Aintree Saturday Day 3 Tips: Four for Grand National day

It's been a fantastic couple of days on Merseyside for Aintree's Grand National Festival, which comes to a conclusion on Saturday.

The National is at 16:00 but there's another six races - four before and two after - that I've studied to form my Aintree Saturday Day 3 tips.

13:55 - Brighterdaysahead @ 15/8

BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD was one of, if not the talking horse heading into this year's Cheltenham Festival. Gordon Elliott's mare went off odds-on for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle, having previously gone unbeaten in five starts.

After travelling like the best horse in the race, she was ultimately done for toe - and, in my humble opinion, a less-than-ideal ride - by the winner Golden Ace, which was always the danger for a big horse who had already looked somewhat vulnerable over the minimum trip.

Still, it was a good run from the penalised five-year-old. The fourth-placed Jade De Grugy's subsequent Grade 1 success certainly hasn't done the form any harm.

The G1 Mersey Novices' Hurdle over 2m4f, with testing conditions likely, ought to be much more suitable for the daughter of Kapgarde. Getting 7lbs from her eight rivals, she can show what she's really made of in a weak race for the grade.

14:30 - Kilbeg King e/w (4 places) @ 12/1

If he's none the worse after a tough race in the National Hunt Chase at the Festival, KILBEG KING must have an excellent chance of winning this staying handicap chase for Anthony Honeyball.

The nine-year-old is unexposed in general, but especially over three miles. He'd only gone the distance four times before tackling 3m6f at Prestbury Park and his form when doing so reads 2132.

His two outings prior to the Festival - when third behind Il Est Francais in the G1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day and then when runner-up by just a head in the G2 Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Ascot a couple of months later - were clear career-bests and is form that entitles him to be competitive in this company off a mark of 140.

This is only his second-ever handicap chase and his first over the trip, so there's lots to be positive about regarding his chances.

As this is one of Betfred's Extra Place Races, with four on offer, I suggest backing Kilbeg King each-way.

15:05 - Strong Leader e/w (4 places) @ 9/1

The second Grade 1 on Saturday afternoon is the Liverpool Hurdle, which sees staying hurdlers compete over an extended three miles.

You could make a good case for the majority of the field, but it's STRONG LEADER that most appeals at current prices.

Olly Murphy's seven-year-old was runner-up at this meeting last year, to Henry De Bromhead's useful Inthepocket in the Top Novices' Hurdle over the minimum trip, but he's been inconsistent since.

A woeful seasonal reappearance in the Welsh Champion Hurdle back in October was followed by a good second in the G2 Coral Hurdle at Ascot a month later - but he disappointed again when last of four in the G2 Reelkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.

However, his most recent run in the G2 Cleeve Hurdle, when trying three miles for the first time, was a career-best. Despite racing widest of all and jumping terribly at times, he came with a strong finishing effort from the back to only go down by a length to Noble Yeats and Paisley Park.

He's so unexposed at the trip and this division isn't a strong one. The fact 12-year-old Sire Du Berlais, as much of a legend as he is, is second in the market tells you that. I also love the fact he's been kept for this.

Again, with Betfred paying four places I'm suggesting this one each-way.

16:00 - Grand National selections

Then it's time for the big one - the Grand National. Click here - or the image below - for my three selections.

17:00 - Found A Fifty @ 2/1

Last but certainly not least, I'm firmly with FOUND A FIFTY in the Maghull Novices' Chase.

This is another weak Grade 1 and the only runner who's consistently proven himself at this level is Gordon Elliott's seven-year-old.

He's been very good this season, with only Gaelic Warrior (Arkle winner), Il Etait Temps (a Grade 1 winner here on Thursday) and I Am Maxmius (another Grade 1 winner who hopefully lands the Grand National too) managing to get the better of him.

There's nothing of that calibre here. I suppose Hercule Du Seuil could be, but this is his first run in 185 days and frankly all he was doing last year was winning weak races that he was entitled to.

NAP material, this one. Here's to ending on a high.