Lad looks likely one for Aintree backers

Battle Born Lad can strike a blow for the north by winning the Oddschecker Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree on Friday.

Trained by Mark Walford in Sherrif Hutton, North Yorkshire, the six-year-old has shown undoubted potential in his short career to date.

Placed in all three of his bumpers, in the latter of which he pushed Sandy Thomson's Rossington Main winner Dedicated Hero quite close, he was always going to come into his own over obstacles.

On his hurdling debut he beat none other than Wendigo at Hexham, of whom Jamie Snowden probably could not believe he had been beaten given he was second in the Challow Hurdle behind The New Lion a couple of months later and unlucky in the Albert Bartlett.

Snowden probably slept a little better when the next time Battle Born Lad was seen in Grade Two company at Haydock he made all the running and won easy despite jumping to his right.

There is no doubt Battle Born Lad has his quirks, he got rid of Jamie Hamilton after the winning line at Haydock, but it is also not a debate that he is very talented.

Skipping Cheltenham can pay off for Ben Pauling with Handstands in the Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices' Chase.

The six-year-old has only lost twice in his eight-race career under rules. He was a little out of his depth behind Ballyburn at last year's Cheltenham Festival and he fell on his chasing debut.

His progress over fences has been eyecatching. He made all to win a Grade Two at Sandown over 4800m and possessed enough pace to beat subsequent Arkle winner Jango Baie over 4000m in the Scilly Isles.

On spring ground it looks logical going back up to 4800m and it also looks the easier of the three novice chases at the meeting.

Prior to getting bogged down in the mud at Haydock when last seen, Dan Skelton's Royal Infantry looked one of the UK's best novice hurdle prospects.

It has been a case of out of sight and out of mind, as he runs in the Trustatrader Top Novices' Hurdle as an outsider. A wind operation and much better underfoot conditions can help him return to the sort of form he displayed in the first half of the season.

Jonbon will be a very short price in the My Pension Expert Melling Chase and while he must have had an extremely hard race at Cheltenham just 23 days ago, it is very difficult to take him on.

Over the National fences, the Randox Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Topham can go to Marble Sands.

A decent hurdler, he has become a useful chaser for David Killahena and Graeme McPherson. He tuned up for this with a run on the Flat at Southwell when second to Hot Fuss, who nearly went and won the Fred Winter.

Harry Derham was quick to snap up crack Irish conditional jockey Conor Stone-Walsh for Washington in the Hallgarten And Novum Wines Handicap Hurdle and the hint should be taken. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings on Friday. Here are the tips.

LEICESTER: Race 1: 14.30 Calafiori, Race 2: 15.05 Exactly Right, Race 3: 15.40 Shelbourne, Race 4: 16.17 Straight A, Race 5: 16.52 Charlie Mason, Race 6: 17.27 Mighty Bandit, Race 7: 18.02 Jungle Run.

AINTREE: Race 1: 14.45 Handstands, Race 2: 15.20 Kopeck De Mee, Race 3: 15.55 Royal Infantry, Race 4: 16.30 Jonbon, Race 5: 17.05 Marble Sands, Race 6: 17.40 BATTLE BORN LAD (NAP), Race 7: 18.15 Washington.

BATH: Race 1: 14.55 Mamdoh, Race 2: 15.30 Senorita Vega, Race 3: 16.05 Tourist, Race 4: 16.40 Kameko Spirit, Race 5: 17.15 High On Hope, Race 6: 17.50 Soi Dao, Race 7: 18.25 Starfighter.

SOUTHWELL: Race 1: 17.45 Cast Party, Race 2: 18.20 Niminy Piminy, Race 3: 18.50 Ash Wednesday, Race 4: 19.20 Trust Sergei, Race 5: 19.55 Paradoxical, Race 6: 20.30 Caballo De Mar, Race 7: 21.00 Agent Mayfair, Race 8: 21.30 Arlington.

ALL TO COME: Handstands and Battle Born Lad (Aintree, Races 1 and 6).