Fakir d`Oudairies like last year?

Aintree, Friday 8 April: In the midst of it all is the Grand National Festival at Aintree, where the Marsh Chase (4th race/16.30pm/250,000 pounds/4000m) known as The Melling Chase is one of the highlights today.

The Joseph O`Brien-prepared Fakir d`Oudairies (Mark Walsh) won the fixture twelve months ago. With another winning score in the Ascot Chase (Group 1) in February, the seven-year-old presented himself well prepared for today`s task. Also in top form is Funambule Sivola (Charlie Deutsch), who came home easily in the Game Spirit Chase (Group 2) against Sceau Royal (Daryl Jacob) and Hitman (Bryony Frost), and recently in the Queen Mother Champion Chase (Group 1) only had to acknowledge the strolling Energumene in front of him. For Sceau Royal, it will be his second start at Aintree in exactly six years. On that occasion he finished last in the Juvenile Hurdle (Group 1). Allmankind (Harry Skelton) won a Group 2 Handicap Chase here in October and is expected to finish well ahead in the National Spirit Hurdle (Group 2) despite his recent slip. Captain Guinness (Rachael Blackmore) has consistently performed well this season and, like Mister Fisher (James Bowen) who won the Silviniaco Conti Chase (Group 2), cannot be discounted.