As ever, this year’s prestigious Grand National Handicap Chase is open to many chances, with the modification of the fences, coupled with a reduced field, it may be wise to respect those to the front of the market. My shortlist consists of: Grangeclare West, Jagwar, Quai De Bourbon, but I’m drawn to an each-way play on GORGEOUS TOM for trainer Henry De Bromhead.

The eight-year-old has threatened to show his hand in major handicap chase company — including when a fine fourth to the reopposing Panic Attack at Newbury in November, despite a slow beginning in that contest. A subsequent fifth at Leopardstown ought to have him spot-on for this major assignment, and with good ground expected to suit, his is a genuine lively outside at fair each-way odds.

We don’t know if he’ll stay the distance, but his staying-on efforts this season suggest he has a chance of doing so. 

I have had last year’s 4th, Iroko, firmly on my Grand National list, given that the J P McManus-owned runner has excellent stamina for this test. However, his lacklustre Cheltenham festival run has dampened my enthusiasm, and I prefer stablemate JAGWAR.

He is another McManus-owned participant, who is no stranger to success for us, having won over 2m4f, earlier in the season. Connections clearly eyed up a rise in trip, bringing out further improvement, when sending the son of Cokoriko to the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham, earlier this month. He was an agonising 2nd, having made a few jumping errors, before staying on strongly, suggesting he is definitely worth a try at this marathon event.

That excellent run meant he was raised 5lb in the official ratings, which means he is 5lb ahead of the handicapper (Grand National weights were announced prior to the Cheltenham Festival). His dubious jumping is a concern, but I’m hopeful that the modified National fences are manageable.

Salvator Mundi is greatly respected, following a facile success at Thurles in February. The Willie Mullins-trained No Risk At All gelding is open to significant progress over fences, on just his fourth chase outing, and brings considerable ability to the race, as Grade One winner over hurdles at this venue. He is worth a saver, in case his class propels him to success.

At the forecast prices, I feel that I’m just edging towards MIGHTY BANDIT, who has the potential to find further improvement this season. The Warren Greatrex-trained runner arrives after a hat-trick of chase wins this term — notably including a ready success in Grade Two company at Doncaster last time. He may have to sit in behind the aforementioned rival, today, but I’m hopeful that as he’s been kept fresh for this assignment, he can go close.

I’m loathed to discard Supremely West, who easily won for us at the Cheltenham festival, but I’m searching for a spot of each-way value, courtesy if IKARAK. The Middleham Park-owned eight-year-old ran a fine third to the aforementioned at Cheltenham last month and has only been raised a pound in the weights. This flatter circuit may prove to be a positive and he holds place claims at big odds, if able to replicate his latest outing.

This appears a modest Grade One Hurdle over 2m4f. A lightly-raced son of Jack Hobbs, BOSSMAN JACK is a strong contender, as a dual hurdle winner, who arrives here after a promising Cheltenham festival sixth. That effort came in the 2m5f G1 Turners Novices’ Hurdle, and considering he made a bad blunder of the last hurdle, he ran creditably. This represents the next logical step for him and this is certainly a winnable hurdle at the top level.

CHANCE ANOTHER ONE may appear a fanciful selection, on the basis of his recent form, but I think he may be about to peak, from a handicap mark of 129. The seven-year-old hasn’t featured in a pair of strong handicap chases this season, but he is in good hands and may be able to improve on this quicker surface. He is unexposed over fences and I’d be even more interested if there was any market support.

This Grade One prize is a wide-open affair, with numerous contenders. Last year’s winner, HIDDENVALLEY LAKE, is given the nod, following a similar preparation to last season.  He was downfield in a Grade Two Hurdle, prior to scoring last season, and repeated that with a fifth of six at Navan in February. He is clearly expected to improve considerably, for a trainer who landed a winner for this column on Thursday.

As ever, this looks like a tricky-to-decipher flat race, with numerous improving types. LOOK ME is certainly one of the potentially smart horses, after showing plenty of ability when winning a Fairyhouse second-time-out in February. The third has subsequently won, which gives the form a piece of substance. Willie Mullins and these owners teamed up with the winner of this race last term, which bodes well for this runner.