Expect a Top Notch display

London – TOP NOTCH can take Nicky Henderson a step nearer the UK trainers' title by getting favourite backers off to a flyer on the first day of the Randox Health Grand National meeting at Aintree.

In the opening Manifesto Novices' Chase the six-yearold should be able to demonstrate how unlucky he was not to win the equivalent race at the Cheltenham Festival.

A crucial mistake two fences from the finish cost Top Notch more ground than the eventual length he was beaten by the smart Yorkhill in that JLT Novices' Chase. And so strongly did Daryl Jacob's mount rally up the final hill that it's not hard to imagine without that error he would have obliged.

Henderson saddles Champion Hurdle hero BUVEUR D'AIR in the Betway Aintree Hurdle in which he will start odds-on to follow up his Festival triumph.

However, I shall back Henderson's other runner, MY TENT OR YOURS, to post a minor upset in the hands of Aidan Coleman.

The veteran chased home his stablemate at Cheltenham and always comes to hand at this time of year, giving him a chance on this flatter, more favourable track of gaining revenge but that will be with an eachway proviso.

Another attractive eachway speculation arrives via FOXTAIL HILL in the Betway Red Rum Handicap Chase. The selection's winning sequence was thwarted by a crashing fall at Cheltenham but he has shown no ill effects for that spill, having both worked and schooled well subsequently.