Aintree Betting: Decision made on Mon Parrain

Paul Nicholls has further revelations on how he intends to deploy the Aintree squadrons

We have made a decision with Mon Parrain, and he goes for the Topham on the Friday at Aintree.

Everyone knows how much he surprised, and delighted me, in equal measure at Sandown, and he is clearly a very exciting horse.

But for people to talk about him as a Grade 1 horse at this stage is a bit premature, so we have sidestepped the Totesport Bowl on Thursday. At the end of the day he only won a soft handicap off a mark of 133 last time.

Of course he was very impressive in winning by 22 lengths, and most people have remarked about his brilliant jumping there. And when he schooled over the National-type fences here he was again awesome.

So we think the Topham is the right race for him at this stage of his career, and he looks to have a favourite's chance given luck in-running. But it clearly will be a very competitive race.

Elsewhere, I have decided to bypass Aintree with Neptune Collonges - we will aim him at the Scottish National.

And looking further ahead to Punchestown, we will hopefully have a very strong team there too.

Silviniaco Conti has taken a while to come to hand this spring but he goes to Ireland for the three miler, and Tataniano is back in full work now.

Throw in the likes of Kauto Star and Rebel Rebellion (2m4f novices' hurdle), and others doing the Aintree-Punchestown double, and we may have a strong hand there.

Paul Nicholls / 5 Apr 2011