Tipping / Timeform / 08 April 2010 /

With the pot sure to be bulging on the first day of Aintree's Grand National meeting, and with competitive handicaps complementing trappy graded events and big-field hunters, Timeform's Placepot team are doubly determined to grab a slice of the action.

2.00 - The mantra "bet against the crowd" should be repeated in silent meditation by all of those in search of Placepot enlightenment. However, even the most steadfast of disciples will be tested by the Liverpool Hurdle, with odds-on Big Buck's towering over his rivals in the staying hurdlers' division. Our journey to Nirvana is nowhere near complete enough to resist banking on one of the shortest-priced runners likely to be seen at Aintree all week.

2.35 - It would be no surprise if Sanctuaire was to prove the season's leading juvenile hurdler so impressive was his win in the Fred Winter at last month's Cheltenham Festival; though with plenty of support sure to be weighted behind the Paul Nicholls-trained favourite, we'll side with Notus de la Tour, runner-up in the Fred Winter giving weight to his conqueror that day. Nafaath is making a significant step up in class, though he looked set to at least match his useful Flat form when making light work of a maiden at Ayr last time, the placed runners having both endorsed the form since.

3.10 - With the very real prospect of Carruthers and Nacarat grappling for the lead in the totesport Bowl, taking What A Friend as well as Gold Cup hero Imperial Commander looks the way to go. Banking on Nigel Twiston-Davies gelding was considered long and hard, being head and shoulders above his rivals in form terms, though his failure to string together back-to-back good runs in the past remains a sufficient concern for now.

3.45 - Course form over the National fences will become a hot topic later in the week, but allow us to bring forward such arguments by taking Christy Beamish to place in the Foxhunter. Although now in his teenage years, Christy Beamish won this race in 2008 and was runner-up in both 2006 and 2009, while recent point form suggests there's still some enthusiasm there. Although placing favourites in one's perm is something to avoid where possible, so consistent is Cheltenham Foxhunter winner Baby Run that he cannot be ignored in the often-treacherous punting sphere of hunters.

4.20 - Watch My Back had been progressive prior to his slightly disappointing run at Cheltenham, and for all his occasional lapse in the jumping department he looks to have been written off all too quickly. Doctor David has proven time and again that he's capable of hitting the frame from this sort of mark, while Nikola is a consistent type on the whole and shaped as though he'd come on for the run when seventh in the Grand Annual last time.

4.55 - With seven runners in this Grade 2, caution is advised even with the option of place-laying our way to a guaranteed profit should our perm have survived this far. Somersby is hard to ignore, his performance in the Arkle suggesting both that he is a novice of the very highest order and that he's more than ready for this sort of trip. With sound jumping at a premium for these novices at Aintree, the second spot is given to Hey Big Spender, who is tackling graded company over fences for the first time but brings solid handicap form to the table, impressing with how he handled the fences at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day in particular.

Selections:

2.00 - 1
2.35 - 6, 7
3.10 - 3, 5
3.45 - 1, 6
4.20 - 4, 5, 14
4.55 - 2, 5

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