1:45 EFT Systems Maghull Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 176y

Jonbon gets the default vote in a Maghull Novices’ Chase made weaker by the expected defection of Banbridge.

His main danger on form is Turners’ runner-up Notlongtillmay but the form of that race took a knock on Thursday and Laura Morgan’s gelding isn’t certain to appreciate the drop back to two miles now.

2:25 Village Hotels Handicap Hurdle 3m 149y

West Balboa does have stamina to prove conclusively for this trip, but she was one of only four to complete in a gruelling Lanzarote Hurdle over 2m 5f at Kempton in February and I would be surprised if she lacked the staying power required based on that gutsy win. Dan Skelton has sensibly given her time to get over that contest and she makes most appeal, arriving fresh off a 13-week break.

3:00 Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 4f

It’s hard to know how to play the Mersey, with Hermes Allen blotting his record at Cheltenham, but the form of his impressive Challow Hurdle win was again franked when Shewearsitwell landed the Mares’ Novice at that meeting.

Hermes Allen came in for a rare poor ride from Harry Cobden, who insisted on challenging on the outside of Champ Kiely despite that rival continually lugging to his right through the contest.

It’s probably worth forgiving that effort all things considered, but I’ve decided to go down the each-way route with one who bypassed Cheltenham.

Katiera is not an easy mare to put a figure on, but her only defeat to date came when given far too much to do in the Nickel Coin Mares’ Bumper here last year, and she has won with great authority on her last two starts over hurdles, at Huntingdon and Market Rasen.

The latter track is an unlikely springboard for graded winners, you’d imagine, but that feat has been achieved already this week, with Dysart Enos bolting up in the Nickel Coin on the back of her win in the Alan Swinbank Mares’ Bumper at the Lincolnshire venue.

There is certainly more improvement to come from Katiera, and she will benefit from the return to two and a half miles, given her stout pedigree (half-brother El Presente placed in the Bet365 Gold Cup), so she is worthy of each-way support.

3:35 JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m 149y

Several of Nicky Henderson’s high-profile runners at Cheltenham last month were disappointing having been opposed in the market, and one of those was Marie’s Rock, who was ousted as favourite for the Mares’ Hurdle and ran well below her best having travelled as well as any until the second-last hurdle.

Given Shishkin – similarly opposed – was able to bounce back to his best in the Aintree Bowl on Thursday, I’d be hopeful that Marie’s Rock can also get back to the form she was showing before the Festival.

It doesn’t take much trawling through the formbook to pinpoint her chances here, and a comprehensive defeat of the ultra-consistent Dashel Drasher in the Relkeel Hurdle on her seasonal return is as good as any of these can muster this season, albeit at a shorter trip than today’s.

The question with the daughter of Milan is whether she will stay the longer trip, but her trainer was toying with the idea of running her in the Stayers’ Hurdle, so he clearly thinks the trip is within her scope. While she was once too keen to get home over this sort of trip, she settled better behind Dashel Drasher in the Relkeel, and an end-to-end gallop will ensure she doesn’t waste energy.

4:15 William Hill Handicap Chase 3m 210y

Beauport ran an absolute cracker when fourth in the three-mile handicap hurdle on this card 12 months ago. Although he has not yet built on the huge promise of his chase debut success in the Colin Parker Memorial at Carlisle, he remains likely to reach the same or a higher level over fences in time.

A thoroughly likeable type, he had an impossible task when trying to concede weight to The Real Whacker in the Dipper at Cheltenham in January and shaped much better than the bare result under positive tactics in the Kim Muir over 3¼m there last month.

He weakened late as if finding that trip on a stiff track beyond him, but it’s also worth noting that he lost a shoe. This lesser test will suit and he is reunited with regular rider Jordan Nailor here.

It’s not easy to be confident about Beauport’s chances here given his recent form figures, but he has been shaping up pretty well, and the handicapper has given him a chance, with his mark now 6lb lower than when an unlucky loser over hurdles here last year.

5:15 Randox Grand National Handicap Chase 4m 2f 74y

Runner-by-runner Guide on 67

Capodanno is taken to confirm the trend towards younger horses in the Grand National after the victory of seven-year-old Noble Yeats last year. He would have been on the Gold Cup trail this year but for a setback which saw him miss the autumn, but that could be a blessing in disguise, and he’s sure to improve a chunk for his return in the Red Mills Chase at Gowran, where he was conceding 9lb to Janidil and Haut En Couleurs.

I’m delighted to see Danny Mullins on board, and believe Capodanno has the requisite class to defy 11st 5lb.

Corach Rambler is an obvious danger given he’s officially 10lb ahead of the handicapper. Vanillier is another who is well weighted in terms of raw ability, and he ran his best race over fences when a fast-finishing second when conceding weight to Kemboy in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse. He can lose ground with hesitant jumping, but if he learns he go through these softer fences then he has an engine equal to anything in the race.

Mr Incredible has been called a few names, and perhaps justifiably so, but he’s got back on track with placed efforts in the Classic Chase and Kim Muir on his last two starts, and also ticks the right boxes, while Our Power impressed at Kempton in February, and will relish a thorough test of jumping/stamina on that evidence.

West Balboa 2:25 Aintree – 1pt e/w at 13/2 (general – 6 places)

Katiera 3:00 Aintree – 0.5pts e/w at 14/1 (Bet365, Unibet – 4 places)

Marie’s Rock 3:35 Aintree – 1pt win at 4/1 (general)

Capodanno 5:15 Aintree – 1.5pts e/w at 20/1 (Ladbrokes, Coral, Unibet)