Aintree tips: Harry Allwood's three best bets for day one

Best odds: 15-8. 

You could not help but be impressed with the way this youngster cruised into contention before quickening clear to win the Fred Winter in superb style last time out, and he still managed to clock a decent time, despite not being asked for maximum effort. 

He was clearly thrown in there off a rating of 130, and certainly looked a Graded performer, and while he takes a marked step up to Grade One company here, this does not appear the strongest contest. 

Wendrock (sixth) and Murcia (eighth) both have work to do to reverse that form, and Live Conti lacks experience plus Naturally Nimble will need to improve again to lower the colours of the selection. A minor case can be made for a few of those at bigger prices, but none have shown the level of form has, and there should be lots more to come from the Irish raider.

I thought he would be a couple of points shorter (15-8 at the time of writing) and he's the nap of the day on Thursday, with no concerns about the trip, track or ground. 

Best odds: 9-2.

This ten-year-old was rated 155 a couple of years ago having produced some useful performances over fences, including when third in the John Durkan behind Galopin Des Champs, and he was also given a rating of 158 when contesting the 2023 Grand National.

He may not have scaled those heights since, but he has proved to be a classy performer in point-to-points over the past 18 months plus made Its On The Line, who had won this race on his previous start, pull out all the stops when second in a Hunters' Chase at Punchestown last year.

One of the biggest positives here is that he's already proven over these fences having finished fourth in the 2022 Grand Sefton (where he jumped noticeably well) and was again impressing with his jumping before  unseating his rider (having been badly hampered by a loose horse) in the 2023 Grand National.

Two recent wins in point-to-points should have put him spot on for this and, granted a clear round, he is surely going to be involved in the finish, with Rob James a positive jockey booking.

Best odds: 8-1 (each-way).

The majority of the contenders here appear in the grip of the handicapper, or are out of form, but one who could still have a few pounds in hand, despite being 5lb above his last winning mark, is Petit Tonnerre, and he looks an each-way play at the general 8-1 on offer (including with bookmakers offering four places).

Jonjo & A J O'Neill's charge was rated 141 over hurdles in 2023, and while his rating crept lower after a string of defeats over hurdles and fences, he proved he is a well-handicapped performer when landing a 0-150 handicap (off a rating of 125) two starts ago, which looks useful form.

Admittedly, that race did fall apart with the pace collapsing, and he is reliant on a fast pace to show his best. However, this contest should be run to suit, and it is worth noting he was strongly supported when brought down on his next start in a similar contest at Doncaster. 

The form of his narrow second behind Imperial Saint, who is now rated 20lb higher, over this course and distance in October also reads well, and the ground is in his favour.  

Expect him to arrive on the scene late, and he should be capable of sneaking a place, at the very least.