Old Roan Chase. (Monets Garden Day)

Battles of the heart and brain are ripe as the old favourites start making their seasonal debuts. Here are my Aintree ew picks.

1.50 Nampour
2.25 Mumbles Head
3.30 Mahogany Blaze & Nacarat
4.00 Catch The Fire

Mahogany Blaze particularly, is a favourite of mine for backing ew despite his losing run. When he doesn't fall or unseat, he's usually in, or close to being in the frame. The big price is always there. Risky fella but he's got amongst the heart strings. Nacarat has the dab of class if acting over the trip. Of course we all know Paul Nicholls is pretty sure Pascher Du Polder, new resident of Denmans old box,is going to be a star, so expect
a big run from him.
Other notes for the day are Peter Bowens horses do well at Aintree, especially early and late in the season. Keep an eye on them.
It's decidedly chillier this morning and everything's making way for a new season of jumping. Get your tweed out folks!

Adding a couple at Chepstow to the mix:
4.15 Kitegen
4.50 Renard

The Showcase (Saturday).

Simple stuff today with a ew Accumulator, and 4 single each ways.
All for Twiston Davies runners!

2.00 According To Trev
2.30 Mad Moose
3.40 Billie Magern
4.20 What An Oscar

The Showcase

So, here we are back on the day of the Showcase meeting at Cheltenham, and this means I'm going to have my head back in the race cards and eyes pinned on the racing channels until at least next April.

Starting myself off this season with a little place pot at Cheltenham:

2.10 Thomas Crapper
2.45 Go All The Way
3.20 So Fine
3.55 Sire Collognes
4.30 Softsong
5.05 Runshan