Russell plotting Becher run for Arthur

Lucinda Russell says the Becher Chase is next on the agenda for One For Arthur as connections aim for an Aintree repeat. The 10-year-old took the headlines in April 2017, claiming Grand National glory as he swept home by four-and-a-half-lengths ahead of Cause Of Causes. However, he missed the following season through injury and struggled after returning last December, but showed some class to finish sixth in last season’s steeplechase showpiece. Further encouragement was taken from his recent fourth place as he reappeared at Kelso and Russell is now looking towards Merseyside. One For Arthur finished fifth in the Becher the season he won the National and the Kinross-handler is hoping for more of the same on December 7. “I was delighted with the run and I’ve been very happy with him since – he’s looking over his stable door thinking how wonderful all this rain is!” Russell said. “I thought he ran really well at Kelso and his jumping got better the further he went. “I think he’ll get a lot of confidence from that and we can really look forward to taking him back to Aintree for the Becher Chase now.”