Dave Nevison: Grand National tips plus other Aintree bets

landed me a nice each-way bet in the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival where he stayed on well to finish second after being well behind for most of the race. 

It certainly looked as though this step up to three miles will be well within his stamina range, and could bring about improvement. 

The form of that race was given a boost in Thursday’s William Hill Hurdle when the winner, Wodhooh,  finished second behind Lossiemouth, and even though Act Of Authority is 5lb higher, his task might actually be easier in this handicap. 

His regular jockey Lewis Saunders (successful twice on him this season) could not claim at Cheltenham, but takes his full 7lb off here, which will be a great help. 

won this race four years ago off a 10lb higher mark and even though he has had injury problems since, he certainly showed enough at Cheltenham in the Ultima to suggest a repeat win is not out of the question. 

This handicap doesn’t look nearly as strong as the Cheltenham contest, and it is definitely possible Mel Rowley’s stayer could still have improvement to come as last time was only his second run of the season, so he should still be very fresh. 

His course and distance experience will stand him in good stead, and there are certainly no up and coming types in this exposed field. 

This is the classiest and most open Randox I can remember, and I am convinced the winner will come from the group of runners who have obviously been trained with this race as the only real target all season. 

Last year’s Irish Grand National winner Intense Raffles is definitely a member of that group and since winning at Fairyhouse last Easter, he has only really had one significant outing. 

He finished an excellent second behind Nick Rockett in the Bobbyjo Chase (which is, historically, a major trial for this race) and is 15lb better off here, so clearly has a major chance on handicapping terms. 

The seven-year-old has plenty of stamina and his prominent racing style suits the Grand National course well, so I am hopeful of a good run. 

(Article first published at 12:15 on Tuesday 1 April) 

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 . 

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.