NOT content with three outstanding wins at the Cheltenham Festival, Jonjo O'Neill bids to round off one of the most successful weeks of his training career by scooping today's £100,000 Midlands Grand National with Kemal's Council (2.20).

The John Smith's beer sponsored marathon over four-miles-and-two-furlongs is second only in length to the Aintree Grand National, so it goes without saying that in the forecast soft to heavy ground it will be nothing short of a total war of attrition.

Under such conditions at this comparatively late stage of the season it's probably best to have a reasonably fresh horse on your side and backers of Kemal's Council can take heart from the fact he's only run three times over the past four months.

Jonjo's smart novice has won two of those outings, although somewhat ironically he fell on his only other start in the Singer Friedlander National Trial at this afternoon's venue.

It's worth forgiving him that uncharacteristic sixth-fence blunder considering he'd previously handled Wetherby's big obstacles with tremendous fluency, following up at Fakenham where he defeated the progressive Forest Gunner in the style of a fast-improving young chaser.

The sought-after Tom Wragg Trophy goes to the winner of the later Allied Irish Bank Novices' Handicap.

Plenty of in-form chasers line up for the £20,000 event, however I anticipate Commanche Jim (3.30) will complete a deserved hat-trick after successive wins at Taunton and Fontwell.

Robert Alner's gutsy seven-year-old is as tough as old boots, regularly doing things the hard way by making the early pace and then repelling all-comers when the winning post comes into view.

As a rule the further Commanche Jim goes the better he is and with courage being his other strong suit, he could oblige at quite rewarding odds.

Ferdy Murphy's Trucker's Tavern ran a magnificent race to finish runner-up to defending champion Best Mate in Thursday's Gold Cup, a performance which bodes well for another of his long-distance stars, Paris Pike (2.15), fancied to take the Cantor Index Financial Handicap Hurdle at Newcastle.

Paris Pike, who made his name with a heroic triumph in the 2000 Scottish National, has amazingly failed to win a single race since. Indeed, such has been his decline retirement was even being talked of at the turn of The New Year.

Murphy's decision to switch the Ivan Straker-owned gelding back to hurdles has thankfully produced signs of an imminent revival judged by his staying on fifth over the smaller obstacles at Wetherby late last month.

I was on hand to see Paris Pike that day and it is fair to say he looked distinctly porky in the preliminaries. Hopefully the spin will have eaten away much of the extra lard he was carrying and we'll now see a far leaner, fitter, individual.

Despite the Guinness St Patrick's Day Handicap Chase having a wide-open feel, I'm still very sweet on the prospects of the top-weight, Belisario (2.50).

Mick Easterby's nine-year-old made significant strides in 2002, winning two of his last three races. Belisario then had a long spell on the sidelines prior to reappearing at Wetherby on February 26, where he finished third to the useful duo Nosam and Stone Cold over two-and-a-half-miles.

In truth that's well short of his best trip and the selection will be much more at home over this extra half-mile. Add to the equation the presence of the ever-reliable Richie McGrath in the saddle and, with luck, victory will be theirs in the £10,000 contest.

Mary Reveley's stable has been treading water of late due to an outbreak of coughing at the yard.

The worst does now appear to be over and with such a superb record at the Tyneside track it will be no surprise if Mary claims the two-and-a-half-mile Novices' Handicap with the ultra-consistent Montessori Mio (4.25).

l Ferdy Murphy is hoping for soft ground to enable him to to get another run into his Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup second Truckers Tavern this season.

The eight-year-old belied his odds of 33-1 to run the race of his life, staying on strongly to take second place, ten lengths behind the impressive winner Best Mate.

''He's spot on, 100 per cent, not a problem on him,'' said the West Witton trainer yesterday.

''I've got to speak to the owners yet but he's only had 12 races in his life so really if I could get another one into him this season I would very much like to.

''If it came up heavy at Liverpool he might go there or to Sandown next month. But if the sun kept shining he wouldn't run.''

Truckers Tavern's target next season will be another crack at the Gold Cup.

''The plan is obviously to go for the Gold Cup again and hope we get a bit of soft ground,'' Murphy added.

''It was a great race and the winner is unbelievable. Just looking at the race from the stands, the way he quickened up was incredible."

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