Five horses to follow on Saturday at Aintree, Kelso and Gowran Park

Tipster: Danny Archer.

Best odds: 9-4.

Tipster: Martin Dixon.

Best odds: 7-2.

Having recorded just 25 winners last season, Tom Lacey endured a quiet spell for most of the 2024-25 campaign, but he's already up to 20 winners this season plus is operating at an impressive 28 per cent strike-rate.

The Lord Maid is a mare with upside this season, in my opinion, and she ended on a high in April when winning a mares' handicap at Ayr in good style. She defeated the in-form Listed winner, Lavida Adiva, and that form has already started to work out well with subsequent winners further down the field. 

A 6lb rise leaves The Lord Maid on a fair mark, and she remains lightly raced over these staying distances that clearly suit well. With the stable so far forward, I expect this to be more of a 'Cup final' for her compared to others returning from absences in this Pertemps Qualifier. 

Tipster: Dave Nevison.

Best odds: 5-1.

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. 

Tipster: Andy Stephens.

Best odds: 25-1 (advised at 33-1 ante-post).

This bold jumper appeals as the type to take well to the demands of Aintree, looking a big price to at least make the frame. 

He generally races up near the pace, which can be at an advantage over the National fences nowadays, and his lack of a recent run is not a big concern, given that he usually goes well fresh. 

Nocte Volatus was a game winner first time up at Chepstow last season and was again declared to run at that meeting last month, only to be withdrawn because of the fast ground. 

The ten-year-old followed up that Chepstow success with solid runs in defeat at Ascot and Market Rasen last term, especially on the latter occasions when chasing home the well-handicapped The Flier Begley, who has since won more two more races and is now rated 15lb higher in the ratings. 

By contrast, Nocte Volatus is only 1lb higher and just about everything that Lacey has run since the end of September has either won or run well. 

Tipster: Johnny Ward.