Five horses to follow on Grand National day at Aintree

Tipster: Harry Allwood.

Best odds: 10-1 (each-way).

Act Of Authority was a big eye-catcher in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival when last seen and, providing he is over those exertions, he should be capable of going close again on his first start over three miles.

Olly Murphy’s charge won a pair of handicap hurdles in quick succession in November and, given the manner of those victories, looked one to keep on side this season. Although he failed to score off a rating of 134 on his next two outings, they were probably prep runs for Cheltenham where he stayed on strongly from the rear of the field to produce what was arguably a career-best effort. The RaceiQ data shows he clocked the fastest FSP there, and it is not the first time he’s hinted a step up to three miles will be beneficial.

Regular rider Lewis Saunders can claim 7lb this time, too, so the 5lb rise since is not a huge concern, and Wodhooh franked the form in the Aintree Hurdle on Thursday. 

Olly Murphy has been operating at a strike-rate of 33 per cent in the past fortnight (at the time of writing) and his former point-to-point winner should relish the step up to three miles on this ground. 

At the general 10-1 available, he’s worth supporting each-way.

Tipster: Danny Archer.

Best odds: 11-10.

Late call to step up in trip and take on his elders, but he’s in receipt of stacks of weight and there is no doubt that he is open to tons more improvement based on his runner-up effort in the Triumph, with the step up in trip also firmly in his favour.

Tipster: Dave Nevison.

Best odds: 9-1.

Happygolucky 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. 

Tipster: Andy Stephens.

Best odds: 33-1. 

The 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner has got his head in front just twice since, but he's run some fine races in defeat - including when third in last year’s National. He led at the final fence after jumping and travelling beautifully under Rachael Blackmore (who rides again) but got run out of things in the closing stages. Minella Indo gets a 9lb pull in the weights with the winner, I Am Maximus, is versatile regards the ground and has been kept fresh for his return, with the Cross Country at Cheltenham last month being resisted even though he would have had a great chance. In his one run over fences this term, he had Hewick behind. No horse of his age has prevailed in the National since Amberleigh House in 2004 but, then again, few of his quality have tried, and in any case he remains low mileage. He's had only 26 races, just two more than well-fancied eight year-old Stumptown, and 16 less than Hewick, who is ten. Amberleigh House? He was having his 60th race. It will be overlooked by plenty, too, that Bless The Wings (57th run) was a 13-year-old when third in 2018, as was 100-1 chance Vics Canvas (32nd run) in 2016. Doubts about whether he can overcome Father Time, let alone 33 rivals, are offset by his chunky odds. There's no way that, on form, he should be 33-1.

Tipster: Ruby Walsh.

Best odds: 11-2

My nap at Aintree on Saturday is El Cairos in the bumper! Click here to view my other selections, including my Randox Grand National fancy.