Gavin Cromwell's Aintree hopefuls Gavin Cromwell is still basking in the reflective glory of his biggest career success to date after watching Inothewayurthinkin land the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but he'll be targeting further glory at Aintree. The Grand National Festival from Thursday-Saturday offers the farrier-turned-trainer another chance to put his name up in lights at the second-biggest UK jumps meeting of the year. Cromwell has opted not to run Inothewayurthinkin in the big race but will still have some aces to play in Liverpool. Claim bet365 free bets for Aintree Check out the bet365 sign up offer and more from the best betting sites. Tyre Kicker The Topham Handicap Chase could be the target for Tyre Kicker, the eight-year-old Network gelding enjoying a consistent season without yet gaining tangible rewards. He has returned runner-up finishes from a competitive handicap at Windsor (2m6f, soft) in January and a Listed event at Leopardstown (2m5½f, yielding) in early March. Tests of stamina in the Troytown at Navan and the Leinster National at Naas appear to have found him out and the intermediate 2m5f in the Topham on a track like Aintree could be optimal. He also boasts course experience on Merseyside, having run third in a handicap over hurdles back in December 2022. Vanillier Vanillier returned to form in February when routing Coko Beach in a Cross Country event at Punchestown by 18 lengths in a pair of first-time blinkers and has run well since when third in the same discipline at the Cheltenham Festival. He was second when Corach Rambler won the Grand National in 2023, off a mark of 147, but didn't quite match that form when 14th off a 4lb higher mark last season. He is set to return to the Merseyside marathon off a reduced mark of 144 this time around, though he does require three pull-outs to get his place in the starting line-up, and could be dangerous. Stumptown Stablemate Stumptown was the winner of the Cross Country contest at the Cheltenham Festival, staying on powerfully under Keith Donoghue after briefly looking to be in some trouble. He's having a super season and is 3-3 in cross-country events at Punchestown and Cheltenham. A mark of 149 for the Grand National will see him carrying a very fair 11st 2lb for the big race as he seeks to emulate Tiger Roll by the Liverpool contest to his Cotswolds win, something that the horse managed to do in both 2018 and 2019. Hello Neighbour Dublin Racing Festival winner Hello Neighbour ran well in the Triumph Hurdle without ever looking like being the winner. He was in midfield throughout and Donoghue's partner was unable to get close to the leaders after fluffing his lines at the final jumps, coming home in sixth spot as 100/1 shot Poniros thwarted market leaders Lulamba and East India Dock up front. Hello Neighbour was Cromwell's first Irish Grade 1 winner in four years when winning at Leopardstown in February and it will be interesting to see if the 4-Y-O Juvenile Grade 1 is considered now. Perceval Legallois One horse that missed Cheltenham is Perceval Legallois, winner of the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas on his most recent start over fences. He'd previously run fourth in the Troytown at Navan and his only start since saw him winning a very competitive Listed handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival. The eight-year-old has a mark of 153 for the National, carrying 10st 12lb, and his trainer had this race earmarked since the early spring for the JP McManus-owned contender.
