A LOCALLY trained horse travels to Aintree, this weekend, with high hopes for the Grand National.

Ten-year-old bay gelding Longshanks, owned by Lancashire businessman Alan Halsall and trained by Kim Bailey, has won six of his 19 races.

Longshanks showed form at Aintree in 2004 when he came second in the Topham. He followed this with a fourth place the following year.

Kim Bailey, the only current trainer to have won the Grand National, Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup, moved to Thorndale Farm, near Andoversford, in September 2006.

He trains 36 horses at the yard that was converted by owners, the Hon Mark and Rosie Vestey. It incorporates a four-furling Eurotrack all-weather gallop.

Longshanks will be ridden, in this year's National, by experienced jockey Tony Dobbin. He was ballotted out, in 2005, when he was second favourite.

He was injured last year but won his comeback race by 11 lengths, at Newbury, in November. One to watch.