AINTREE GRAND NATIONAL MEETING - DAY 2 (FRIDAY)

We head towards the half-way stage of this years Aintree Grand National Meeting as the team previews all of Friday's action. 13:45 AINTREE

There’s no real evidence to suggest that Handstands won’t be as effective on this quicker ground, but it has to be a question mark.

Caldwell Potter was impressive at Cheltenham, but this is a different ball game and Stellar Story is a guaranteed stayer, but this might not be a sufficient test.

A chance is taken with Jordans. Bits a pieces of his form give him a lively chance, along with the step up in trip likely to suit, and some tactical speed may play to his advantage round here.

JORDANS (E/W)

written by Matt Polley

14:20 AINTREE

A few of these bumped into each other at Cheltenham last time though Wreckless Eric wasn't one of those and this step up in may well be in his favour. Denied a clear run in the Imperial Cup last time, he has already proven himself on this quicker surface and a chance will be taken on him gaining some compensation.

Be Aware was very heavily backed for the Coral Cup and he travelled ominously well for a long way before finding nothing approaching the last. He could well bounce back here, but he has a bit to find with Impose Toi on that effort and the last mentioned had a hard enough race.

Wade Out and Steel Ally make a good degree of appeal and have presumably been targeted at this, but the second dart thrown by us shall be on Helnwein who beat a few of these at Sandown last April. Hailing from the Alan King yard, he looks nailed on to be suited by the going and looks to be on a lenient looking mark.

HELNWEIN (E/W)

WRECKLESS ERIC (E/W)

written by Chris Connolly

15:30 AINTREE

A classy field of four. Protektorat goes well around Aintree and wasn’t entirely disgraced at Cheltenham. He can’t be entirely discounted. El Fabiolo is a class act and is the main rival to the selection. He fell early at Leopardstown and Navan was too bad to be true. He’s certainly better than that and write him off at your peril. However, Jonbon is the star of the show. Desperately unlucky to not be a Champion Chase winner, folllwing a bad mistake. He was imperious in this race last year and it’d be foolish to go against him.

JONBON (WIN)

written by Kieran McHugh

16:05 AINTREE

I must confess to any of our readers that this race has been a head-scratcher, and in all honesty the three I'm putting forward are very tentative.

A case could easily be made for half, if not more, of the field so nothing would come as a shock.

The first port of call when it came too picking my selections was finding horses with previous course experience. Aintree's unique national fences are a test for any horse but if they're proven to act well then it's a huge tick for any potential selection.

The second set of criteria that sprung to mind is if the horse acted on good or firmer ground. Despite the current 'Good to Soft' going Thursday's surface looked almost carpet like and although the officials may have dusted the surface with some water I'm sure the wind and the warm weather will ensure it has little to no impact.

The better ground ruled out two that made my shortlist in the form of James Du Berlais and Shantreusse.

As such the trio I'm left with are Fantastic Lady, The Goffer and at a larger price Adamantly Chosen. All three have experienced this course, albeit with varying degrees of success.

The Goffer and Adamantly Chosen like to be up near the pace, which should help with this shorter trip than they're both used to, the latter was going well in last years Grand National before fading so the distance should help.

Fantastic Lady has a very solid record over these fences, despite never winning here, but another placed performance is well within her grasp.

FANTASTIC LADY (E/W)

THE GOFFER (E/W)

ADAMANTLY CHOSEN (E/W)

written by Rory Paddock

16:40 AINTREE

An interesting and open handicap of unexposed novices stepping up in trip with many looking to have as much as potential as Califet En Vol at bigger odds. Gordon Elliott has a strong hand with Jacob’s Ladder, looking as if the ascent to 3m will suit well, and the progressive Familiar Dreams, a serial winner with a useful 7lb mares allowance.

Battle Born Lad has shown considerable promise alongside signs of rawness. At longer odds Crest Of Fortune has made the interesting choice to come here ahead of the 3m handicap on Saturday for his astute yard and can also progress over this distance.

FAMILIAR DREAMS (E/W)

CREST OF FORTUNE (E/W)

written by Alan Morris

17:15 AINTREE Similar to the 'Martin Pipe Handicap' at the Cheltenham Festival, this hurdles race for Conditional and Amateur jockeys looks really tough to decipher however, a chance is taken on two at big prices.

Irish raider Grimaud has been ultra consistent in all four of his career starts to date and finally won his first race last time out. That contest was super competitive, 20-runner maiden, now making his handicap debut off a fair mark, could continue to progress.

The second selection is currently priced at a massive 100/1, but despite not being one of the more fancied runners, it seems drastically overpriced. Cormier represents the yard of Brian Ellison and is partnered by promising young rider William Maggs. He's perhaps not the force of old, but a solid 6th-placed effort in an 18-runner contest at Kelso indicated he still has something left in the tank, and this former flat performer should absolutely relish this better ground, especially off such an attractive weight.

Of the rest both Afadil and Slugger should be there or thereabouts.

GRIMAUD (E/W)

CORMIER (E/W)

written by Rory Paddock