CHARLIE Longsdon could bid to make it third time lucky in the Crabbie's Grand National on Saturday.

The Chipping Norton trainer is set to saddle Pendra at Aintree, having yet to have a finisher in the big race.

Palypso De Creek fell four fences from home when well off the pace in 2010, while 100-1 shot Ely Brown came down at the first last year.

Pendra is a general 66-1 chance for the race.

Meanwhile, Longsdon's belief that Kilfinichen Bay could prove a money-spinner over fences this summer looks fully justified after his charge made a winning chasing debut at Uttoxeter.

Sent off the 11-2 outsider of three for a novices' limited handicap chase, the eight-year-old jumped well at the head of affairs under Graham Watters.

He was ten lengths clear of Oscar Sunset in the two-and-a-half-mile contest when the 5-6 favourite took a heavy fall at the last fence, leaving Kilfinichen Bay to stroll home 51 lengths ahead of Rothman.

It was Longsdon's third winner in as many days.

Bob Tucker, ridden by Brian Hughes, got up in the final stride to beat Kings Cross by a nose in a handicap chase over an extended two miles and six furlongs at Newbury.

And the previous day, Vive Le Roi made a winning debut over timber with a ten-lengths pillar-to-post success under Aidan Coleman in a novices' hurdle at Bangor-on-Dee.