Dave Nevison's Saturday tips: Aintree selections and more

This gelding’s dam was a 143-rated chaser, so it is no surprise that Highlands Legacy immediately showed much improved form when sent over fences on his seasonal return at Worcester. 

He won in good style, and did his best work in the straight after losing his position down the back straight plus stayed on nicely to score by two lengths. 

This was a highly encouraging chase debut and, even though he has been raised 6lb, I still expect him to be comfortable off a mark of 121. It also looks as though this race will be run at a strong pace, which will suit him well, and his jumping experience will stand him in good stead against some promising, but less experienced, rivals. 

Several runners in this field seem to be using this 2m5f contest as a warm-up for the William Hill Becher Chase over further in December. 

That is my guess, anyway, but there seems to be little doubt that this race is the main target for Jet Plane who finished runner-up in the Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase over this trip last season. 

Dan Skelton has given his charge one run this season, which was an eye-catching effort as he was not given the hardest time under pressure. I expect him to be much sharper here and, given that Jet Plane is now 3lb lower in the weights than his latest handicap appearance, despite some good performances since.

Skelton is the best target trainer in this country, in my opinion, and this looks a typically strong bit of placing. He's 16-1 with William Hill, at the time of writing.

It certainly wasn’t Dominic’s Fault when he was brought down on his latest start at Sandown in January. He was going well and just starting to make his move when one fell in front of the eight-year-old. I think he would have followed up his Lingfield victory there without that mishap. 

Olly Murphy’s charge has always been well regarded but time is running out for the lightly-raced gelding to prove himself. However, his stable could not be in better form this season, and it is difficult to see why the handicapper has dropped him a pound since that Sandown mishap. 

I am very hopeful he can make amends here. 

I had a nice touch in this year's Cesarewitch with a contender wearing a hood for the first time in a big handicap, and the eye is drawn to the application of a hood for Castle Cove here.

William Haggas might have found a way to conserve this horse’s energy and enable him to win off a mark he has recently been beaten off. The selection certainly looked capable of better last time out when he was fourth at Newbury and being given far too much to do, and was never able to challenge. 

He acts well on soft ground and after just four runs this season, he will arrive here fresher than most, so I think he will end another excellent season in style for both his trainer and jockey.