"Happy to get on now" - 25/1 Grand National tip from Dave Nevison

There is a distinct shortage of eight-runner handicaps for me to look at on Wednesday and the papers are full of the fact that Sean Bowen has been booked to ride this eight-year-old trained by Gordon Elliott. I fancied Three Card Brag for the race anyway, but with the Champion Jockey elect on board it seems pretty certain that the odds are not going to get any bigger now.

The reasons why I fancy this one to run well in the go back to his effort at Leopardstown over Christmas and his subsequent win at Navan in January. I feel the latest run - when third over too short a trip in a Grade Two back at Navan - can be disregarded as the trainer reminded us that he needed to have another run over fences to qualify for Aintree. 

The Christmas run in the ultra competitive Paddy Power Chase was key and that run was eye-catching to say the least. I have only rarely seen a staying chaser show so much speed as he blazed along in front, almost reminiscent of Crisp in 1973. Unfortunately, the first-time blinkers had lit him up far too much and he could not sustain the gallop under his claiming rider. 

It was very reassuring to see him win next time out under a prominent but much more controlled ride from Danny Gilligan and, while Bowen is a fantastic rider full stop, he excels in staying chases (finished fourth in this two years ago). I am sure will be able to ride a race conserving Three Card Brag’s speed until the end of the race.

Elliott is quoted as saying he has no concerns about the ground being good this weekend and, while I am sure that Three Card Brag won’t be my only bet in the race, now that he is definitely in - and with Bowen booked - I am happy to get on now. 

If he is in the same form as last time he can pounce late to score under Hollie Doyle once again.  

Spartan Arrow has some gaps in his form and has clearly had training issues, but the five-year-old has definitely looked a very promising sprinter on occasions. 

He was well backed last time - the market confidence suggesting his problems may be behind him - and he ended up winning nicely yet narrowly on the all-weather at Wolverhampton. 

He has winning form on turf so won’t be inconvenienced here, while he should be able to travel comfortably just wide of the habitual pacesetter Curious Rover in what looks a good draw from stall 4.

Bryan Smart has had three winners from his last ten starters and has his string of sprinters in pretty good form, and it certainly looked as though Jamie Bond might be heading back to the winner's enclosure pretty soon judging by his recent reappearance. 

He was beaten less than a length when finishing third at Newcastle and only gave best late on, and with the handicapper kindly dropping him 1lb for that solid effort he now races off a very attractive mark compared to some of his better runs. 

Jamie Bond might be a sprinter to be with this spring if Smart can keep him in good physical shape.