Top Tip: JONBON (4)

Watch out for: NOTLONGTILLMAY (6)

 

2 15H25 – Village Hotels Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

GOOD TIME JONNY justified strong support in the market when given a patient ride to win the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham last month and he may complete the double off only 5lb higher in the handicap. Mill Green and An Tailliur finished behind in third and sixth respectively that day and, while they both merit consideration, the former may emerge as the bigger threat given that he finished a respectable third in last year’s renewal of t his race. West Balboa boasts a lightly-raced profile and arrives in this contest having landed the Lanzarote at Kempton in January in game fashion and improvement could be forthcoming for Dan Skelton’s charge now running beyond 3m for the first time under Rules. Outlaw Peter pulled up behind that rival, but he appears to have progressed since and shouldn’t be underestimated. Party Business hasn’t cut much ice since winning this contest last season, but is now just 5lb higher in the ratings as a result and the seven-year-old may have been targeted at the race.

 

Top Tip: GOOD TIME JONNY (1)

Watch out for: MILL GREEN (7)

 

3 16H00 – Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Gordon Elliott won this contest last year with Three Stripe Life and he can do so once more with IRISH POINT, who has some eyecatching form from earlier in the season. Already a runner-up in two Grade 1s, including when pipped by Supreme winner Marine Nationale in the Royal Bond, the five-year-old skipped Cheltenham, instead warming up for this with a confidence-boosting Naas success. You Wear It Well arrives on the back of an excellent victory in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, but she must overturn form with her Challow conqueror Hermes Allen, who was a major disappointment at the Festival. Dark Raven could be interesting stepping up in trip, while Springwell Bay has won his last two with considerable ease and is another to note. Letsbeclearaboutit wasn’t beaten far in the Albert Bartlett and may well be suited by going back in distance.

 

Top Tip: IRISH POINT (8)

Watch out for: HERMES ALLEN (7)

 

4 16H35 – JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

A competitive renewal of the Liverpool Hurdle with several intriguing contenders lining up, including Marie’s Rock, who is fancied to bounce back following a disappointing run behind Honeysuckle in the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. She gets a mares’ allowance here, so the daughter of Milan looks a big player for powerful connections. That being said, Stayers’ Hurdle winners are 5-7 in this race since it became a Grade 1 in 2010, so SIRE DU BERLAIS could be worth siding with. He kept on well to score from the well-fancied Flooring Porter in this contest last year and the fact he was able to uphold that form at Cheltenham last month must make Gordon Elliott’s 11-year-old of significant interest. Dashel Drasher filled the runner-up spot behind the selection last time out and is another not to be taken lightly in first-time cheekpieces.

 

Top Tip: SIRE DU BERLAIS (9)

Watch out for: MARIE’S ROCK (10)

 

5 17H15 – William Hill Handicap Chase (Registered As The Freebooter Handicap Chase) (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

BEAUPORT travelled well for a long way but failed to see out the testing 3m2f on soft ground in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham last month. Down a furlong in trip and switched to a flat track, the seven-year-old may put in an improved effort and is certainly on a workable mark. Midnight River disappointed at the Festival but is a player based on his Grade 3 victory at Cheltenham two starts ago. Eldorado Allen has been highly tried this season and should not be underestimated now eased in grade, while Gold Cup Bailly and Nassalam are a couple of others to note.

 

Top Tip: BEAUPORT (5)

Watch out for: MIDNIGHT RIVER (2)

 

6 18H15 – Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

This most famous race has tended to see some quirky individuals come alive around the National fences in the past and there are none more so in this year’s field than MR INCREDIBLE. The seven-year-old has been eye-catching when staying on from off the pace in the Kim Muir and Classic Chase this season, both excellent trials for this unique contest. No winner has carried more than 11-10 to win the National since the mighty Red Rum and that stat does not bode well for last year’s one-two, Noble Yeats (first) and Any Second Now, both of whom arrive in fine form. Last year’s third Delta Work is now 20lb better off with the winner and arrives on the back of another excellent win in the Cross Country at Cheltenham, while Corach Rambler is 10lb well-in after doubling up in the Ultima. The Big Dog is another dour stayer who has already notched up victories in the Munster National and Troytown this season, while on the other side of the water, Le Milos and Our Power have done similar. One to note at a big price could be Gabbys Cross, who has a very similar profile to Henry De Bromhead’s 2021 winner Minella Times.

 

Top Tip: MR INCREDIBLE (28)

Watch out for: DELTA WORK (7)

 

7 19H20 – Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open NH Flat Race (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Patrick Mullins was excited by the prospects of Blizzard Of Oz earlier in the season, so it would have come as a relief when he opened his account at Cork last month. He should continue to progress, but that’s the case with many of these and a chance is taken on CENTARA. Paul Nicholls has landed two of the previous three renewals of this contest and his bloodless Taunton scorer can boost his record further. Aslukgoes has yet to taste defeat in three starts so must enter calculations, along with the Gordon Elliott-trained Pour Les Filles. Others to note include Kinbara, Beat The Bat and Go To War.

 

Top Tip: CENTARA (7)

Watch out for: BLIZZARD OF OZ (4)