11:45 Newcastle

In the opening race of the day, the Grant Tuer trained Bicep (best priced at 4/1) should get punters off to a winning start dropping back down in trip to 7f. Victorious over the course and distance on his penultimate start, the four-year-old looked the most likely winner entering the final furlong of the mile contest last time before weakening into 5th late on.

Running off the same mark over 7f under Mia Nicholls in this apprentice handicap looks sure to suit and Bicep should get back to winning ways. 

Bicep - 2pts @ 4/1

14:10 Aintree

Djelo is respected on his chasing debut but preference goes to Master Chewy (best priced at 7/4) who was an impressive winner on his reappearance. The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained six-year-old ran well in defeat in his seven starts over hurdles when contesting good races such as the Betfair Hurdle and Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Master Chewy was an impressive 12 length winner on his reappearance/chasing debut a fortnight ago off a mark of 121 and the handicapper has raised him 10lbs for that victory. That came over this course and distance and he should prove hard to beat once again.

Master Chewy - 1pt @ 7/4

14:45 Aintree

The Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero trained Gesskille (best priced at 3/1) ran well to finish 2nd in both this race and the Becher Chase over the Grand National fences last season and he should relish these conditions. The seven-year-old finished 2nd by a nose behind Al Dancer in this race last season off a mark of 133 before finishing 2nd behind Ashtown Lad in the Becher Chase off a mark of 137.

Gesskille was slightly disappointing on the rest of his starts last season but he made a winning reappearance in France in a listed race in September. He runs here off a mark of 138 so he is only 1lb higher than his Becher Chase 2nd and he should prove hard to beat with doubts about the ground for the likes of Fantastic Lady.

Gesskille - 1pt @ 3/1