Harry Allwood's Grand National tips plus two other bets at Aintree on Saturday

It never gets any easier narrowing down your Randox Grand National shortlist, does it?

The betting suggests Cloth Cap is the one to beat this year, and it is no surprise to see him a best-priced 9-2 given he is officially 14lb well-in for Saturday’s showpiece.

However, the Ladbrokes Trophy winner is unproven over the Grand National fences, and despite winning impressively at Kelso last time out, he got an easy time of things out in front plus I’m not sure his rivals showed their best on that occasion, for one reason or another.

He just about ticks every other box, but at the prices, I would rather look elsewhere.

I have managed to narrow the field down to two, plus there’s a couple of others who are worth siding with in the earlier races on the card.

Best of luck with whoever you side with in the Randox Grand National, and don’t forget to watch the race live on Racing TV at 5.15pm on Saturday!

Magic Of Light ran a huge race when second to Tiger Roll at odds of 66-1 in the 2019 Randox Grand National, and there is every reason to believe the classy mare will go close again.

That was her first attempt over the Grand National fences and, bar a couple of errors, she took to the obstacles well. She was also a shade keen in the early part of the race and was in front a long way from home.

Jessica Harrington’s charge races off a 5lb higher mark this year, but has looked as good as ever this season, and her trainer has said she is “enthusiastic as ever”, despite now being a ten-year-old, and is a "stronger horse” than two years ago.

Admittedly, Magic Of Light failed to land a blow when eighth at the Cheltenham Festival last time out. However, she would have found the trip too sharp on that occasion and just lacked the pace to be competitive.

It was still a good run considering she had been given a short break beforehand, and it was an ideal prep ahead of the National.

A repeat of her performance in 2019 will surely see her be involved in the finish again, and she has the benefit of experience over the National fences.

Despite the Grand National being a handicap, I think a horse needs a touch of class to win it, and Any Second Now has just that having finished second and third in two Grade Ones during his first season over fences.

The nine-year-old looked a future Grand National contender when carrying 11st 11lb to victory in the 2019 Kim Muir and was strong at the finish that day suggesting this marathon trip will be within reach. There is also plenty of stamina in his pedigree and good to soft ground will make it easier to stay the extended 4m 2f.

He was also in the process of going close in the Paddy Power Chase last season before he was badly hampered and unseated his rider.

Although the JP McManus-owned gelding failed to sparkle on his first three starts over hurdles this season, he bounced back to form in style in a Grade Two Chase over two miles last time out and has clearly been campaigned with this race in mind all season.

It is a slightly obscure prep running your Grand National hope in a race over the minimum trip, but Ted Walsh’s previous National winner, Papillon, raced plenty of times over shorter distances, and speed, as well as stamina, is required to win the Aintree showpiece.

The only downside is he is yet to race over the National fences, but overall he has been an economical jumper during his career plus the ground will be in his favour, so there is lots to like.

A leap of faith is required to side with Reserve Tank here, but he looks attractively treated off a rating of 144 on his best form and has a huge chance if bouncing back to his best.

The seven-year-old was successful in a Grade One novices’ hurdle at this meeting in 2019, the first of his two victories at the highest level that season, and has already attracted some support having opened up at 18-1.

Despite making a promising start to his chasing career in 2019, Reserve Tank ended his campaign with a disappointing run in the Marsh Novices’ Chase but picked up an injury there, and was absent for the best part of a year afterwards.

I thought Colin Tizzard’s charge shaped well on his return, despite finishing last of five at Fontwell, as he travelled well before the lack of a recent run took its toll.

It was disappointing the seven-year-old could not build on that run in the Stayers’ Hurdle last time out, but I suspect he may have bounced given he had such a long layoff ahead of his run in February and was struggling a long way out at Cheltenham.

He is still relatively lightly-raced and if he can bounce back here, then he is surely capable of going close back at the scene of one of his finest hours.

Being forced to miss the Stayers’ Hurdle may be a blessing in disguise for Thyme Hill as he arrives here a fresh horse, which can’t be said for Paisley Park.

Emma Lavelle’s star stayer was off the bridle a long way from home at the Cheltenham Festival, and I don’t think this track, or this ground, will play to his strengths.

Thyme Hill remains the horse with the most potential in the field, and I expect him to have too much speed for his Long Walk Hurdle conqueror this time.

The selection had Roksana and Third Wind, who re-oppose here, in behind when second in the Ascot feature, and provided Thyme Hill is over his minor setback that ruled him out of Cheltenham, I expect him to prove hard to beat.