After watching his Above The Curve impress in the opening fillies' maiden at Leopardstown, Joseph O'Brien gave a positive update on his two Aintree runners.

Fakir D'oudairies contests the Grade 1 Marsh Chase over an extended 2m3f on Friday, a race he won by 11 lengths last year.

He was last seen winning the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase in February.

Banbridge, the Martin Pipe hero at the Cheltenham Festival, steps up to an extended 3m in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices' Hurdle on the same day.

The trainer said: “Both are in good nick. Fakir has a great chance hopefully. It's a tough, competitive, race but he likes the course and distance.

“Banbridge is well. It's an open enough race and on paper he looks to have a good shout. If he gets the trip he has every chance.

“I was surprised to see he was top rated in it but we won't complain. He's not guaranteed to stay, he's always a good traveller and he won a couple of races at two miles this year, but Aintree will give him a chance to stay.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson