PNicholls

14:00 Aintree

Big Buck's

Has come in his coat and looks in superb nick at the moment. I suppose the only possible negative about his chance here is that this is his fifth run of the season, having taken in an extra race this year. But he certainly shows no sign of being over the top. Had quite a hard race - for him at least - when winning his fourth World Hurdle at Cheltenham last month but he did what he had to do, as he always does, and ground out the win. Aims to win his fourth Liverpool Hurdle today and last year's win in the race was arguably his most impressive over hurdles, never coming off the bridle in beating Grands Crus by 5 lengths. This year's renewal doesn't look anywhere near as strong. Will I be disappointed if he is beaten? Yes, of course. But this is racing and horses get beaten, as we all know.


Poungach

Has been a hard horse to place ever since the handicapper put him up 17lb for winning at Sandown but I give him a definite each way chance here. We had no option but to pitch him in against Grade 1 horses after Sandown and he certainly wasn't disgraced when a 2 length second to easy winner Oscar Whisky over 2m4f110yd at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. He hasn't run since and wasn't quite right last month, so we gave Cheltenham a miss but he is in good order now. The step up in trip will suit. But whatever happens today, this will be his last run over hurdles before he goes chasing.


Tiday Bay

Runs here instead of in the Bowl, as that looks a very hot race. And this should put him right for a crack at the Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown later this month. But he certainly looks to have as good a claim as any, Big Buck's aside, on his chase form or his third in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham off a mark of 160 in January. Something of an enigma but he comes here a fresh horse after bypassing Cheltenham, and seems to go well at Aintree.


14:30 Aintree

Dodging Bullets

There wouldn't be much between my three in this race but Dodging Bullets clearly has a decent chance in a competitive race. Runs in a tongue strap for the first time and wouldn't mind it if the ground was riding on the soft side, as he had form on testing ground on the Flat in Ireland. But in my opinion the more the ground dries out, the better for him. Delighted me when second to Grumeti on his hurdling debut at Kempton and then made the anticipated improvement when running a storming race to finish fourth in the Triumph. Travelled like the best horse in the race for a long time at Cheltenham - I gather he traded at 1-4 in running on Betfair, so many punters clearly agreed - and this flatter track, with the emphasis more on speed, should suit him.


Hinterland

Pretty much the forgotten horse among my juveniles. Probably won't fulfil his undoubted talent until going chasing but he shouldn't be underestimated. His form before Christmas puts him in with decent form claims here and we probably got the tactics wrong when he was third off a mark of 141 in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in January; in hindsight we should have pressed on from two out when he was going well. He was another of my horses who wasn't pleasing me prior to Cheltenham, but is fine now and certainly comes here a fresh horse.


Pearl Swan

Won on his debut for me at Taunton and then showed tremendous improvement just nine days later when giving Grumeti 3lb and a short head beating at Cheltenham, only to lose the race in the stewards room. We went to the Triumph confident of a bold showing but he ran a strange race there, reminiscent of Sam Winner the year before, in that he got detached early before flying home from two out. In fact, had he not fallen at the last, I think he would possibly have gone close to winning. Together with Dodging Bullets and Hinterland, I look to hold a strong hand here and a win for any of the three wouldn't surprise me.


15:05 Aintree

What a Friend

This looks a very hot Bowl but in our favour is that the market leaders - the likes of Riverside Theatre, Burton Port and Medermit - all had hard races at Cheltenham and we didn't. Granted, I would rather that he wasn't coming here as quite such a fresh horse - he fell at the second - because the way the Gold Cup panned out, you would have to think that he may have taken a hand in the finish. He beat Carruthers and Nacarat in this race two years ago and, while this is a far more competitive renewal, it wouldn't surprise me in the least were he to run a big race. In fact, he makes some each way appeal at around the 10-1 mark, having sparkled in his work yesterday morning.


15:40 Aintree

Gwanako

Won the Topham as a 5yo here in 2008 but he hasn't been anywhere as successful here since - he fell in the Topham the following year and unseated in the Grand Sefton, and that has to be a concern. But I think he will give James Cowley an excellent first ride over these fences. On official marks he is the one to beat (though I think that is a false rating as I couldn't see him winning a handicap off 140 these days) and he has been in good form in winning a couple of hunter chases at Sandown. Granted, he didn't have much to beat at odds of 1-5 last time but the runner-up, I Have Dreamed, won by 27 lengths on his next start, so the form isn't too poor. Looks to have a winning chance to me but he needs to jump round and will need luck in running with 25 rivals against him.


16:15 Aintree

Takeroc

Basically, the handicapper has had him by the nuts since his 12-lengths win over this course and distance in October and he hasn't shifted from a mark of 145, despite being well beaten since. Probably ran too well when fourth to Finian's Rainbow in a Grade 2 at Kempton in December but again found a mark of 145 too much when beaten around 11 lengths at Doncaster last time. Harry's 7lb helps and he clearly goes well here, but he wouldn't want any more rain.


Edgardo Sol

He had the option of four races at Aintree this week but we have plumped for this 2m handicap chase, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if he ran a big race. Is probably not the best handicapped horse in the race - in fact, he races off a 16lb higher mark than when beating The Cockney Mackem by a nose over this course and distance in October, his last start over fences - but he has continued to thrive over hurdles, and clearly ran a great race when second to Alderwood in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, and the winner followed up at Fairyhouse this week. Could still be improving.


16:50 Aintree

Al Ferof

We went into the Arkle with high hopes after his excellent third in the Victor Chandler and he was obviously still in with every chance when he made a catastrophic mistake at the tenth, and that effectively put paid to his chances. We have always seen him as a stayer so the step up to 2m4f will suit and the more sedate pace should help his jumping, too. Is the horse to beat here if returning to the form of his Ascot third, but I respect all of the opposition here.


Cristal Bonus

Proved himself to be as good over fences as he was a hurdler with an impressive 13 length win over Duke Of Lucca in a Grade 2 at Kempton in February, and we fancied our chances in the Jewson. But he simply ran no sort of race there and the performance had me scratching my head. But the reason soon became apparent as a very bad abscess appeared on his whither and it burst on the Friday morning. But he is fine now and the recent rains have increased his chances.


17:25 Aintree

Deireadh Re

Ran poorly at Newbury last time but before that had done exceptionally well, winning three and putting up his best performance when beating Shoreacres a short head at Wincanton under a great ride from Harry, who is on board again today. May be a bit high in the weights now but has had a nice break. Trip and ground should suit.


Big Buck's is clearly my best chance of a winner today but Gwanako also holds strong claims.


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