AINTREE'S Grand National meeting gets underway today (thursday) with some high class racing to whet the appetite ahead of Saturday's showpiece.
And after a difficult Cheltenham Festival champion trainer Paul Nicholls looks set to take a large slice of the spoils on day one.
Irish Saint is my pick for the meeting's curtain raiser, a grade one juvenile hurdle with Ruby Walsh on board, while the trainer and jockey could make it two out of two with Silviniaco Conti who looks the class act in the Betfred Bowl Chase.
A mouth watering Aintree Hurdle features several top class performers but I am siding with the Nicky Henderson six year old Grandouet who was travelling beautifully and looking menacing before falling in the Champion Hurdle. The switch from Oscar Whisky by jockey Barry Geraghty is significant and with a solid round of jumping he will take some beating although The New One looks a big danger.
Elsewhere on the card the eight-year-old Bold Addition could land the Foxhunter's Chase while Astracad could follow up his second in the corresponding two mile Red Rum handicap chase last year for the Nigel Twiston Davies team.
Captain Conan is fancied to reverse Cheltenham form on a flatter track with Changing Times while Fago looks his main threat in the two mile four furlong novices chase.
Baby Shine looks the pick of the each way options in an open looking Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle.
2-Irish Saint
2.30-Silviniaco Conti
3.05-Grandouet
3.40-Bold Addition
4.15-Astracad EW
4.50- Captain Conan
5.25 Baby Shine EW
