With the wet weather wreaking havoc with the turf action, I’ve opted to focus on Friday’s all-weather action at Lingfield, where there look to be decent bets in two competitive handicaps.

First up is Eve Johnson Houghton’s Six Strings in the Download The App 188Bet Handicap (4.30), having his first run for the yard since leaving Richard Fahey.

The four-year-old has only run twice on all-weather but recorded a win and a second on debut, both at Newcastle, and was handed a mark of 87 for his troubles.

A late non-runner owing to ground in a decent Chester handicap which Fahey has a fine record in, Six Strings was subsequently second to easy winner Parfait at Newmarket, in a race which has worked out nicely.

A series of consistent runs since on turf mean he’s not had much slack from the handicapper, but looks well capable of landing a class four contest, given all his runs last summer were in class two company.

I’m taking a leap of faith in the 188Bet Daily Racing Specials Handicap (5.05) with Aguerooo, who has tumbled down to a mark of 70 and is back at his favourite track.

Aguerooo racked up a five quickfire victories on all-weather as a three-year-old – three of which came at Lingfield – climbing to a lofty 96 rating in the process under Richard Hannon’s stewardship.

He’s since had nine runs for Ollie Pears without threatening to get his nose in-front, and was well beaten on his debut for new trainer David Griffiths at Southwell in February, but that was over seven furlongs and he travelled well until the two pole.

The handicapper has dropped him 5lb for that run and back at six furlongs, it wouldn’t be overly surprising to see Griffiths have worked his magic as he’s without doubt go a well-treated animal on his hands. He’s ideally drawn in stall one and could spring a shock at a massive price under David Allan.

I can’t find any more bets on the all-weather so will turn attentions to a couple of ante-post bets ahead of next week’s Aintree Festival.

In the Topham Handicap Chase over the famous National fences, O O Seven has been found by the market in recent days but still remains a decent bet at 10-1 in a race Nicky Henderson has already won five times.

The eight-year-old hasn’t quite hit the heights this season, but there was lots to like about his reappearance at Newbury on good to soft ground back in December, something he’s not encountered in two recent defeats – both at Cheltenham – the latter coming in the Ultima at the Festival.

The trip would have certainly extended his stamina reserves that day, and the return to 2m 5f here is a big plus, as is his fourth in this race 12 months ago, proving a liking for the National fences.

His best form has all come on a better surface and if Aintree dries out sufficiently over the coming days, he should have a live chance off a 2lb lower mark than last year, carrying 11st 5lb.

In Saturday’s big race, the Aintree Grand National, I’ve tried to find one who looks overpriced and A Genie In Abottle fits the bill at a huge 50-1.

Noel Meade’s talented seven-year-old has always looked suited to a serious test of stamina, but prefers some cut in the ground which looks likely given rain in the forecast next week.

His novice campaign saw him win impressively at Fairyhouse over three miles before finishing fifth in the National Hunt Chase when stepped up to four miles at Cheltenham, the ground a fair bit quicker than ideal.

Freshened up, A Genie In Abottle has been ticking along this season, winning at Galway and Wexford in the Autumn prior to a never-nearer ninth in the Ladbrokes Trophy.

There was a lot to like about his second at Fairyhouse on February 24 behind Bellshill (who ran a blinder in the Irish National last weekend) and he runs here off 149, affording him a lovely racing weight of 10st 11lb, the lowest weight the horse will have carried to-date.

He’s a really sound jumper and although there’s a slight niggling doubt about his stamina reserves for this marathon trip, he looks to have been underestimated by the market.