A Bravemansgame at Aintree

THE Betway Mildmay Novices’ Chase looks like being one of the races of the jumps season, and Bravemansgame is taken to win the Grade One at Aintree.

Paul Nicholls was frustrated when he had to remove the seven-year-old from his engagement in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, after a deluge of rain fell on previously watered ground on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.

The race was won in tremendous style by L’Homme Presse, who reopposes, along with dual Grade Two scorer Ahoy Senor, who was held by the selection at Kempton on Boxing Day and by L’Homme Presse at Prestbury Park.

Bravemansgame has won all four chase starts and comes here a fresh horse having not run since conceding upwards of 16lb to three rivals in landing a limited handicap at Newbury in mid-February, which he turned into little more than a schooling exercise.

While the exciting L’Homme Presse would welcome any further rain, it does not look likely to come and connections of the Venetia Williams-trained seven-year-old have already stated the sharper Mildmay track may not suit him as much as Cheltenham.

Harry Cobden’s mount would therefore appear to have the advantage and is taken to assert his authority in the three miles and one furlong contest.

Jonbon has scared off many of his would-be rivals in the Betway Top Novices’ Hurdle.

Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old saw his unbeaten run ended by stablemate Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, yet Aidan Coleman’s mount can gain a measure of compensation on Merseyside.

This extended two miles suits and Aintree’s flatter track will play to his high cruising speed. He is a confident choice to regain the winning thread.

It could be a good afternoon for powerful owner JP McManus, who has the likely favourite for the Marsh Chase in Fakir D’oudairies, who won the Ascot Chase last time out and bids for victory in this race for a second successive year.

However, preference is for Funambule Sivola, who built on his Game Spirit Chase win at Newbury when running a cracker to finish second to Energumene in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.

He handles most ground conditions, having won on good ground at Doncaster, and the step up in trip to two and a half miles should not be a problem.

Skytastic has every chance of maintaining his unbeaten record over hurdles in the Cavani Menswear Sefton Novices’ Hurdle.

Sam Thomas’ representative has won two bumpers and justified favouritism in both his runs over hurdles, including when scoring in soft ground at Ascot in February.