13:55 Saturday

Brighterdaysahead – Mersey Novices' Hurdle

The Mares Novice Hurdle was a messy affair and I expect BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD to get back to winning ways in the 2m4f Grade 1 on Saturday. Gordon Elliott has always been a massive fan of her and she looks to have a very bright future.

She’s more than capable of taking on the geldings and it doesn’t look the strongest race, with Brighterdaysahead rated as the best horse in the race once you take the 7lbs mares allowance into account.

I think she’ll benefit from stepping back up in trip – she looked exceptional over 2m5f at Navan in February and the soft ground will be no hinderance to her.

I thought JIMMY DU SEUIL ran a massive race at Cheltenham and I’m hoping he can go well again here. He showed plenty of speed in his French runs and a flat track may even be beneficial to him.

15:05 Aintree

Hiddenvalley Lake & Monkfish – Liverpool Hurdle

Robcour have opted to leave Irish Point and Teahupoo in Ireland but I reckon they’ve still got a live chance of success with HIDDENVALLEY LAKE. He travelled like the best horse in the Boyne Hurdle and he asserted in the closing stages to pull clear.

This will be a tougher assignment but he’s been kept fresh for this race since February and Henry de Bromhead is a fantastic target trainer. Hiddenvalley Lake is the potential improver in the field and he wouldn’t need to improve that much to go close.

MONKFISH is another who interests me and Paul Townend rides. He loves soft ground and any additional rain between now and race time will enhance his claims. He ticks a fair few boxes and has the class to bounce back after flopping in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

He was super impressive in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park in January and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him go very close, possibly even win.

17:00 Saturday

Etalon – Maghull Novices Chase

Found A Fifty is a worthy favourite but the Dan Skelton yard have had ETALON pencilled in for this race since the start of the season – he was always expected to turn out to be a Grade 1 novice chaser after a low key novice hurdle campaign.

He was rated 120 over hurdles but the form of his EBF Final fourth has worked out well, with several winners in behind and race winner Crambo winning a Grade 1. He is rated 142 over fences so must improve again but I think he can and he’s my pick.

HERCULE DU SEUIL has been off the track since October but he’s won five of six races over fences, including three Graded races over the bigger obstacles. His form is hard to quantify but he has a rating that puts him bang in contention.