But first a look at the results from Friday
We started off quite well tipping the second in the first race the Handicap Hurdle Gr 3 – Fils d'Oudairies 8/1 – but the winner was impressive and far too good coming from behind with a withering finish – Langer Dan for the Skeltons. Balco Coastal was third. And our very rough roughie Fred was the last of the finishers.
The Novices' Hurdle Gr 1 was won by a very tough Jonbon who had a real battle with El Fabiolo but prevailed in the end. Vina Ardanza was third.
The Mildmay Novices' Chase Gr 1 was not the expected match race – Bravemangame was not fluent and ran a shocker which the trainer was unable to explain. Ahoy Senor won despite not always being fluent but he got the better of Fury Road, who had a collision with a rail on the way to post but was vetted OK and then after the race was found to have ataxia otherwise known as the wobbles. 13 lengths behind them was the third of the four runners L'Homme Presse .
The Marsh Chase went to Fakir d'Oudairies who jumped very well. Joseph O'Brien doesn't have many jumpers these days but this one is his stable star. Hitman was 5 ½ l back in second. Saint Calvados finished 5th having hung badly in the run in.
The Topham saw the Bowen father and son salute with Mac Tattie, with Batcia 25/1 second and Annamix 50/1 third for the Mulinses. Notebook lost the rider and Royal Rendezvous was pulled up.
The Sefton went to Gelino Bello the 2nd fav on 11/2 with Gentleman At Arms 28/1 second and Haute Estime 100/1 third.
Saturday's big day starts with a Gr 3 Handicap Hurdle with 22 to run – just from the market Party Business and Winter Fog are on 4/1 and the pin has landed on Beaufort 12/1 and Emitom 33/1 with Rachael Blackmore riding for Warren Greatrex.
The Mersey Novices' Hurdle is Gr 1 with 13 to run where Three Stripes Life who ran well at Cheltenham is on 11/4, Good Risk At All 6/1 for the Sams Thomas and Twiston-Davies and we like Elle Est Belle 17/2 for the Skeltons.
The Moghul Novices' Chase Gr 1 has 7 runners and not surprisingly the very good Arkle winner Edwardstone is odds-on at 8/15 for Alan King and Tom Cannon. Gentleman De Mee is next best on 7/2.
The Liverpool Hurdle Gr 1 has 9 runners and Flooring Porter 3/2, Thyme Hill 5/2 met previously at Cheltenham and Champ 7/2.
Just to make sure we are still awake the Betway Handicap Chase Gr 3 has a field of 17 with Shan Blue for the Skeltons on 5/2, Tea Clipper is on 6/1, Cap du Nord on 13/2 and Oscar Elite on 7/1.
And now for the big one – the Grand National Handicap Chase Gr 3 with a field of 40. Last year's winner Minella Times and Snow Leopardess are the two top favourites with the odds going between 8/1 and 9/1. They both have strong claims and are worthy of their star billing.
After that we have employed the pin and it has landed on Run Wild Fred on 14/1 – he was second in the NH Chase at Cheltenham, Blacklion on 50/1 and Noble Yeats, the 7yo, as it is Sam Waley-Cohen's last race before retiring and we interviewed Sam one year before the Velka Pardubicke, in which he did no good from memory coming off at Taxis.
