Creek on National service

Peter Marsh Chase runner-up Palypso De Creek is to be aimed at the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 10.

Charlie Longsdon’s French import has experience of the unique fences after finishing fourth in the Becher Chase in November,

“We were very pleased with his Haydock run at the weekend. He has come back extremely well and we won’t run him again until the weights come out (February 16),” said Longsdon.

“We always thought he was a good horse and I don’t think he has improved particularly since he came to us.

“He was given a mark of 134 and then the handicapper dropped him for no real reason after the Becher Chase. That meant that we thought he was well handicapped for his run in the Peter Marsh Chase.

“He loved the Grand National fences when he ran in the Becher Chase. He pulled a front shoe off right at the beginning of the race, which made him slightly careful over those fences, but he jumped well.

“He is a tidy, economical jumper, which I presume is what you need round there anyway.

“He would certainly run once more before the Grand National, possibly twice more.

“He will get entries in plenty of races and could go to Cheltenham and then on to Aintree. We will enter him in races like the William Hill Chase and the Kim Muir, but it is too early to say for certain where he will run.”