Grand Sefton and Bechers Chase at Aintree

Today´s Aintree fixture features two valuable handicap chases run over the Grand National fences - the Grand Sefton over 2 miles 5 furlongs at 13.35 CET and the Becher Chase over 3 1/4 miles at 14.45. Nigel Twiston-Davies has his string in great form - and almost turned over Kauto Star yesterday - and has good chances in both races. In the former he saddles the consistent Nudge and Nurdle (Paddy Brennan), who won in good style last time, while in the latter he has two fancied runners, Hello Bud (Brennan), winner of last year´s Scottish National, and Irish Raptor (Timmy Murphy), a course specialist - always an advantage here. The one they both have to beat is top-weight Vic Venturi (Dessie Hughes/ Paddy Flood), whose stable won this last year. In the opening maiden hurdle, Sitting Tennant (Howard Johnson/ Denis O´Regan), beaten at long odds-on last time, can make up for this embarrassment, although Overturn (Donald McCain/ Jason Maguire) is an interesting recruit from the flat . We also like the look of German-bred Wendel (Charlie Mann/ Paul Moloney) in the handicap hurdle at 14.10. He was a non-runner in a much tougher race yesterday at Haydock and despite top weight, should account for this much weaker opposition.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Sitting Tennant - Overturn - Kensington Oval
2. Race: Nudge And Nurdle - Bible Lord - Craiglands
3. Race: Wendel - Woody Waller - Dancing Dik
4. Race: Vic Venturi - Irish Raptor - Hello Bud
5. Race: Fourty Acers - Justwhateverulike - Silly Wupple
6. Race: Shadow Dancer - King Fontaine - Paddy Live