The unexpected scratching of Bravemansgame from the Grade One Aintree Bowl on Wednesday evening has robbed the race of its likely favourite, but it is a measure of its strength in depth that it is still the undoubted highlight on the opening day of the Grand National meeting.
Shishkin, Britain’s top-rated chaser, has taken over at the head of the market and takes on Conflated, third home in last month’s Gold Cup, as well as two more high-class opponents who did out fare so well in the Cheltenham Festival’s feature event.
