Nicky Henderson: “His record at Aintree is good and if he can bounce back, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him go close.”

AINTREE - SATURDAY

1:20 Handicap Hurdle

BOLD ENDEAVOUR (James Bowen)

He ran very well in the Pertemps at Cheltenham after coming down to a competitive rating and he appears to have come out of it in good shape.

He hasn’t won for a while, but is Mr Consistent and competes off the same mark as last time, so hopefully with a bit of luck he can finish on the premises.

JERIKO DU REPONET (Nico de Boinville)

We are switching back to hurdles, because I’m not sure he entirely loved jumping fences, and Nico popped him over a few earlier in the week and he really came to life.

He’s always been a very good horse, this is his trip and the last time he ran over hurdles was when winning at Punchestown last year which provides proof his best form seems to come in the spring.

3:05 Liverpool Hurdle

DODDIETHEGREAT (Sam Twiston-Davies)

As everybody knows, all of the prize money he earns goes directly to the Doddie Weir Foundation and he has managed to collect plenty for an extremely worthy cause.

He didn’t enjoy the Stayers’ Hurdle last time but we’re reverting to the cheek pieces rather than the blinkers he wore at Cheltenham and it would be fantastic if he add to his already generous bank account!

IMPOSE TOI (Nico de Boinville)

I’m not sure what happened at Cheltenham last time but he never really seemed to be travelling and, after making a mistake three out, Nico did the right thing and pulled him up.

He is much better than that, however, and I’m putting it down to an off day because he appeared to be in good spirits at home, although he is quite difficult to gage because he never ever shows anything on the gallops.

His record at Aintree is good and if he can bounce back, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him go close.

JINGKO BLUE (James Bowen)

There aren’t many horses who get an easy lead in a 25 runner Handicap, but he did, under an excellent ride by James in the BetMGM Cup, and is clearly an improving person.

He was entered in various races over various distances this weekend, but his new mark automatically brings him into this and I’m looking forward to seeing how far up the ladder he can go over this trip. Who knows, he could end up a Stayers’ type next season.

CHEPSTOW

12:35

PLANTERS PUNCH (Mr Daniel Williams)

He carries a penalty but that is offset by Dan’s 7lbs claim and this looks another good opportunity for him before going on his summer holidays.

Nico de Boinville: “He is back over hurdles and off a mark we hope he can be competitive off.”

1:20 Aintree

JERIKO DU REPONET

I obviously wasn’t on him in the Kim Muir but it is fair to say he didn’t run up to expectations there. He is back over hurdles here then and off a mark we hope he can be competitive off, for all he is 8lb higher than when winning so well at Punchestown in May.

3:05 Aintree

IMPOSE TOI

We have a strong enough hand in this and I ride Impose Toi. He cut out very quickly in the closing stages in the Stayers’ Hurdle and we were puzzled by the run, but if he returns to his early season form, which included a course win and a Grade 1 victory in the Long Walk, then he clearly has a good chance here. The cheekpieces that he wore to good effect last season are back on, and hopefully they will help.

My Grand National 1-2-3-4

I’d be lying if I said I had a strong opinion here, as you can simply make a case for too many. The fact that the top weight is rated 168 and you had to be rated 146 to get in shows you what a class contest it is these days.

Willie Mullins and JP McManus clearly have a very strong hand, and my idea of the winner is Grangeclare West, who may well have won last year but for that blunder at the last and who comes here in winning form.

I’ll take Monty’s Star, Gorgeous Tom and I Am Maximus to follow him home, in that order.

My 1-2-3-4: 1st GRANGECLARE WEST, 2nd Monty’s Star, 3rd Gorgeous Tom, 4th I Am Maximus