Aintree tips: 66/1 Topham pick from Dave Nevison

It is difficult to see him not running well off just a 1lb-higher mark than last time.

It was relief when Tintintin stayed on really well to be placed in the Betfair Imperial Cup at Sandown - landing me a decent each-way punt - and that run very much suggested that stepping back up to 2 ½ miles would suit him really well, and especially in a big field with hopefully a decent pace on. 

Tintintin has already been placed in the Unibet Greatwood Hurdle this season and it seems as though competitive handicaps such as this one suit him particularly well, especially those staged at a track with a long home straight such as Aintree. 

The Fergal O’Brien team have been on fire since a disappointing Cheltenham Festival.

I have gone for two very well-handicapped runners in this ultra competitive handicap, albeit I acknowledge they are well in relative to old form because neither have won for some time.

The Goffer was one of the biggest gambles of the Cheltenham Festival last time but never looked like rewarding his supporters in the Cross Country. He finished well from too far off the pace and, although he looked to be staying on well, I feel the issue with him is that he doesn’t really appreciate marathon trips and his effort has petered out in the latter stages of quite a few of his recent runs. 

His last win back in 2023 came over a lesser trip than this at Leopardstown and he is now running off a British mark 1lb lower than for that Irish success. The Goffer definitely didn’t get home in last year's but he has experience of the fences and that should still stand him in good stead in this.

Escaria Ten is a massive price, but I felt that he ran a very respectable race in the same Cross Country at Cheltenham despite also not getting home. He was 1lb out of the handicap there but can run off his true mark in this.

The 11-year-old also has Aintree experience from his 2022 Randox Grand National run, where he went so wide all the way round it was no wonder this doubtful stayer didn’t get home. He is 19lbs lower than that run for this and he definitely went with enthusiasm for a good while last time. 

He is equipped with a first-time visor instead of cheekpieces now, and the hope is that the new headgear -  along with the shorter trip - might make him a bit stronger in the finish.

Jonjo O’Neill’s gelding is a maiden running in only his second handicap and that is not a usual angle for me to take in such a competitive race, but I fancy him to at least go close. 

Country Park would almost certainly have broken his maiden at Ascot in December but for falling two out and he has since run well in another novice at the track. Last time, he was an excellent fourth in the very strong handicap won by Altobelli in February, again at Ascot. Those races were over 2 ½ miles and his effort flattened out towards the finish after making an eye-catching run.

It is possible that a very well-run two miles might suit him very well now and he will be ridden by Benjamin Macey, who is doing well for the yard and claims a valuable 7lbs.