Huge Aintree squad for Twiston-Davies
Stable jockey Paddy Brennan will ride Irish Raptor in his bid to follow up his Cheltenham Gold Cup triumph on Imperial Commander.
Other firm bookings are Brian Hughes for Beat The Boys, David England on Ballyfitz and Tom Molloy for Ollie Magern.
That quartet are already guaranteed a place in the maximum 40-strong field, but Hello Bud (Sam Twiston-Davies) and Knowhere (Brian Harding) need horses above them in the handicap to come out.
However, Twiston-Davies has ruled out Razor Royale, who will instead be aimed at the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.
“Irish Raptor hasn’t been quite right. He’s had lung problems but he’s come back now as good as he’s been for a very long time,” the Naunton trainer told At The Races.
“He does prefer the better ground. He’s won round there and he’s been second round there. He is my idea of a likely winner.
“Beat The Boys disappointed at Cheltenham but he too wasn’t quite right. He’s had a course of anti-bio tics and has come back really good.
“We’re waiting to know if Sam will be allowed to ride in the race. I’m hoping he’ll ride Hello Bud – he’s ridden him in his last three races.
“We’ve applied, he’s just one winner short but it’s at their discretion.
“Nothing jumps as well as he does so it could be very exciting.
“Ballyfitz is in great nick. They just went too quick for him at Cheltenham. He has made the odd mistake but, over a long distance, he can jump them in his own time.
“Ollie Magern is coming down in the weights, which has now given him a reasonable chance. He fell at the second fence last year, which was very uncharacteristic as he rarely makes a mistake at all.
“Knowhere made an uncharacteristic mistake at Cheltenham. He stood off the fence a mile away and couldn’t get there.
“Go back two years and he was going really well two fences after Becher’s, when he unfortunately unseated Joe Tizzard just as he was getting into the race.
“He schooled really well today.”
Willie Mullins is set to run Arbor Supreme and Snowy Morning.
“We know Snowy jumps round there, but you’ve got to have a lot of luck,” said the County Carlow handler.
“David Casey rides him, he was third on him two years ago.
“Paul Townend rides Arbor Supreme and he will stay the trip. I’m just a bit concerned the ground is going to be a bit too soft for him. On good ground, I think he’ll jump very well. Both those horses’ trial runs were fantastic and we’re looking forward to it.”
Another Irish trainer with two chances is Dessie Hughes, who is responsible for Black Apalachi and Vic Venturi, both winners of the Becher Chase over the big fences.
“Both of them with the weight they have would prefer good-ish ground, but if it came up heavy I don’t think it would bother them,” said the County Kildare handler.
“They finished first and second in the Bobbyjo at Fairyhouse when Vic Venturi came out on top.
“Vic Venturi was getting 5lb off Black Apalachi and beat him eight lengths, so there’s little between them.
“I can’t separate them and it depends what happens in the race.
“You need a lot of luck in the first circuit and you need a lot of ability in the second.
“Both of them have ability.”
