; he said he feels well.

We just need to keep him in one piece now.

‘ On Blaklion’s National chances, he added: ‘He has form at the track and the ground is going to dry up, which should help him as well, so fingers crossed.’

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