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Aintree aims for Williams' pair

Court Minstrel and Buywise are set to head trainer Evan Williams' team for Aintree following creditable efforts at Cheltenham.

Good-ground specialist Court Minstrel is to head for the two-mile Maghull Novices' Chase on April 11 after his fifth place behind the brilliant Un De Sceaux in the Arkle Trophy.

Court Minstrel has a fine record at the Crabbie's Grand National meeting, finishing fourth to The New One in a Grade Two bumper in 2012 and winning a handicap hurdle last spring.

"Court Minstrel is incredibly well. I'm very happy with him. He ran an extremely good race," said Williams.

"Ideally, he'd want faster ground, but we have no complaints. The horse ran a good race.

"He'll go to Aintree for the Grade One two-miler, definitely."

Buywise put in sterling work late in the day when beaten only three lengths in fourth place behind Darna in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase.

The three-mile-one-furlong handicap chase on Grand National day is his target.

"He's fantastic. The horse is as fresh as paint. It's as though he hasn't had a race. He's bouncing," said the Llancarfan handler.

"He'll go to Aintree for the three-mile handicap chase."


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