In the Topham Handicap Chase (4.05, Friday) 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 this fourth in this race 12 months ago, proving a liking for Aintree’s 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.

Early Doors looks really interesting if declared for Friday’s opening race, the Alder Hey Children’s Charity Handicap Hurdle (1.45).

Trained by Joseph O’Brien, the five-year-old ran a cracker when third in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, unable to reach runaway winner Blow By Blow in desperate conditions.

Early Doors second behind Mengli Khan at Fairyhouse in December now reads well after the latter's excellent third in the Supreme, while the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown looks set to prove a serious piece of form, with winner Samcro looking absolutely top class.

Still a novice, if connections choose to run Early Doors in an open handicap here off a mark of 145 it suggests, to me at least, they think he’s well up to winning it. He’s a proper bet at 10-1.

It’s back to the drawing board where the Grand National is concerned after last week’s antepost selection A Genie In Abottle tragically died just 24 hours later from a mystery illness picked up at Noel Meade’s yard. Condolences go out to connections.

I always like horses with a solid profile around the National fences and last year’s fourth Blaklion has a major chance of going three places better this time around, albeit he’ll have to do so lugging a further 8lb around and comes into this off a far-from-ideal prep in one of the most gruelling National Trial’s you’ll ever see at Haydock in February.

He’s had a wind-operation since and he rates the most likely winner in my book, but is short enough at 12-1.

I’d rather have one onside at a much-bigger price and I like the chances of Willie Mullins’ 10-year-old Pleasant Company.

I watched last year’s renewal back earlier this week and Pleasant Company looked one of the most-likely winners prior to making a terrible blunder at the 25th flight, all-but ending any chance of victory.

Ruby Walsh gathered his mount and did briefly look like mounting a challenge three out but faded up the run-in, yet prior to his mistake he’d been foot perfect over the famous fences.

Pleasant Company has had a quiet time of things since, running just twice, most recently when pulled up on completely unsuitable heavy ground in the Thyestes at Gowran Park.

He carries 2lb less tomorrow and although Mullins’ poor record in British handicap chases has been well documented in recent years, he’s still the best trainer in the business and landed the Ladbrokes Trophy with Total Recall earlier this season. His rider is yet to be confirmed but at 33-1 he looks to have been underestimated.