Lo Stregone casts spell on Grand backers

Lo Stregone, last year's Scottish National third, was well backed with the leading bookmakers yesterday for the Grand National. Tom Tate's charge is now 16-1 co-favourite with Deep Bramble and Young Hustler in William Hill's list and has joined the same pair and Smith's Band at the head of Ladbrokes betting, while Superior Finish shares the same perch with the Tote.

n Staunch Friend, absent since winning the 1993 Bula Hurdle, will tune up for Cheltenham in the Lewis Carroll Select Hurdle at Haydock on 23 February.