Pearlysteps At Gate Of National

The Henry Daly-trained Pearlysteps is due to test his Grand National metal when he goes for the Grand National trials on February 18th at Haydock. Having finished an encouraging second in the Peter Marsh Chase, behind According To Pete on Saturday 21st January, he is now primed to return to Merseyside for the Trials later this month.

“We were very pleased with how the weekend went. The way he stayed on at the end gives you the feeling we’ll be stepping up in trip with him now. I’m also sure he’ll be better on better ground as he has some good form on good ground,” said Shropshire-based Daly.

“I’m not entirely sure what we do next, we’ve entered him in the Grand National Trial at Haydock, but it’s unlikely he’ll run in the Eider at Newcastle.”

Welsh National winner Le Beau Bai is also likely to swerve the Eider Chase in preference to the Haydock Grade Three over three and a half miles. Richard Lee’s hardy nine-year-old was a valiant conqueror of the Chepstow slog, defeating Giles Cross by seven lengths.

Le Beau Bai and Pearlysteps feature on a roll-call of 47 entries for the Grand National Trial. Junior, the joint-favourite for the Aintree highlight, West End Rocker, Irish raider The Midnight Club and 2010 National hero Mon Mome are also in contention at this stage.