Horse Racing: Quinz may get to go in Grand National

Quinz further improved the already excellent records of Richard Johnson and Philip Hobbs in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton.

It was a fifth victory in the Grade Three handicap for jockey Johnson and a fourth for trainer Hobbs.

And the result left Hobbs considering whether he would allow the seven-year-old to take his chance under 10st 8lb in the John Smith's Grand National.

Mount Oscar was second by a length and a quarter and the grey Nacarat third.

Hobbs said: "He is in the Grand National - Richard's initial reaction was that it's not a good idea but he'll never get to run off a weight like that again."

Quinz is 40-1 with Boylesports for Aintree but only 16s with Paddy Power.

"I'd say it was odds-against him running as I believe seven-year-olds do not have a good record in the race, but it would be very tempting," owner Andrew Cohen said. "We'll decide soon"

n Howard Johnson's Companero (16-1) put up an incredibly gutsy display to make every yard of the running in a stamina-sapping renewal of the totesport.com Eider Handicap Chase at Newcastle run on desperately heavy ground.

Despite barely being able to clamber over the final fence, the 11-year-old claimed the near 19,000 first prize by 30 lengths.