A TRIO of Grade 1 heroes face a right old smash-up in a compelling Melling Chase at Aintree today.

Yes people, Grand National mania might well be hotting up with just 24 hours to go before the main event.

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Will Sir Alex Ferguson be celebrating yet another big-money winner on Friday at Aintree?Credit: Paul Edwards
But it’s Ladies Day this afternoon, and for racing fans you won’t see anything sexier on track than the two and a half mile Melling!

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In their time, Jonbon, Protektorat and defending champion Pic D’Orhy have all been superb at Aintree.

Jonbon took the 2023 Maghull Novices’ Chase having landed the Top Novices’ Hurdle the year before, while Protektorat banged in the Manifesto in 2021.

With Pic D’Orhy — impressive 12 months ago — in the care of Paul Nicholls and Protektorat handled by Dan Skelton, this also has the subplot of being possibly crucial in the race to be champion trainer.

PROTEKTORAT (3.30) was huge for this column at Cheltenham and I see no reason why he won’t go in again.

The Ryanair winner stays this trip well in the mud. This is his trip.

ITV Racing gets under with a competitive William Hill Handicap Hurdle.

MAKING HEADWAY (2.20) looks like a horse crying out for further and gets a longer trip here for the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero team.

Let’s hope it’s a big day for them.

The Imperial Cup fourth goes well in mud and has point to point form over three miles. A terrific each-way chance.

Next up is the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle.

On paper PERSONAL AMBITION (2.55) has little chance with a rating of 131 and he’s likely to be the outsider of the field.

However, he goes in deep ground and will probably run from the front so he’s not one to totally dismiss.

Ben Pauling has always loved this horse and while he has to do much more than at Kelso last time I suspect Kielan Woods will have a good spin.

A few quid on each-way provided there are eight runners.

The Topham Chase next. Here we go over the National fences.

LIFE IN THE PARK (4.05) has to be proven over these fences but provided he doesn’t hate the place he has serious place claims for Henry de Bromhead and former Grand National heroine Rachael Blackmore.

The seven-year-old could still have loads of improvement after just 14 races and kept on really well in the Plate at Cheltenham.

This slightly longer trip is ideal and he has loads of form in big-field handicaps.

Back to Grade 1 company for the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle.

I’ve always loved SHANAGH BOB (4.40) and while there is a risk with any Nicky Henderson horse this week I’ll keep the faith.

He’s a very strong stayer who will go in the ground and looked really promising both at Plumpton in lesser class and a Grade 2 at Cheltenham in December.

The worry is he has obviously been off the track a while.

Make sure you grab tomorrow’s paper to get my all important Grand National pick and first four.

Not only that you’ll obviously get the biggest and best coverage of the great race, too. It is not to be missed, trust me!

Good luck! Yeeehaaa!

The seven-year-old could still have loads of improvement after just 14 races and kept on really well in the Plate at Cheltenham.

This slightly longer trip is ideal and he has loads of form in big-field handicaps.

Back to Grade 1 company for the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle.

I’ve always loved SHANAGH BOB (4.40) and while there is a risk with any Nicky Henderson horse this week I’ll keep the faith.