13:55 Aintree

The William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Race 1) kick starts Grand National Day, and CHANTRY HOUSE makes plenty of appeal. This former Grade 1 winner at this course was only midfield at Cheltenham last month, but his mark is continuing to slide, and his handler, Nicky Henderson, has been among the winners this week, so it would come as no surprise to see him competitive. 

14:15 Chepstow

The first of three races at Chepstow in the ITV7 is the DragonBet The Bookmaker Of Wales Handicap Chase (Race 2). KING TURGEON ran a very nice race when he finished second over course and distance in November and was narrowly denied by an odds-on favourite at Taunton last month. The six-year-old would only need to replicate that performance to potentially go one place better in this contest. 

14:30 Aintree

Irish raider NOW WHERE OR WHEN could run a lot better than his odds suggest in the William Hill Handicap Chase (Race 3). He sneaks into this contest on a low weight and has some very strong form to draw upon, notably his third in last year’s Bobbyjo Chase. He will find this easier than some of the tasks he’s been assigned this season, and he must enter calculations.

14:50 Chepstow

INEDIT DE MEE finished runner-up in two of his three starts when trained in France and looks very well handicapped ahead of the DragonBet 8 Places On The National Handicap Chase (Race 4). He was well beaten on his stable debut, but I expect him to prove a different proposition this time around, and it would be disappointing if he couldn’t make a serious impact with a lenient mark of 109 here. 

15:05 Aintree

This is a wide-open edition of the Grade 1 JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle (Race 6), but HIDDENVALLEY LAKE has a lot more to come than the majority of these and was very impressive in winning a Grade 2 race when last spotted. He is completely unexposed and is worth another try over this trip, given that he’s improved enormously since finishing down the field in the Albert Bartlett last year. He can provide his connections with a much-deserved winner this week. 

15:32 Chepstow

The Bet 20 Get 20 With DragonBet Mares' Handicap Hurdle (Race 6) could go the way of MELUSINE DE PAIL. She has made the frame in each of her three hurdle starts under rules, and an opening mark of 109 might have underestimated her in this race. The step up in distance should unlock further improvement, and she should be competitive. 

16:00 Aintree

The ITV7’s final race is the feature, the Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Race 7). I am going to nominate I AM MAXIMUS. The mount of Paul Townend for Willie Mullins won last year’s Irish Grand National and was impressive in seeing off last year’s runner-up, Vanillier, in the Bobbyjo in February. He isn’t the best of jumpers, but he’s never fallen, and these fences could bring even more out of him, so he earns the vote.