Aintree

1.45pm

Mister Coffey

He has been running really well over 2m, and we think the step up to 2m4f on better ground could be the key to him finding the necessary improvement to win this competitive handicap. He certainly finished off his race really well to win in deep ground at Sandown on his reappearance, but he paid for that with a big hike in the weights. He ran perfectly well in the Betfair Hurdle last time, for which he came down 1lb, but hopefully this strong-traveller will be suited by the extra trip here and what is likely to be a strong gallop.

2.20pm 

Dusart

We were all pretty devastated when he picked up a nasty injury at home after his debut, as that Newbury win promised so much. I know he was getting 6lb from the second but the manner in which he saw off the subsequent Betfair Hurdle winner Soaring Glory that day had me very, very impressed. Everyone has done wonders to get him back, as at one stage it looked like we wouldn’t see him until next season, and hopefully he is the same horse I got off at Newbury in November. If he is, then we will all be pretty excited.

2.50pm 

Chantry House

Third in the Supreme last season, the only blemish on his chasing dance card came at Cheltenham in December but he bounced back at Wetherby and then ran the race of his life when beating stablemate Fusil Raffles in the Marsh last time. He has the stamina question to answer here over the extended 3m but the way in which this winning pointer has been seeing out his races over shorter gives us every hope he will get home. And if he does, then he clearly has every chance of winning.

4.05pm

Precious Cargo

I was really happy with the way he travelled and shaped for me at Warwick last time, his first outing for a few months after a wind op. He just got tired late on, which was understandable. He is a very good horse on his day, as he showed when third in the Kingmaker last season and when running so well for a long way before falling two out at Cheltenham, and I can see him running a big race around here. A mark of 143 looks okay for him.

4.40pm

Gallyhill

He is a lightly-raced 6yo and clearly a work in progress in all areas, but I do think you will see a better horse as he steps up to 3m here. He did all his best work late on when winning at Newbury and there was no disgrace in his second to a good horse at Ascot last time, with the rest well beaten off. A winner of his only point, I fully expect him to improve for the longer trip, though the drying ground is an unknown for him.