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SO HERE we are again 12 months on from I Am Maximus sprinting clear of his rivals in the 2024 Grand National. What last year’s race showed us or rather confirmed to us was that this greatest of races is no longer the massive test of horse and jockey that we have seen down through the years.

It’s four-and-a-quarter miles, not four-and-a-half, the fences on the second circuit take little jumping as the spruce has been knocked off the top of them and we are six horses down from the usual maximum field.

Yes we have to pander to public opinion, which — don’t get me wrong — does matter, but to my eyes still calling it the Grand National degrades the massive test that former jockeys and horses showed us when winning what I now call the old and real Grand National from days gone by.

Still, the powers that be are unlikely to yield and yet the most autocratic decision made has been to make sure there is at least some give in the ground. I suspect with all the warm weather around, Aintree will be aiming for good to soft turf which means any genuine good or — dare I whisper it? — even good to firm horses simply need not apply.

With the softer fences why do we need good to soft going? Let the weather take its course and let the track dry out if not for fast ground, but for genuinely good ground.

OK, now that I have got that off my chest, which one of the 34 runners will become victorious at around about 4.15?

I am not going to do my usual horse-by-horse guide as we are sure to have a proliferation of three- and four-star entries such is the now much more open nature of the Liverpool contest.

My top six plays are to be found at the bottom of this piece and my main bet both ante-post and day of the race is the Gordon Elliott-trained THREE CARD BRAG.

Since his staying hurdling days, this eight-year-old has seemed destined to run in this race. His shrewd trainer has placed him beautifully during his six-chase career, winning just the once and being placed on four other occasions. Arguably his best run came when running on strongly over three miles to beat Kanturk Kalanisi, after which I am not sure he wanted to be racing out in front in a small field at Navan, eventually beaten five lengths by Better Days Ahead when he was merely outpaced.

If he can stay close up on the first circuit and like many will hope to get into a nice jumping rhythm, then his stamina, off a lovely light weight could come into play post Melling Road.

Like many in the field, there is no guarantee he will get the extended four-and-a-quarter miles, but he promises to be suited by it.

Nick Rockett has been a slow-burner, but has found his form with aplomb this season. He is sure to stay but I just feel the handicapper has him in his pocket off his current mark of 163 and I have much more regard for Hyland.

Nicky Henderson has gone close in the past to winning this great race, but I doubt he has had a better contender than this young novice, who looked the perfect type for this when defying ground conditions he hated in the Trophy Handicap Chase but was a huge eye-catcher flying home up the final stretch to claim second spot.

Although not the biggest of horses, he has a mighty spring in his step and with luck in the run I simply cannot see him being out of the places against his more experienced rivals.

If there is a bit more juice in the ground than we anticipate, then Midlands National hero Beauport will be the choice of many to head the challenge from the home team, while the likes of Senior Chief (the De Bromhead team are on fire at the moment), Meetingofthewaters (seventh last year), Gold Cup winner Minella Cocooner and former runner-up Vanillier all have claims of varying degrees.

All could conceivably be turned over by last year’s winner I Am Maximus, who — let’s be honest — absolutely cruised by his rivals last year after being initially outpaced. I just feel that some of the light weights in the field may have too much for him this time around at the weights if they take to the occasion. Note I haven’t even mentioned the admirable Hewick, the well-backed Perceval Legallois, Irish National hero Intense Raffles or Stumptown! Well, now I have!

1/ THREE CARD BRAG

2/ Vanillier

3/ Hyland

4/ Minella Cocooner

5/ Meetingofthewaters

6/ Senior Chief

Of the other races at Aintree this afternoon I fancy a massive run from BO ZENITH (1.20) in the opening staying handicap hurdle. Trainer Nicky Henderson also has Jeriko Du Reponet in the field and near the top of the market following his cracking run in the Hurdle Final at the Cheltenham Festival. However, he has been found in the market place and his more lightly raced stable mate looks sure to relish this step up to three miles for the first time and at a price of around 20/1, he could well prove to be a springer in the market.

The Handicap Chase at 2.30, traditionally the race before the National, but now two off the big one, doesn’t look a good renewal this time around and may be set for one of the least exposed in this field in the form of a former Henderson charge PEAKY BOY. Now with Jonjo O’Neill, he ran a raggedy old race at Ascot last time out when jumping like a Blackpool donkey at the Berkshire track. If you are willing to ignore that run, with the return to going left-handed a plus, then off a handicap mark of 139 he could readily bounce back if his jumping holds up.

The hurdle at 3.05 is the one before the Grand National and there is a cracking field of 13 entered for this Grade One three-miler headed by Stayers Hurdle runner-up Teahupoo. He seemed to act OK on ground faster than he liked at Cheltenham, but was still outpaced close home by the remarkable Bob Olinger and may once again be susceptible in the closing stages again.

Last year’s winner Strong Leader will be fancied by many, but I much prefer the claims of HIDDENVALLEY LAKE who missed the big one at Cheltenham so will arrive here fit and fresh following his eye-catching running on second of 10 behind Crambo at Ascot after which he was a beaten favourite in the Galmoy Hurdle. If you can forgive him that run then anything in the region of 16/1 would look a cracking each-way play on only his 10^th career start under rules.