Grand National beckons for Laing

The JJ Houlahan Jumps Championship continues at Flemington on Saturday with the running of the $250,000 Cleanevent Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) and competition for the respective awards is hotting up with just two races remaining in the series.

While Robbie Laing has a stranglehold on the trainers' award, the awards for the inaugural series' champion horse and jockey are still well and truly up for grabs.

There is likely to be sharp movement at the top of the table in the horses' award. Entering Saturday Real Tonic and Tadakatsu are the joint leaders on 26 points, just two points clear of Manzeal. Busby Glenn and Sweet Shani are next on 20 points, with Sissano not far away on 18 points.

Points are allocated on a 12-8-6-4-2 basis to the first five horses over the line in JJ Houlahan Jumps Championship events.

Real Tonic, Manzeal, Busby Glenn and Sissano all have the chance to improve their position in the Grand National Steeplechase.

Willy Harnett will be looking to retain his place at the head of the jockeys' table when he takes the ride on Sissano in Saturday's event.

Harnett is on 42 points, eight clear of Adam Trinder, who will ride likely favourite Manzeal this weekend, with Bill Williams (to ride Busby Glenn) and Steven Pateman (Merlos) not far away on 30 points.

Laing, who will launch a four-pronged attack on the Grand National, leads the trainers' award on 80 points. Second is Eric Musgrove on 46 points with John Wheeler third on 38.

RVL

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