JAKE PRICE’S GRAND NATIONAL LADIES DAY TIPS

The NAP on Friday comes in the Melling Chase, where Jonbon finally steps up in trip.

This 8yo has been running at the highest level over two miles throughout his career, but he's always looked like a horse who has wanted to go further, and I actually fancied him for the Ryanair this year as a result. Unfortunately, he never ended up going to Cheltenham having been a non-runner on the day, but he has still had a very successful campaign winning the Shloer at Cheltenham, the Tingle Creek at Sandown, and then finishing second in the Clarence House after some brutal mistakes.

Fingers crossed Nicky Henderson will have his horses back firing and ready to go for Aintree.

This 22-runner handicap is clearly competitive, but I really fancy Kateira for Dan Skelton to back up her brilliant performance at Aintree 12 months ago.

This Mare ran in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree last year, where she finished a very good second behind Irish Point - only beaten 3.5 lengths whilst also having Hermes Allen behind. That was clearly a top performance, but this season she looks to have been minded with a handicap in mind.

Third behind You Wear It Well on seasonal debut, she was then second behind Coquelicot in a Listed Mare's Hurdle at Kempton in November. Given a 110-day break until Kempton in March however, she returned in a 2m4f Handicap and was a very eye-catching 4th.

Off a mark of 136, she looks well treated for her return to Aintree, and surely this race was always on connections mind.

He's had a busy enough campaign already, but I thought that Venetia Williams' Frero Banbou looks to have strong claims in the Topham.

This 9yo made a good start to life over the Grand National fences in the Grand Sefton at entry in November when finishing third behind Geskille, and since then he's had a decent campaign, finishing second behind Kandoo Kid, third behind Fugitif and then second behind Shakem Up'arry. On his latest start he was 6th behind Shakem Up'arry in the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival, which was a good performance, but he's been dropped 2lb to a mark of 131 which makes him look competitive back over the Grand National fences.

I think he can go really well at a big price, especially as he handles the ground, loves this trip, and enjoys the fences.