Grand National Betting / Timeform / 03 April 2009 / Leave a comment

The second race at Aintree on Saturday is the Maghull Novices' Chase and it should go some way to identifying the season's leading two-mile novice chaser, says Timeform.

The all-resolving contest that usually is the Arkle left more questions than answers at the Cheltenham Festival three weeks ago.

First, the favourite Tatenen added a rare blemish to Ruby Walsh's otherwise stellar Festival when falling at the third. His previous form was made to look all the better when Crescent Island and Straw Bear, who he'd beaten most decisively earlier in the campaign, both ran well in the Jewson later on in the week. Usually a sound jumper, and bidding to become Paul Nicholls' fifth winner of this race since 1999, this looks a good opportunity for him to plant himself at the top of the tree.

One must also question the form of the Arkle when you consider the winner, Forpadydeplasterer, had been beaten three times in graded company prior to that. He'd held off the fast-finishing Kalahari King, whose effort was easily a career-best, and who arguably would have won had he had more use made of him. Ferdy Murphy's eight-year-old should be well suited by Aintree and sets a reasonable standard.

A little over eight lengths behind Kalahari King in fourth was Made In Taipan. A front runner, Made In Taipan has finished in the frame on every one of his starts over fences and his effort in the Arkle was a good one, able to lead and travelling and jumping with plenty of fluency. He'll need to improve again to beat an on-song Kalahari King and Tatenen but he's no forlorn hope for a place.

Despite finishing seventh, Cornas was another to shape well. His finishing position doesn't do justice to the manner in which he went through the race for the most part, going best of all when a stumble on landing two out put paid to his chance. That was only his third start over fences, and he should still do better.

Song of Songs has won two of his three starts over fences and his latest effort, when beating Deep Purple by a length and a quarter at Sandown last month, was franked by that one's good run in the Manifesto Chase on Thursday. He's capable of further improvement, but this is a massive step up in class, and his only other visit to Aintree proved a massive disappointment, pulled up when favourite in the opening handicap hurdle on Grand National day last year.

Doctor David's best form this term has come on flat, galloping tracks, so he can't be dismissed entirely here, his emphatic success over Kalahari King at Haydock in December still fresh in the mind. He'd likely need a career-best to win though and doesn't strike as having the scope for as much improvement as some others in the race.

Completing the line-up is Premier Dane, who is far from straightforward, and looks out of his depth in this company.