Saturday horse racing tips: Katie Midwinter's Aintree bets

This veteran performer has been in flying form this season, recording five wins and finishing second twice.

He was pulled up on his previous run at Uttoxeter but had excuses, and remains on a career-high mark of 125. Whilst this will likely be the toughest assignment he has faced, he will be suited by the softer conditions and is a strong stayer, so is capable of making the frame at a big price.

A competitive race on paper, Ile Atlantique could represent some value in a high-quality field. He has finished among the top three in all seven of his starts, and finished a close second in a Naas Grade One earlier in the season before finishing third behind the impressive Ballyburn, with reopposing Jimmy Du Seuil in second, in the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. 

Although he is not the choice of stable jockey Paul Townend, he has Patrick Mullins aboard again and can improve on his recent effort to spring a surprise in this contest, with conditions in his favour.

The classy gelding has been seen sparingly in the past couple of seasons due to injury problems, but returned in good order with a Grade Two victory in the Galmoy Hurdle. 

He was pulled up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup when last seen, when making his first appearance over fences since April 2021, and was reported to have bled from the nose. 

The return to the smaller obstacles should allow him to be more competitive at this stage in his career, and he certainly has the ability on his day.

A recent JP McManus purchase, Meetingofthewaters was a convincing winner of the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over the Festive period off a rating of 130. 

Subsequently given a 15lb rise by the handicapper, he unseated at the Dublin Racing Festival before taking his chance in the Ultima and finished third. 

He's shaped like a strong stayer and looks the type that will be suited by the test of a Grand National. Still relatively unexposed, he could be capable of showing further improvement, and his low weight is also a positive factor.

An impressive winner over point-to-point winner Kingston Pride in a Lingfield bumper when last seen, this gelding had shown great improvement from his debut run, and can take another step forward here. 

Heavy ground may not be in his favour but the mostly dry forecast provides hope it won’t be too testing, and he holds strong each-way claims if able to cope with conditions.