Stan Hey: 6-5 Against
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Your support makes all the difference.The centrepiece of a packed sporting weekend remains the Grand National, which competes for televised attention with two FA Cup semi-finals, four Heineken Cup quarter-finals, the last two rounds of the US Masters, Real Madrid against Barcelona, and the first weekend of the county cricket season.
My three ante-post National bets have at least made it into the race. While Can't Buy Time has shortened from 40-1 to 33-1, he'll probably drift because owner J P McManus's retained jockey Tony McCoy has snubbed him.
Beat The Boys, who is either pulled up or wins, was pulled up at the Cheltenham Festival last month and is 150-1 from the 80-1 which I took. Backstage, backed at 20s, is out to 25-1.
Room, then, for one small bet on the Irish "sleeper", Ballyholland, winner of the Galway Plate last summer but who has run only twice since; £5 each-way, at 33-1 generally.
Turf Account: Chris McGrath
*Nap
Dom D'Orgeval (3.25 Aintree)
Has quickly retrieved his form returned to Nick Williams, going with renewed zest at Newbury last time.
*Next Best
Thumbs Up (5.00 Aintree)
This sharper track should suit this speedy type, who went with plenty of promise at Haydock last time.
*One To Watch
Ice Diva (P W D'Arcy) caught the eye making up ground into midfield at Kempton on Wednesday.
*Where The Money's Going
The Package is 12-1 from 16-1 with Sky Bet for the Grand National.
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