13:45 Aintree

CANARDIER (best price 9-1) finished 5th in the Coral Cup, which was a fine effort after being hampered three out. The seven-year-old wasn’t too far behind the eventual winner William Henry, and finished ahead of Apple’s Shakira, Uradel and Tully East. If you watch the Coral Cup back, Canardier didn’t get a clear run until a couple out and looked to have a cracking chance of winning when jumping the last. The tricky conditions shouldn’t be too much of a problem for Dermot McLoughlin’s horse.

Canardier - 1pt e/w @ 9/1

14:20 Aintree

This is a harder test for ROUGE VIF (best price 11-1), but I think the five-year-old is up to the task. He’s won his last two races, and the one before that he was beaten by Mister Fisher. In the same race he beat the highly-rated Thomas Darby and The Big Bite. Harry Whittington’s horse should have no problems with the conditions, and will be fresher than a few in this race after missing Cheltenham.

ITCHY FEET (best price 7-2) is quite rightly favourite, he wasn’t 100% at Cheltenham and still managed to finished third behind Klassical Dream. Unlike Aramon he’ll handle the conditions at Aintree.

Rouge Vif - 1pt e/w @ 11/1
Itchy Feet - 1pt @ 7/2

14:50 Aintree

Topofthegame is rightly the short-priced favourite for this, but I can’t be tipping a 5/6 shot. Therefore I’m having a look at the without favourite market once again. MR WHIPPED (best price 11-2) and Chris’s Dream look the best options, but I’m siding with Nicky Henderson’s horse who has very good form in these conditions. There are questions if this is the best trip for Mr Whipped, especially after Cheltenham last year. However, on both occasions this season he’s shown he has plenty left in the tank.

Mr Whipped w/o Topofthegame - 1pt e/w @ 11/2

15:25 Aintree

POLITOLOGUE (best price 3-1) backed up a fourth place to Altior last Cheltenham with a win at Aintree. This season the eight-year-old pushed Altior all the way in tricky conditions at Cheltenham, finishing someway in front of Hell’s Kitchen and Min. Waiting Patiently is far too short for my liking, and you can’t back Min following Cheltenham. The only other I like is Hell’s Kitchen, but not at 12/1.

Politologue - 1pt @ 3/1

16:05 Aintree

You’d have to think JANIKA (best price 8-1) would be a lot shorter for this race if he hadn’t faced Siruh Du Lac in the last two outings. Siruh Du Lac is one of the most impressive jumpers going at the moment, which is the main reason he was able to fend off Janika at Cheltenham. His run at Ascot finishing a close second to Hell’s Kitchen shows he’ll enjoy the conditions at Aintree. This looks a solid each-way punt with some firms offering six places.

Janika - 2pts e/w @ 8/1

16:40 Aintree

CHAMP (best price 10-3) is having his first try over 3m, but he gives the impression he’ll stay over this trip. He was all the hype coming into Cheltenham, but was slightly disappointing finishing second to City Island. His grade one form is clearly the best in the race, and normally has no problem backing up a big run.

Champ - 1pt @ 10/3

17:15 Aintree

It’s pretty tricky to build much of an argument for many in this race, but I think with four places on offer it’s worth taking a risk on BOOK OF INVASIONS (best price 50-1). John Ryan’s horse placed in a listed race at Cheltenham two starts ago. He’s finished second to Alright Sunshine in his short career.

Book Of Invasions - 0.5pts e/w @ 50/1

Each-way double: Janika and Champ 36/1 – 1pt ew