Richard Rowe prepared for this week's Grand National meeting in the best possible way by continuing his fine season at Kempton on Sunday.

The Pulborough trainer has already exceeded his results from the last few campaigns and with Ryders Storm and King Louis ready to do battle in Liverpool, even one of the stable's more enigmatic characters Mister Pink decided to chip in with a contribution.

A fair few took a hand in the intercasino.co.uk Novices' Handicap Hurdle but it was the 10-1 shot who stayed on best, receiving the assistance of Timmy Murphy for the first time.

"He's not ungenuine but he has a high head-carriage and when Paddy Brennan couldn't ride, I went for Timmy as he is good with an awkward one," said Rowe.

"I knew Timmy would either get on well with him or get annoyed but he's taken us over £100,000 for the season now. It's our best run for about four years and I hope there's more to come.

"Ryders Storm would have a chance if he gets in the Topham Chase, while I think I might run King Louis in the £125,000 two-mile novice chase on the Saturday as there can often be only a few runners in that."

Leading Attraction is probably only in the second tier of Paul Nicholls' incredible squad and was found a suitably soft contest, the intercasino.co.uk Beginners' Chase, to get off the mark over regulation fences.

Like on his seasonal reappearance when beaten by Karanja at Taunton, he was not the finished article in jumping terms.

The 4-6 favourite bunny-hopped the second-last before his nose nearly hit the ground on landing. But Nick Scholfield kept cool and he pulled nicely clear of Andy Turnell's Cheating Chance.

"We'll keep him going for a while now as there are lots of novice chases still to come," said Nicholls' assistant Dan Skelton.

"He had a tendon problem and needed a year off and on his only run over hurdles he beat Flight Leader, who is pretty decent."

Turnell has nearly sent out more winners in March than cumulatively for the rest of the season and his Haar (4-1) had the last laugh despite making a real hash of the final flight in the intercasino.co.uk Juvenile Maiden Hurdle.

This handed 13-8 favourite Hope Road another chance but rider Mark Grant was in unforgiving mood and drove his mount a neck in front passing the post.

"He's a big, weak horse," said Turnell. "He didn't get very high at the last but he'll still jump a fence one day."

Turnell's third runner, Kew Jumper, was supported in the intercasino.co.uk Handicap Chase. But while he was among a clutch in with a chance at the last, it was Robert and Sally Alner's 3-1 co-favourite Nemetan who stayed on strongest.

"He didn't enjoy the sticky ground but once he picked up the bit he flew home," said stable representative Nick Mitchell.

The Big Jackpots At intercasino.co.uk Handicap Chase produced another scrabble to the line before going the way of the Gardie Grissell-trained Perange (8-1).

Peter Kelsall curtailed a losing run of 283 days as Decree Nisi (20-1) took the intercasino.co.uk Handicap Hurdle.

"The visor went back on after he seemed to have other ideas at Hereford last time," said the Ledbury handler.

"It was a bad race, but he did have bits and pieces of form and he was only 20 lengths behind Katchit last season."

Philip Hide was banned one day (April 13) for hitting third-placed War Pennant with excessive frequency.

Alan King's China Gold took a while to warm to the task on his debut in the intercasino.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race, but responded well to get the better of the decent yardstick Perkin Warbeck.

"I've not had him long but he looks a real nice prospect for next year," King said of the 2-1 favourite.

"We could run him once more, we'll see."

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