Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: Meetingofthewaters to complete National Mission for Mullins

William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty gives his best bets on day three from Aintree, including his pick in the Grand National.

Aintree, Saturday

We kick off with the William Hill Handicap Hurdle (1:20pm), which is a big field and a very competitive race. The Twiston-Davies team have CUTHBERT DIBBLE representing them in this race, and to me he is the one to beat. He has the best form in the race with his impressive run at Cheltenham in the Pertemps. He only finished three and a half lengths behind Monmiral and travelled nicely throughout, so should give it a good go once again.

Next up is the Mersey Novices’ (1:55pm) and I like the Paul Nicholls contender, CALDWELL POTTER. He beat Predators Gold in good fashion, on heavy ground, at Leopardstown. I do expect the ground to have improved by Saturday, but I think that is a very high level of form and it’s hard to look past him. I do also like Brighterdaysahead as a horse, and she needs to be respected but the Nicholls horse will be my selection here.

I like TWIG in the William Hill Handicap Chase (2:30pm). He has proven form in the book with his run at Cheltenham in behind Chianti Classico in the Ultima. I think he can come on from that here and it will be interesting to see if he can get his head in front this time. Crebilly’s jumping needs to improve as he didn’t jump with fluency in the Plate.

There is plenty going in the Liverpool Hurdle (3:05pm) but I would say that it’s not the strongest renewal of the race. FLOORING PORTER may get the opportunity to dictate, and he brings good form as he was second in the Stayers’ and he loves going left-handed. Hiddenvalley Lake is also worth noting, he comes here off the back of a good win at Navan, he is a proven stayer and comes here fresh so there’s definitely each-way value with him.

The going on the National course is currently heavy, soft-in-places and is likely to improve, but I can’t see it improving to any better than soft come race time (4:00pm). You will need to cope with conditions and I’d be very happy withtwo I’ve been looking at all through the spring.

MEETINGOFTHEWATERS was very good at Leopardstown over Christmas. To me he ran like a horse that would improve from his good third in the Ultima, and to me he looks like a horse that’s on the right side of the handicapper. He’ll cope with the ground too.

The other I like is MAHLER MISSION. He’s only a pound lower than last year’s winner Corach Rambler in the weights, which shows the kind of horse we’re dealing with. He was a good second in old Hennessey at Newbury in December on ground that was probably a little on the good side for him. I think he’s better on softer ground, so he’s going to love conditions. He has a nice level of experience, jumps and stays well, so I think he has a nice profile for the race.

FOUND A FIFTY (5:00pm) has turned up and run well in plenty of good races this season. He was second to Gaelic Warrior in the Arkle and further back he has some great form too – he was only beaten a short-head by Il Etait Temps in the Irish Arkle in February. He sets the standard for me and I think if the season hasn’t taken it’s toll he will be hard to beat.

In the closing bumper (5:35pm), I like Jonjo’s [O’Neill] MISTER MEGGIT, who was very impressive at Doncaster last time and he looks as though he could be a horse for the future in the famous colours of the late Trevor Hemmings.