2.20pm Aintree

No Ordinary Joe

He has always promised to put in a big one and he did just that for Luca when finishing second in the Martin Pipe. He paid for that with a 4lb rise but he clearly has solid claims once again, and hopefully a winning one, too.

2.55pm Aintree

Luccia

She obviously ran pretty well to finish fourth in the mares’ novices hurdle at Cheltenham but I reckon she is a better horse than she showed that day and the weather can do what it likes for her. I was massively taken with her previous hurdling successes at Newbury and Exeter, so much so that I was in favour of taking a shot at the Supreme with her, especially with her 7lb sex allowance, and I expect a bold showing here.

4.05pm Aintree

Fantastic Lady

She obviously wasn’t at her best when we last saw her on New Year’s Day at Cheltenham but she has had a good break since and hopefully she will get further than she did in this race last season, when unseating at the first. I think she is fairly handicapped on her Market Rasen defeat of Zambella back in November but the ability to handle the fences and the hurly-burly of a big field are obviously key to her winning chances here.