National favourite at Huntington

Clan Royal, ante-post favourite for the John Smith’s Grand National, will continue his preparation for the Aintree showpiece with an outing over hurdles at Huntingdon tomorrow – weather permitting.

Jonjo O’Neill sends the 11-year-old out to face 16 rivals in the Cash Convertors Lincoln Handicap Hurdle on what will be his second start of the campaign.

However, Clan Royal will first have to beat the elements with the meeting having to pass an 8am inspection due to the threat of frost.

Runner-up in the Grand National in 2004 before being carried out when leading at Bechers last year, Clan Royal made his seasonal bow when finishing fifth over timber at Exeter last month.

“Jonjo is very happy with him and he is in great form,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus.

“We hope the ground is not too heavy and that he has come on from his last outing and runs a nice race.

“He was very buzzy the last day and pulled hard so it will be good to get him out and get the freshness off.

“If the meeting is off tomorrow he has a couple of entries at the weekend and will probably run at one of those meetings as Jonjo wants to get a run into him.

“We will see how he comes out of this race, or whenever we get a run, before deciding where to go but he would possibly get another outing before the National.”

Clan Royal is the 9-1 favourite to prevail at Aintree on April 8.