After Cheltenham's Showcase meeting, you'd be right to think that the standard of racing couldn't get much better this weekend for the time of year but you would be wrong.
Aintree holds their first meeting of the winter jumps campaign on Sunday, and we have the classic which is the Old Roan that headlines all the action on the day, where Nuts Well will be looking to follow up last year's success with another win in the race.
We also have a veterans chase to look forward to, alongside a mare's bumper which saw a useful prospect win it last year in Elle Est Belle, so let's get previewing.
The first race of the day is a Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle over 3m, where 14 runners line up to try and land the prize.
Trainer Tristian Davidson, who's a milkman by trade from Carlisle, has two live chances in the race with Justatenner and Bootlegger, the latter having top conditional jockey Kevin Brogan on board.
I'd side with Bootlegger because Justatenner got his win last time out, but there is still plenty of other horses in with a chance in this race, The Grand Visir has been excellent on the flat for Ian Williams, and a switch to hurdles is very interesting.
Uno Mas has also been rejuvenated as of late for Christian Williams with Ellis Collier doing the steering.
This horse is still dangerous on the form he is in, and he might not have reached his limit again at the minute, and could really pose a threat to my selection Bootlegger.
Race two is a Veterans Handicap Chase over 3m, where nine runners go to post, and it's always a tricky race to go through.
A lot of these horses always usually need a run to get going, and Black Op seems to be class angle in the race, who should win if anything like his old best.
Tom George usually has his horses fit and ready to roll and this could help his horse here.
Minellacelebration won this last season for Katy Price, and despite not being at his best this term, he could well thrive on his return to the track and still run well.
Potters Corner is another interesting horse in the race for Christian Williams, after having a fantastic 2019 he failed to get going last season with some dissapointing performances, he could well bounce back here though.
Captain Chaos is a risky horse to go with for a selection, this horse has took his time to get going the last few seasons, but this race looks tailor made for one of his front running displays, due to the lack of pace which seems to be on offer.
If he does go forward and get in his rhythm, the course and distance winner could be hard to stop, but you'll know as soon as he lines up whether he's going to do that so, there's the risk to it.
Now onto the Grade 2 Class 1 Old Roan Handicap Chase, and this feature race has loads of interesting contenders to deal with here.
Last year's winner Nuts Well has leading claims again for Danny McMenamin and Ann Hamilton, and despite now being off a career high mark, he showed last time at Kelso he still retains all of his ability and can still win this.
Tamaroc Du Mathan was last seen up at Ayr struggling to deal with Allmankind, despite looking like he was running to nowhere near his best.
He was brilliant at Kempton back in February though, and he's now getting 12lbs from Allmankind and that could play to his advantages this time around knowing fine well Harry Cobden and Paul Nicholls will have him right and ready to go.
Killer Clown is also a contender for Emma Lavelle and Tom Bellamy, and this horse stays further than this trip which could play to his strengths if they go hard out in front, which they probably will with Allmankind being here.
He's had a win operation ahead of this, and it might just take him this run to blow the cobwebs away so he could still be best watched here until he runs again.
Itchy Feet goes for Gavin Sheehan and Olly Murphy and he finished 3rd in this race 12 months ago.
His jumping has been sketchy since then but he looked as though he was returning back to his best last time and he might be able to answer the questions that are starting to be asked of him.
I've always liked Allmankind though, and his run at Chepstow last time has set him up perfectly for this, he might be in different waters now, but he's shown plenty to suggest he's capable of taking something like this off a mark of 160.
For me I think it could be him or Nuts Well, but we'll know a lot more about Allmankind after this, because we'll be able to tell whether he is actually a horse who's got a chance off a high mark.
The fourth race is a 2m 4f Maiden Hurdle with 15 runners in it, and plenty of decent bumper horses from last season taking part.
Gelino Bello was impressive on his debut at Plumpton, before following that up with a third in the listed bumper at Newbury, and could take well to hurdles for Nicholls and Cobden.
Bill Baxter finished fourth in that bumper at Newbury and he's one to keep a close eye on for the Greatrex and Sheehan combination, while Doctor Ken took his time to get off the mark in bumpers but he got there eventually, and he might not take three attempts to win over hurdles.
Lakota Warrior is also interesting for the Skeltons off the back of a wind operation, and even though me might need the run, it was clear he showed promise last season at Warwick, before running no type of race and not handling the ground up at Kelso when well fancied on his last start.
His stable won the race last year with 50/1 shot Real Stone and it would be no surprise to see them do it again.
A Class 2 Handicap Hurdle is up next over 2m 4f with eight runners taking part here.
Pounding Poet looks to hold favouritism for the two Tom's in Tom Lacey and Tom Scudamore, and this horse has improved slowly over the spring with wins at Southwell and Warwick and the 8lb rise might just not stop him yet.
Mackleduff is really interesting switching to handicap company already, and his mark of 115 could look laughable if he produces anything like he did when he won at Southwell in May for Aidan Coleman and Olly Murphy.
Riggs fell on his last start for the Skeltons but travelled all over the small field at Uttoxeter, and could quite easily still find his mark workable with despite some other horses look better treated.
Winningseverything travelled really well last time and looked like the winner all over, but he folded tamely that day, and the win op he has had since could really prove vital to his chances here.
Harry Fry has him on a good mark and with Lorcan Murtagh taking off 3lbs with his claim, that could come in handy, and this horse is definitely one for the placings.
I'll take a chance with Winningseverything, but is Mackleduff is up to handicaps then he could be very hard to beat.
The sixth race is a Class 3 Novices' Limited Handicap Chase over 3m with eight runners going under starters orders again.
It's a difficult race to go through and Sail Away is one to watch closely after having a wind operation for the Skeltons and looking as though he'll be better over shorter in time.
Morning Spirit takes to fences for the Jonjo O'Neill's and was a decent hurdler so could be interesting, while Pats Fancy goes for Adam Wedge and Rebecca Curtis and is best watched in the market as regards to his chances.
Corach Rambler is my pick here though for Derek Fox and Lucinda Russell because the trip looks likely to suit him more than the 2 and a half miles he went over on chasing debut.
We finish the day with the Mares' Bumper where as previously mentioned the exciting Elle Est Belle won this race with ease last season.
In truth, any horse could obviously win it because we have no form or evidence to pick out any certainties, but I have to say that Lady Excalibur ran well at Uttoxeter last Saturday, leaving it a little too late, and is now partnered by Harry Cobden for this outing.
Ma Belle Noire also looks good for Harry Fry and Lorcan Murtagh, with this horse not getting the best of runs when finishing third at Southwell back in May.
She's had a wind operation since and it could just help her put it all together now for this race.
The other shout has to come from last year's winning yard, who obviously target this race now as a race some of their more interesting bumper horses can go in.
Blue Suede Shoes is related to bumper winners and could well be the answer to this tricky end to the card.
That's the Old Roan day fully previewed though, and hopefully we haven't used all our luck at Cheltenham and have left some still for Aintree!
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