Clan to make most of favoured conditions

Good-ground horses are sure to be to the fore at Aintree during the ongoing dry spell and top of the list on day one of the Grand National meeting is CLAN DES OBEAUX in the Betway Bowl.

Paul Nicholls’ charge missed the Gold Cup after connections admitted that trip at Cheltenham does not suit him, having failed to get up the hill the previous year, and they can reap their rewards.

He has had just three runs this season, initially in the Betfair Chase at Haydock where testing ground would have been against him but he still made Bristol De Mai pull out all the stops.

Arguably he was still feeling the effects of that big run when aiming to add his name to an elite list of three-time King George winners on Boxing Day. Having won the last two, this time he was no match for stablemate Frodon.

You would have to say Clan Des Obeaux did not run to form last time when slightly disappointing at Newbury behind Secret Investor, giving him 6lb.

That winner is smart on his day when conditions are in his favour, though, and Clan Des Obeaux should be too classy for

Tiger Roll and the rest today.

In the same colours, HITMAN can give Nicholls a Grade One double in the SSS Super Alloys Manifesto Novices’ Chase.

Only five, he showed he had a very bright future when beaten just over two lengths by Allmankind in a Grade One at Sandown before Christmas.

He fell in the Scilly Isles when stepped up in trip, but won like his odds suggested he should last time out at Newbury. SELECTIONS:

AINTREE: 1.45 HITMAN (NAP), 2.20 Mon-miral, 2.50 Clan Des Obeaux, 3.25 Song For Someone, 4.05 Cat Tiger, 4.40 Destrier, 5.15 Eileendover. SOUTHWELL: 1.00 True Hero, 1.35 Blue Cable, 2.10 Thunderclap, 2.40 May Night, 3.15 Little Boy Blue, 3.50 Silver Shade, 4.25 Dodgy Bob. TAUNTON: 1.25 Tulin, 2.00 Grooveur, 2.30 San Agustin, 3.05 Theocrat, 3.40 Umndeni, 4.15 Arcade Attraction, 4.55 Minella Voucher, 5.30 Toutatis. DOUBLE: Hitman and Clan Des Obeaux.