Gavin Cromwell’s PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS can grab Randox Grand National (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (4pm) glory, while THE WALLPARK can win the Grade One Liverpool Hurdle (GBB Race) (3.05pm) at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday afternoon.
Gordon Elliott’s The Wallpark can build on his third in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at last month’s Cheltenham Festival with victory in the Grade One contest on the final day at Aintree. The seven-year-old, who like Grand National hopeful Perceval Legallois is owned by JP McManus, has been progressing well over hurdles. He won a 2m4f contest at Kilbeggan last July before scoring a Listed success stepped up in trip to 2m6½f at the Galway Festival. He made it four wins in the row with further successes back at Galway and at Cheltenham in October.
On the step up to Grade One company he was fourth in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December before chasing home Bob Olinger and reopposing stable-mate Teahupoo at Prestbury Park last month. He was hampered early on but stayed on really well without ever really troubling the first two home. Bob Olinger will not be lining up at Aintree but stable-mate Teahupoo will, although he would probably prefer softer ground. But on the flatter track, The Wallpark can continue his progress through the staying ranks and land a first Grade One victory.
Last year’s winner, the Olly Murphy-trained Strong Leader; and another potential rising star Kitzbuhel – who is from the powerful Willie Mullins stable and is bidding for a hat-trick of wins – look to be the chief dangers to The Wallpark. But he can keep both at bay to triumph.
READ MORE: Perceval Legallois can win Grand National – Chris Wright's prediction
Nicky Henderson’s LULAMBA can win the Grade One Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.55pm). The French import lost his unbeaten start in the Triumph Hurdle at last month’s Cheltenham Festival but he lost nothing in defeat to 100-1 outsider Poniros. It looked like the four-year-old would back-up his debut success at Ascot and land the Grade One juvenile prize at Prestbury Park. But having hit the front, he was collared by Poniros’ late charge – almost on Lulamba’s blindside – and went down by a neck. Lulamba remains a smart prospect and stepped up in trip and receiving a 10lb age allowance from some his rivals he can return to winning ways.
IMPERIAL SAINT can land another victory at Aintree in the William Hill Handicap Chase (Registered As The Freebooter Handicap Chase) (Premier Handicap) (GBB) (2.30pm).
The Philip Hobbs and Jonson White-trained seven-year-old has already won three times at Aintree this season, scoring over two miles twice in the autumn, then when stepped up to 2m4½f on Boxing Day. He has been beaten on his two others starts away from Merseyside when third at Cheltenham and fourth in the Grade Two Novices’ Chase at Kempton on his most recent start.
He clearly enjoys the Aintree air and back at the Liverpool track and stepped up to an extended three miles, Imperial Saint can make it four out of four at Aintree ahead of last year's winner Cruz Control.
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Dan Skelton’s L’EAU DU SUD can win the Grade One Rosconn Group Maghull Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (5pm). The seven-year-old former smart hurdler lost his unbeaten tag over the bigger obstacles when fourth to Jango Baie in the My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham last month. L’Eau Du Sud had previously impressed in four chase victories at Stratford, Cheltenham, Sandown and Warwick. The last two in the Grade One Betfair Henry VIII Novices’ Chase in December and the Grade Two Unibet Kingmaker Novices’ Chase were very good and showed L’Eau Du Sud is a top-class player in the two-mile chasing division. The opposition doesn’t look as hot as when L’Eau Du Sud suffered his first defeat over fences at Cheltenham. And with that he can return to winning ways and grab another Grade One victory.
While he doesn’t have a runner in the Grand National trainer Skelton could have a good day at Aintree and CATCH HIM DERRY can also win the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (1.20pm). You always need to have Skelton on your side in Handicap Hurdles at the big spring meetings and he has won this opener to the final day at Aintree three times in the past five runnings with Aux Ptits Soins (2019), West Balboa (2023) and Gwennie May Boy (2024).
Catch Him Derry can give him another victory in the three-mile contest. The seven-year-old finished a good third to Doddiethegreat in the Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle at last month’s Cheltenham Festival. He had won at Exeter before that last month and also scored at Ayr around this time last year. He is on a career-high handicap mark but he looks ideal for this contest and he can give Skelton another victory in a big Festival handicap.
READ MORE: Full list of runners and riders on Grand National day
As ever it is hugely-competitive contest and there are several dangers to the selection not least stable-mate Nurse Susan, who steps up to three miles for the first time; while although Henderson’s Shanagh Bob has become frustrating and was down the field in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham, he has the ability to bounce back to form and may be able to make the frame.
The finale to this year’s Grand National meeting, the Grade Two Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (GBB Race) (5.35pm), looks as tricky as ever with several young and inexperienced contenders. It’s not a race to get too involved in big from a betting proposition with big-priced winners – 33-1, 28-1, 25-1, 18-1 and 14-1 in the past decade. But Harry Derham’s Mossy Fen Road – a winner at Wetherby in February; the Henry De Bromhead-trained SCOPE TO IMPROVE; and Gaelic Pride from the Warren Greatrex stable are three to consider.
Away from Aintree at Newcastle, Lizzie Quinlan’s SPECIAL RATE can win the Watch Unbridled On attheraces.com Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2.40pm). The eight-year-old was a back-to-form second over three miles at the Gosforth Park track last month and dropped back to 2m4f he can one better.
Others who can score at Newcastle are Ewan Whillans’ hat-trick-seeking course and distance winner LUMINARIES in the Acorn Catering Equipment Handicap Hurdle (2.05pm); the Jennie Candlish-trained THANK YOU BLUE – also on a hat-trick – in the Download The At The Races App Handicap Hurdle (3.25pm); and MAXIMUM OFFERS – from the Jamie Snowden stable – in the QuinnBet Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.30pm).
At Chepstow Ben Pauling’s AWAYTHELAD can win the Dragonbet The Bookmaker Of Wales Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2.15pm).
Wright Ones
AINTREE (DAY THREE)
1.20pm Catch Him Derry
1.55pm Lulamba
2.30pm Imperial Saint
3.05pm The Wallpark
4pm 1 PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS (NAP) 2 Vanillier 3 Nick Rockett 4 Stumptown
5pm L’Eau Du Sud
5.35pm Scope To Improve
NEWCASTLE
12.55pm Blame Rose
1.30pm Maximum Offers
2.05pm Luminaries
2.40pm Special Rate
3.25pm Thank You Blue
4.30pm Top Of The Bay
5.05pm Coffee Boy
CHEPSTOW
12.40pm Laughing John
1.10pm Timetoshine
1.40pm Boston Joe
2.15pm Awaythelad
2.50pm Phillapa Sue
3.32pm Zambezi Fix
4.40pm Marco’s Light
YARMOUTH
3.40pm Rising Force
4.25pm Winter’s Song
4.55pm Alpine Trail
5.30pm Bobacious
6.05pm North View
6.35pm Spanish Mane
7.05pm Appleblossomwhite
WOLVERHAMPTON
4.45ppm Queenofdestruction
5.10pm Rose Warrior
5.45pm Blue Empress
6.15pm Moby Quick
6.45pm Megaphone
7.15pm City Escape
7.45pm Powdering
8.15pm Alioski
SUNDAY’S NAP: Billyjoh (Southwell 4.55pm)
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