13:45

I was a big Gerri Colombe  fan heading into Cheltenham. Some would say he was unlucky after losing by a short head to The Real Whacker, but he’s a just had a very tough race.

That means I’m going to have to side with Bronn  , who travelled very well in the same race but was perhaps made a little much use of too early in the race. There isn’t much between them, but Bronn will be a much fresher horse after his campaign and is clearly improving, too.

14:20

The second race is a good Premier Handicap Hurdle with plenty of runners, where I’ve picked a few I think should go well.

I don’t suppose many horses will travel as well as Captain Conby  throughout the race, the question is how much he’ll find off the bridle. He was going well here last year when he tipped up in a Grade 1 Novice Hurdle.

I also want to give a positive shout to Tritonic  , who has been lightly campaigned this season and has run well on each start. He’s on a nice mark now and could run into a place.

Nells Son  ran well at Cheltenham last time, as did Off Your Rocco  .

14:55

I think this is a very open looking Grade 1.

No Looking Back  wasn’t beaten far by Irish Point last time out and Oliver McKiernan’s yard is now flying. His jumping will have to improve from when he beat Brazil over Christmas. It was better last time, but by no means perfect.

He’s got an engine on him, though.

15:30

Fakir D’oudairies has won this race for the past two years. I thought he was disappointing behind a very good Shishkin at Ascot last time, but the fact he’s missed Cheltenham and comes here fresh makes me think he’ll be in A1 form.

He’s such a consistent horse who gives his all. I’d just question whether his jumping is better on better ground, but it’s hard to knock his two wins in this race.

16:05

The Topham is the second race of the week that is run over the National fences and another where Betway are offering seven places.

I love Final Orders  as a horse. If I could ride one, it would be him. He is such a good jumper.

I watched him school last week and he was savage. He was good in Dublin, and he was good at Cheltenham when not beaten far.

Batcio  was second in this last year for Dad [Ted Walsh] and comes here again. He’s in good nick, but I’m not sure he’ll totally love the soft ground – certainly not if it came up very soft, anyway.

He’s not getting any younger and is 10lb higher in the UK than he is in Ireland. Brian Hughes takes the ride and I hope he gives him a great spin.

16:40

I’ve got my eye on two horses who skipped Cheltenham to come to Aintree whose connections I will be rewarded for their patience.

Absolute Notions  ran a cracker behind Good Land at the Dublin Racing Festival and is still lightly raced.

Maximilian  beat Stay Away Far fair and square in the River Don at Doncaster and should be a fresher horse here.

17:15

The last is a race for conditional jockeys where I think Dad’s mare Gaoth Chuil  will run really well.

She’s improving all the time and, although I think she’ll be better off further, they should go fast here over 2m so she’ll be able to stay – especially in soft ground, which she won’t mind at all.

She’s got a good lad on her back in Shane O’Callaghan who is taking off another 7lb, too.