Grand National 2024 Day Three tips – Flooring Porter to win the Liverpool Hurdle

VANILLIER can go one better in the Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (4pm) while stable-mate FLOORING PORTER can win the JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle (GBB Race) (3.05pm) at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday afternoon.

While the Grand National takes centre stage at Aintree on the final day of the meeting Gavin Cromwell can get a boost before the big one as Flooring Porter can provide a tasty treat before the Grand National to land the Grade One Liverppool Hurdle.

The nine-year-old was denied a third straight victory in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, when he was beaten by three-and-three-quarters-of-a-length by the Gordon Elliott-trained Teahupoo. But with that rival not heading to Aintree, Flooring Porter can gain some compensation with victory in the Grade One contest. A strong stayer and a horse who generally goes well from the front, Flooring Porter looks set to land another Grade One but a first victory at Aintree having been placed for the past two seasons. He has been second and third in the last two runnings of the Liverpool Hurdle but he make it third time lucky.

Elliott’s dual Liverpool Hurdle hero Sire Du Berlais should run well but the latter is now 12 and will surely find his younger rivals just too good and may have to settle for a place in his hat-trick bid. While Fergal O’Brien’s Crambo, who disappointed coming home ninth when well-fancied for the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, could bounce back and go close.

READ MORE: Pinstickers' guide to all 34 Grand National runners

With original selection, the Paul Nicholls-trained Caldwell Potter – the most expensive National Hunt horse at a public auction – now a non-runner Gordon Elliott's BETTERDAYSAHEAD can Win the Grade One Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.55pm). The five-year-old was unbeaten in her first four starts in two bumpers last season and two over hurdles this. She tasted defeat for the first time on the track when sent off the odds-on favourite in the Grade Two Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle at last month's Cheltenham Festival, finishing second to Golden Ace. Now stepped back up to 2m4f – she won a 2m5f Listed contest at Navan in February – Betterdaysahead can get back to winning ways.

READ MORE: Vanillier for victory in the Grand National

The Grade One My Pension Expert Maghull Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (5pm) is being run after the Grand National this year with the new earlier time of 4pm for the big race and whatever has happened with his eight contenders in the big one, Willie Mullins can have the winner with HERCULE DE SEUIL. The JP McManus-owned six-year-old has won five in a row after his debut second over fences at Ballinrobe last May. He bypassed Cheltenham and steps up into Grade One company for the first time. But he looks to be an improving young chaser and can bring up the six-timer ahead of chiefly Dan Skelton’s Etalon – unbeaten in three chase starts – and the Evan Williams-trained Cheltenham Festival handicap runner-up Libberty Hunter.

Skelton, who will saddle Galia Des Liteaux in the Grand National, can land back-to-back victories in the William Hill Handicap Chase (Registered As The Freebooter Handicap Chase) (Premier Handicap) (GBB) (2.30pm) with THE KING OF RYHOPE. Skelton won this race with Midnight River 12 months ago and The King Of Ryhope looks a likely contender to give him another victory in a race that has sometimes provided pointers to future Grand National with 2010 Aintree hero Don’t Push It winning both. The King Of Ryhope won at Chepstow earlier in the season, but was only fourth in the Grade Two Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot on his most recent start in February. He wasn’t beaten too far and down into handicap company he can land another success.

READ MORE: Full list of final 34 runners for the 2024 Grand National

AILIE ROSE can provide something of a shock victory in the opener on Grand National day, the William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (1.20pm). Trained in Larne in Northern Ireland by Stuart Crawford, the eight-year-old landed a similar race over an extended 2m5f at Fairyhouse at this time last year at big odds. Although she has not won since, she ran well to be fourth in a Listed Handicap Hurdle over 3m1f at Navan over Christmas. The mare was pulled up on her most recent start at Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival in February. But Ailie Rose should be suited by the flat track at Aintree and will handle the softer conditions. Despite still being quite high in the handicap, she can outrun her odds and might just land a shock victory.

In a hugely-competitive handicap there are plenty in with chances including last year’s winner West Balboa – from the Skelton stable; Paul Nicholls’ Red Risk; and the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Jonnywho.

In the finale of the Grand National meeting, the Grade Two Weatherbys Nhstallions.Co.UK Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (GBB Race) (5.35pm), Christian Williams’ SMALL TOWN HERO may give his Welsh trainer a winner on a big day for the Ogmore-By-Sea stable. Williams saddles Eider Chase, Scottish Grand National and bet365 Gold Cup hero Kitty’s Light in the Aintree marathon itself and he looks to hold a good chance of at least being involved in the finish. But whether the former jockey-turned-trainer has added another National success to his haul of big-staying pots, he may end on a winner. The four-year-old Small Town Hero won a point-to-point in February and may be able to make a winning debut Under Rules.

Away from Aintree at Newcastle Chris Grant’s SIX ONE NINE can win the Download The Raceday Ready App Handicap Chase (4.30pm); the Rebecca Menzies-trained HIGH MOON can take the Newcastle Flooring Company Handicap Chase (2.05pm); and BENEFICIALLY YOURS – from the Merseyside-born Donald McCain stable – can triumph in in the One Three One Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.40pm). While on the Flat at Chelmsford City SIR RODNEYREDBLOOD can win the Download The bet365 App Handicap (12.30pm).

Wright Ones

AINTREE (DAY THREE)

1.20pm Ailie Rose
1.55pm Betterdaysahead
2.30pm The King Of Ryhope
3.05pm Flooring Porter
4pm 1 VANILLIER (NAP) 2 Mahler Mission 3 Corach Rambler 4 I Am Maximus
5pm Hercule Du Seuil
5.35pm Small Town Hero

NEWCASTLE

12.55pm Young At Heart
1.30pm Horn Cape
2.05pm High Moon
2.40pm Beneficially Yours
3.25pm Greenhill Gardens
4.30pm Six One Nine
5.05pm Battle Born Lad

CHEPSTOW

12.40pm Knight Of Allen
1.10pm Casa No Mento
1.40pm Believe Jack
2.15pm Bolsover Bill
2.50pm Post No Bills
3.32pm Lady Balko
4.40pm Goguenard

YARMOUTH

3.40pm Handel
4.25pm Inner Peace
4.55pm Moonlit Cloud
5.30pm Bang On The Bell
6pm Twenty Bob
6.30pm Viridian
7pm Blue Collar Lad
7.30pm Alafdhal

CHELMSFORD CITY

10am Danielle
10.30am Oriental Art
11am Miss Sunset Strip
11.30am One More Dream
12pm Animato
12.30pm Sir Rodneyredblood
1.05pm Roscioli

WOLVERHAMPTON

5.10pm Profitman
5.40pm Orchard Park
6.10pm Toxic
6.40pm Storm Asset
7.10pm Lady Pink Rose
7.40pm So Obsessed
8.10pm Red Dwarf

SUNDAY’S NAP: Brianna Rose (Hereford 3.32pm)

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