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WITH Cheltenham a month away, most of the trials have been done and dusted for the Cotswolds track and the focus has been turned to the Grand National at Aintree in April.

Cue the big betting race of this afternoon, the Grand National Handicap Chase over an extended three-and-a-half miles at Haydock, 3.15.

The likelihood is the ground will not be as testing as usual with soft definitely in the going description, but certainly not heavy. With only five outings under his saddle, the lightly raced Jubilee Express is likely to start favourite, but I am very happy to oppose him off his new mark of 135, 12lbs higher than when second to subsequent Welsh National hero, Val Dancer at Chepstow. That duo will race within the same weight match-up here and as such hold solid and obvious claims.

But I want to be on the side of FAMOUS BRIDGE, set to carry a feather weight of just 10-2 (a rating of 138) and come here a very fresh horse having just gone to post twice since March 2024. He stayed on at the one pace behind the impressive Egbert in the Tommy Whittle in December and promises to be well suited by the extra yardage, merely 3lbs higher than for his last career win over fences. Fontaine Collonges is always to be feared around here but he is also very hit and miss, capable at his best of winning and equally liable to be pulled up.

The rest of the card at the Merseyside track looks very tricky. Supremely West looks sure to go well under top weight in the qualifier at 12.55, but he may well be pushed to give up 15lbs to massive outsider BINGOO.

The selection last won off 121 at Aintree over two-and-a-half miles and his last two starts, although on the surface look poor, have been promising especially his run in Carlisle on his comeback in autumn. Dropped 3lbs for those two runs, the nine-year-old looks very interesting at a double-figure price on his very first start over an extended three miles and I trust he will stay comprehensively.

Later on, EATON COLLINA can land the veterans chase at 2.05, while the Rendlesham Hurdle (2.40) not surprisingly has a bit more depth to it. A solid pace looks always guaranteed with Grand National hope Beauport, who is set to be at the sharp end as he was at Ascot when running a blinder behind Crambo in the Long Distance Hurdle.

This if anything is easier, but I am suggesting that he would probably want deeper ground and could be vulnerable here in the closing stages to Botox Has and GWENNIE MAY BOY.

He may well be the lowest-rated in the field, but as a confirmed hold up charge the selection will be best suited by the way this extended three-mile race will be run. The seven-year-old remains fairly lightly raced and if he can take another step forward here, I suspect he will be the one to challenge last and like Aintree, the set-up of Haydock Park suits him well with the long run for home.

The Grade Two Albert Bartlett at 3.50 looks a good renewal this year with Moon Rocket and Derryhassen Paddy at the top of my private ratings list. Of the pair I much prefer the former following his neck second in the River Don at Doncaster. That day the son of Doyen looked certain to win racing down to the second last, but his hurdling was less than fluent which put him on the back foot after the last before closing up again close to home.

However, this pair have been found in the market and the each-way call against both of them has to be BATTLE BORN LAD coming from off a lay-off. He beat subsequent Challow Hurdle runner-up Wendigo, comfortably at Hexham with the form further cemented by the last named at Wetherby last week.

Staying was always going to be the name of the game for the six-year-old and although he will once again need a significant step up in form, this will be only his fifth career start and only his second over hurdles, and I regard him as a mighty staying prospect.

As per normal the Kingwell Hurdle (Wincanton, 1.36) has attracted just a small field of four. However, with Greatwood Hurdle hero Burdett Road in the field, we should get a good end to end gallop.

But can the five-year-old give up 8lbs to Dawn Run Mares Novice Hurdle winner GOLDEN ACE? The drying ground will be hugely in her favour and she should be able to take advantage on these terms.

THE WREKIN (4.00) can take advantage of the 12lbs he is set to receive from the hat-trick seeking De Tellers Fortune in the extended three-mile chase, while I shall also be having an interest on WESTERN HARMONY in the staying handicap hurdle at 4.35.

The ground will also be semi-decent at Ascot with good to soft the name of the game at the Berkshire track. Greyval looks a serious player in the opening staying hurdle at 1.15, but the nod goes to BLUE HOP. With just 10 runs under his belt, this eight-year-old has no miles on the clock and the first step up to three miles last time out at Doncaster saw a career best effort when he fired clear to the tune of three-and-three-quarter lengths and more from his 16 rivals.

It is clear that staying is the name of the game for the selection and there is surely more to come from him off only a 6lbs higher mark.

Later on at the Berkshire track, PEAKY BOY (1.50) could be the answer to the Reynoldstown Novice Chase in receipt of 5lbs from Jingko Blue, while SPIRIT D’AUNOU (2.25) will be hard to beat off a dropping mark of just 127 less than the 5lbs claim of the reliable Freddie Mitchell.

Finally, have a second look at SNIPE off bottom weight in the valuable Swinley Premier Handicap Chase. He may just have needed the run behind Docpickedme in the Great Yorkshire Chase when he made a right mess of the final fence, yet still finished third beaten a mere four-and-a-quarter lengths.