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Liverpool Echo

Entertainment

Chris Wright

Grand National 2022: Flooring Porter can double up in Stayers' Hurdle at Aintree

Flooring Porter Aintree (Facility) Grand National Edwardstone Nicky Henderson Paul Nicholls Willie Mullins

ENJOY D'ALLEN can win the Randox Grand National (5.15pm), while FLOORING PORTER may also be on target in the JRL Group Liverpool Stayers’ Hurdle (3.35pm) at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday afternoon.

Ciaran Murphy's eight-year-old can land the big one but Flooring Porter may play a starring role in the Grade One on the undercard on the final day at Aintree.

Gavin Cromwell's seven-year-old landed back-to-back victories in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle at last month's Cheltenham Festival, benefiting from an enterprising front-running rider from Danny Mullins.

He proved he was the leading styer in Britain and Ireland with that fine success, beating the reopposing Thyme Hill – who won the Liverpool Hurdle last season – by two-and-three-quarters-of-a-length.

Although clearly Thyme Hill enjoys it at Aintree and this will be Flooring Porter’s first run at the Liverpool track, if anything, the Irish raider may be more suited to the course.

He may have been pulled up at the Punchestown Festival after his first win at Cheltenham 12 months ago, but he can land the double which was completed four times by the mighty Big Buck’s and was last achieved by Thistlecrack in 2016.

Another Cheltenham winner, the Alan King-trained EDWARDSTONE, may also double up at Aintree in the Grade One Poundland Maghull Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (3pm).

Since being brought down by the fall of For Pleasure on his chasing debut at Warwick in November, the eight-year-old has been peerless over fences.

He has wracked up five wins in a row including the Grade One Close Brothers Henry VII Novices’ Chase at Sandown in December.

But his best and most recent success was an impressive one, winning the Grade One Sporting Life Arkle Trophy Challenge Novices’ Chase at last month’s Cheltenham Festival.

He jumped and travelled superbly there and he could be hard to beat as he looks to follow up on Merseyside.

The improving Willie Mullins-trained Gentleman De Mee may give him most to think about.

The Grade One Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.25pm) looks a competitive event and a case can be made for several including Paul Nicholls’ Stage Star , the Sam Thomas-trained Good Risk At All and Walking On Air from the Nicky Henderson stable.

Nicholls and Henderson are locked in a battle for the trainers’ championship but another who is in the fight, Dan Skelton, may land this valuable pot with ELLE EST BELLE to aid his bid for a first title.

The six-year-old won a bumper at Aintree on his debut last year and was also second in a Grade Two Mares’ National Hunt Flat Race at last year’s Grand National meeting.

She has won two of her four starts over obstacles at Listed level at Newbury and most recently Huntingdon in February.

Elle Est Belle is improving and may land a first Grade One victory.

The Grade Three Betway Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (4.15pm) has had some influence on future Grand Nationals with a number of winners being placed in the big one following success in this. While 2009 winner Don’t Push It famously provided Sir Tony McCoy with his Grand National victory three years later.

Venetia Williams is a Grand National-winning trainer with Mon Mome (2009) and she had DIDERO VALLIS entered in the world’s greatest steeplechase but his low handicap mark meant he was never likely to get in the race.

But off bottom weight of 10st1lb, he may be able to win the Betway Handicap Chase and hint at possible future participation in the Aintree showpiece.

The nine-year-old has run some fine races this season without winning. He was a decent sixth over the Grand National fences in the Unibet Becher at Aintree in December. And his third to stable-mate Chambard, beaten three-and-a-half lengths, in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham last time reads very well in the context of this race.

He can triumph at biggish odds and Cap Du Nord – from the Christian Williams’ stable who have been winning big staying chases for fun over recent months – should also go close.

The opener on Grand National day, the Grade Three EFT Construction Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.45pm), may go to the Ian Williams-trained PARTY BUSINESS .

Again there are a host of these in with chances of victory, but the six-year-old can come out on top.

He ran an eye-catching race when fifth in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle despite being badly hampered by a faller. He kept on well to finish so close and on this flatter track may gain compensation.

Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins dominated at the Cheltenham Festival with a record 10 winners over the four days. He hasn’t had many runners over the three days at Aintree but can at least win the finale, the Grade Two Weatherbys Nhstallions.Co.UK Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (GBB Race) (6.20pm), with RATH GAUL BOY.

He is two from two in bumpers in Ireland and can complete the hat-trick on his first trip to Britain.

Away from Aintree at Newcastle can Merseyside-born Grand National-winning trainer Donald McCain may have a good day with SEE THE SEA having a good chance in the Quinnbet Handicap Hurdle (2.50pm).