Today's Tote Placepot Tips for Aintree

Leg 1 Selections: Gerri Colombe

GERRI COLOMBE was desperately unlucky not to collect the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival, where he only failed by a whisker after a strong late surge and given he is clear of these on official ratings with two Grade 1 victories to his name, he should be hard to beat. 

Leg 2 Selections: Nells Son, Captain Conby, No Ordinary Joe, Molly Ollys Wishes 

NELLS SON won a Grade 2 last season and shaped very well in the Coral Cup when eighth of 26, where he travelled noticeably well before fading out of the places late on. The drop in trip from a four pounds lower mark will only help and he was fourth in a Grade 1 at this meeting last year, so he makes a lot of appeal. 

CAPTAIN CONBY took his form to a new level when sixth in the Coral Cup and it briefly looked like he was going to win before weakening on the run-in. From a pound lower mark back down in trip, he’s considered. NO ORDINARY JOE went close in the Martin Pipe last month and is also of interest, while MOLLY OLLYS WISHES appeals of the bigger priced runners. 

Leg 3 Selections: Inthepocket, , Found A Fifty

INTHEPOCKET sets the standard based on his fourth in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and a strongly-run contest will play to his strengths. I think he will be extremely hard to keep out of the frame. 

Of the others, FOUND A FIFTY clocked a good number when winning easily two starts ago and was only beaten a head by Corbetts Cross last time. He will be suited to this race and will surely have a say in the outcome of this contest.

Leg 4 Selections: French Dynamite, Hitman 

FRENCH DYNAMITE is Mouse Morris' only runner at the Aintree Festival and the eight-year-old was last seen running a really good race to finish fourth in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. 

His second in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham reads well too and without a mistake at the last fence when in front, he might have won that race. A well-balanced flat-track like Aintree back down in trip should actually suit him better. 

HITMAN remains winless in Grade 1 company over fences but consistently runs well in defeat and bounced back from a poor show in the King George when his jumping let him down to run a blinder in the Ryanair when last spotted to finish third to Envoi Allen, only finishing a neck behind Shishkin at the line. The second won yesterday to boost the form, so he must surely go well with a repeat here.  

Leg 5 Selections: Haut En Couleurs, Ciel De Neige, Phoenix Way 

HAUT EN COULEURS twice made the frame in a pair of Grade 1 events over hurdles and while he hasn’t managed to win since his chase debut, he has posted some good efforts in defeat. He would have beaten a good field in the Grade 2 Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase at Thurles but for falling at the last fence. A clear round should see him go very well. 

A mark of 152 is still quite stiff for a horse who has yet to win any sort of handicap over fences but CIEL DE NEIGE has been saved for this race and has the right sort of profile for this. He lacks course form but jumps well, so he should be able to navigate his way around here and is open to further improvement after eight chase starts

PHOENIX WAY could be the surprise package in the race. His only previous visit to Aintree was when fourth in a Grade 1 at this meeting two years ago. His three runs this year have been decent and is two pounds lower than when scoring at Ascot last year over this trip. He should be suited to the pace and if he can keep himself out of trouble, he has the ability to figure in first time cheekpieces. 

Leg 6 Selections: Iroko, Absolute Notions 

IROKO has won all three starts this year and produced a career-best when flying late to take the Martin Pipe and he could improve further for the step up in distance. This is a tougher race but he has more to come and has a good chance of winning this on these terms.

ABSOLUTE NOTIONS is another who should appreciate the stiffer test of stamina and ran well behind Good Land last time. On a line through Sandor Clegane, he doesn’t have anything to find with Stay Away Fay and has a fine chance.