While the Grand National takes centre stage on the final day of the meeting, Gavin Cromwell can get a boost before the big one with Flooring Porter in the Grade One Liverpool Hurdle.
The nine-year-old was denied a third straight victory in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle at last month's Cheltenham Festival, when he was beaten by three-and-threequarters-of-a-length by the Gordon Elliott-trained Teahupoo. But with that rival not heading to Aintree, Flooring Porter can gain some compensation with victory in the Grade One contest.
A strong stayer and a horse who generally goes well from the front, Flooring Porter looks set to land a first victory at Aintree having been placed second and third for the past two seasons.
Elliott's dual Liverpool Hurdle hero Sire Du Berlais should run well, but the latter is now 12 and will surely find his younger rivals just too good and may have to settle for a place in his hat-trick bid. Fergal O'Brien's Crambo, who disappointed coming home ninth when well-fancied for the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham, could bounce back and go close.
CALDWELL POTTER can make a winning debut for Paul Nicholls in the Grade One Turners Mersey Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.55pm).
Bought for a world record selling price of €740,000 (£632,000) the most ever paid for a National Hunt horse at public auction - the six-year-old bypassed the Cheltenham Festival to wait for his debut at Aintree.
This story is from the April 13, 2024 edition of The Herald.
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This story is from the April 13, 2024 edition of The Herald.
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