Aintree

1.45pm

Jacamar

He won around here for me in October and has continued to run well since, winning at Wincanton on Boxing Day. He was probably a bit below par in a jumpers’ bumper at Kempton the last time we saw him in February, but those races can be a law unto themselves, we know track and trip suits and he has form on decent ground, too. He has a fair each way chance, for all he has gone up the weights this season.

2.20pm

Timberman

He obviously showed ability for Nicky Henderson before joining us and after a couple of excellent spins in jumpers’ bumpers he got off the mark with a hurdle win at Doncaster last time. He is not the finished article just yet – and he did very well to win there given he was too keen and could have jumped better, though he took the last great – so you have to hope and expect there is plenty more to come from him. There will clearly need to be, stepping up markedly in grade, but hopefully he can surprise a few of these.  He will have learned a lot from Doncaster.

4.40pm

Alaphilippe

We thought he’d run well in the Albert Bartlett and he did just that. I know he was beaten 16 lengths but 11 of those was by the runaway winner, so he clearly ran a big race. Hopefully, he can step up further here. He is a tough, progressive horse who takes his races well.