Vesper Bell aiming to book National ticket

Vesper Bell has a second chance to prove he is a live candidate for the Crabbie's Grand National when he lines-up for the Betfred Classic Chase at Warwick on Saturday.

Connections of Boyfromnowhere are optimistic of a good run from the seven-year-old who was last seen winning the Southern National at Fontwell in November. "Everything's good with him and he's ready to go," said trainer Rebecca Curtis's partner, Gearoid Costelloe. "He's fresh and well and we're looking forward to running him." Anthony Honeyball believes Victors Serenade is ready to start to make up for lost time after being held up by setbacks over the last year or so. "He'll love the ground and should stay. He has a reasonably nice weight, we hope. We're happy enough for him to take his chance and it's valuable race," said the Dorset trainer. "His first target was the Welsh National, but he had a little setback and we had to delay it for this. We wanted to use the mark he's on now for one or two of these chases, especially on the ground as it is now. "All his best form is on this kind of ground. It's definitely his game and probably applies to others in this race. "He'd won two chases and we went to Chepstow a year ago when he cut his hock which stopped us in our tracks. He's in good order now and we're looking forward to it. "He had his comeback run at Ffos Las, but he had a health problem after that, but we've got him back on track. His preparation's been good the last three or four weeks." Martin Keighley has been delighted with Any Currency since the 11-year-old underwent a wind operation and can see his charge putting up a good show after two gallant placed efforts in cross-country races at Cheltenham. "He had a wind operation in the summer and is holding his form really well. He had two cracking runs in the cross-country races at Cheltenham," said Keighley. "You would say his best form is on better ground but I think now he's had a breathing operation he'll be OK and be staying on hopefully."