AINTREE SATURDAY

13:30 BECHER HANDICAP CHASE (GRADE 3) 3M 1F 188Y

The presence of Don Poli in the field gives this race a touch of intrigue, and the one-time Gold Cup favourite has always looked the type to relish the test afforded by the Grand National itself. He’s also a previous winner on this card, so he is not underestimated despite his lengthy absence.

On the other hand, he’s meeting an underrated Aintree specialist in the shape of Blaklion, who had a disappointing end to last season when arguably poorly campaigned. However, his first two starts, when beaten half a length by Bristol de Mai in the Charlie Hall Chase (this year’s winner Definitely Red and 2016 Becher hero Vieux Lion Rouge beaten 23 and 43 lengths respectively with Cheltenham Festival runner-up Shantou Flyer over 80 lengths in arrears), and when landing a colossal gamble in this corresponding event 12 months ago.

A couple of setbacks mean that he is aiming for a repeat off a mark just 5lbs higher and the style of his win, as well as the way the 2017 Charlie Hall has worked out makes him look a huge player.

13:00 MERSEYRAIL HANDICAP HURDLE 2M 4F

I’ve got Mahlervous in my notebook as a handicapper to follow after his excellent second to the thrown-in Speedo Boy at Cheltenham last month, and he looks a knocking bet off bottom weight in this handicap. He’s up a couple of pounds for his Cheltenham effort, but looks the type to keep improving and a test at this trip will suit, for all he’s likely to stay three miles in time.

14:05 BETWAY MANY CLOUDS CHASE (GRADE 2) 3M 210Y

Definitly Red has more on his plate than when winning this race last year, but he is at his very best when given a stamina test on a flat track, notwithstanding his success in the Cotswold Chase in January. He will be hard to beat after winning the Charlie Hall from Black Corton on ground which would have been quick enough for him.

He meets Double Shuffle on the same terms as at Wetherby, but the latter seems to have forgotten how to jump, and totally misjudged the first fence there when taking an x-rated fall. He was a shorter price than Definitly Red that day, but it’s much easier to have doubts about him after that display, especially with the extra emphasis on stamina not in his favour at all.

The Last Samuri is an interesting runner on his debut for Harry Fry. But it seems an odd choice to run him in this rather than the Becher given his affinity for the National fences, and I’m still smarting from American’s appalling ‘effort’ in the Ladbrokes Trophy last week.

14:40 BETWAY FILLIES’ JUVENILE HURDLE (LISTED) 2M 209Y

Juvenile hurdles confined to fillies strike fear into my very soul, but I’m tempted to get involved here with many of the entries having shown their form on a sound surface, and the form liable to be turned on its head as a result.

I find it intriguing that the connections who won this with Jer’s Girl, Gavin Cromwell and retired vet Eugene Bourke, are teaming up again with Lady Camelot, who has loads to find on the form of two hurdle runs on a sound surface. However, she would be a match for all of her rivals on flat form, where she is rated 82 and revels in testing ground. Hopefully that fact will pass most punters by, and the combination of ideal conditions and flat class gives her a decent chance here.

15:15 BETWAY GRAND SEFTON HANDICAP CHASE 2M 5F 19Y

The Grand Sefton tends to be a much harder race to find the winner of than the Becher, and while three of the last six favourites have won, I feel that run is too good to last. As de Mee won this as a six-year-old, but experience is usually a big asset over these fences, and those aged seven and under are a combined one from 40 in this race in the last five years. That is a concern for fancied trio Crievehill, Catamaran du Seuil and Forest des Aigles. On the other hand, Kilcrea Vale may look fully exposed, but he took pretty well to these fences when fourth to Ultragold in the Topham in April, and would have finished closer but for losing his place at a crucial point. That experience will stand him in good stead, and he looks pretty well treated on balance, so ought to make a bold bid.

SANDOWN SATURDAY

13:50 RANDOXHEALTH.COM HENRY VIII NOVICES’ CHASE (GRADE 1) 1M 7F 119Y

Lalor was hugely impressive on his chase debut, and is clearly the one to beat. This said, he is likely to be overbet given the reaction to his Cheltenham success, and I’m inclined to invest a few quid on Pingshou, who was well behind him there, but clearly needed the run and shaped much better than the bare result.

Colin Tizzard’s charge has all the physical attributes to suggest he’ll be a better chaser than he was over the smaller obstacles, and given he was a Grade 1-winning hurdler, that augurs well for his long-term future. He may still need more time on the back of a long absence, but is sure to be quite a big price given he was beaten by the favourite last time, and he’s not a forlorn hope by any means.

15:00 BETFAIR TINGLE CREEK CHASE (GRADE 1) 1M 7F 119Y

Altior is predictably all the rage for this fascinating renewal of the Tingle Creek. While he was brilliant in the Champion Chase, he did look vulnerable for much of that race, as he did against lesser opposition here on the final day of the season.

He remains pretty much the best chaser in training, but he will surely lose his unbeaten record at some point, and it would be no shame to lose out on his seasonal debut on what could be very testing ground against a trio of top-class opponents.

Any one of the quartet could win if things drop right, but I envisage Saint Calvados getting the run of things in front (Un De Sceaux is more tractable these days, and I don’t think Ruby will want to get involved in a war with Gavin Sheehan). It’s possible to poke holes in Saint Calvados as a Champion Chase prospect, but most would agree that granted testing ground and a small field, he looks a world-beater, and this race will play to his strengths.

He didn’t get much credit for winning the Poplar Square Chase given what happened to Footpad, but his presence at Naas shows the belief that his trainer has in him, and he was very impressive in the way he went about his job there.

He promises to be quite the sight winging his way over the Railway fences, and while I’d not be advising an ante-post bet for Cheltenham, I think in football parlance that today is very much his Cup Final.

He shouldn’t be the outsider of the field given he comes here at the top of his game and with conditions ideal.

RECOMMENDED

MAHLERVOUS 1:00 Aintree – 1pt win best available

LADY CAMELOT 2:40 Aintree – 2pts win @ 10/1 (Ladbrokes)

PINGSHOU 1:50 Sandown – 1pt win @ 11/1

(Ladbrokes, Coral)

SAINT CALVADOS 3:00 Sandown – 1pt win @ 6/1 (BetVictor)