Al Co return delights Bowen

Al Co gave his Crabbie's Grand National prospects a boost when finishing third on his prep run over hurdles at Bangor.

Last year's Scottish National hero shaped well to take third place, 13 lengths behind convincing winner Binge Drinker in the bangorbet Handicap Hurdle.

Trainer Peter Bowen was pleased with the performance and feels it will help him reach peak condition for the Aintree showpiece on April 11.

"I'm over the moon. That will just put him spot on for Aintree in three weeks," he said.

"That wouldn't have been his ground today. The race is three weeks away. We've left a bit on him."

Al Co is available at 33/1 with Sky Bet for the National.

The other Grand National entry in the race, the Alan King-trained Godsmejudge, was last of the 11 runners.

Binge Drinker turned his first handicap appearance into a procession as he routed the opposition under Paul Townend.

The Rebecca Curtis-trained six-year-old had his limitations exposed in a couple of Grade Two races after a notching a hat-trick in novice company but was a different proposition dropping down in grade.

Binge Drinker (100-30 favourite) was far too good as he romped home by seven lengths from Western Jo, who did well to finish second after being left many lengths at the start.

Curtis and Townend completed a double when Foryourinformation (6/4 favourite) ran out a cosy winner of the Teeuplo Novices' Hurdle.

Then Townend made it a treble with an 11-length romp on Sunshine Corner (5/2 favourite) for trainer Lucy Wadham in the Six Nations Mares' Maiden Open National Hunt Flat Race.