Horse Racing Tips: Strong Leader aims for Liverpool retreat

Saturday at Aintree is of course headlined by the Grand National, a race sure to draw the attention of a wide audience like no other in the calendar.

The supporting card is strong, with seven races in all, and I've picked out three horse racing tips across the other contests.

13:20 Aintree - Park Of Kings each-way @ 12/1

Paul Nolan's PARK OF KINGS was an eye-catcher at Cheltenham last month, making stealthy late ground from the middle of the pack in the 24-runner Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle over two-and-a-half-miles.

He finished fifth in the end behind Wodhooh, with that mare advertising the form handsomely by finishing a gallant second to Lossiemouth in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle on Thursday.

Park Of Kings will run from an unchanged mare of 132 now and will be tackling this longer trip for only the second time. Mark Walsh takes over in the saddle and with FIVE places for each-way punters, they are solid contenders in the day three opener.

13:50 Aintree - Lulamba @ 11/10

Nicky Henderson is taking the brave option with LULAMBA in this Turners Mersey Novices' Hurdle having opted to bypass the four-year-old Grade 1 on the opening afternoon.

The French import impressed on his British bow at Ascot in January and enhanced his reputation despite having to settle for second-best in last month's Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Nico de Boinville appeared to have done everything right in covering the move of favourite East India Dock and he got by that rival close home, only for the 100/1 shot Poniros to finish with a wet sail over the top of them both. That could prove an exceptional piece of form as time passes.

On ratings, Lulamba is already as good as anything he meets now and he'll get 10lb from his elders, which should make him tough to stop with a step up to two-and-a-half-miles firmly expected to bring about further improvement.

15:05 Aintree - Strong Leader @ 6/1

Another horse aiming to better a silver medal in the Cotswolds is Teahupoo, Gordon Elliott's star denied back-to-back wins in the Stayers' Hurdle only by Bob Olinger.

He's got outstanding claims on that form and is favourite to make amends, but he is at his best when fresh and so a 23-day turnaround is a worry.

STRONG LEADER, a convincing winner of this race 12 months ago, once more opted to skip Cheltenham and the Olly Murphy inmate should be primed for this assignment.

He won on his comeback at Newbury in November and, as he did last year, arrives here after a respectable effort in the Cleeve Hurdle in January.

His Aintree form (121) cannot be quibbled and he's set for another big effort in the Liverpool Hurdle under champion jockey-elect Sean Bowen.

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