Treacle looks a sweet wager

The higher the figure in brackets, the better chance he reckons the horse has.

ACCORDING TO PETE (3): Consistent chaser who likes to race prominently. Not the biggest and a slight doubt about him over these big fences, but one to consider.

ALFA BEAT (2): Useful stayer at his best, but unseated and pulled up on his last two starts, which hardly inspires confidence.

ALWAYS RIGHT (3): Well regarded in the North, but things have not gone his way in his last two races. Better than that and is a lively outsider.

ARBOR SUPREME (1): Once-useful performer who seems to have lost his way.

BALLABRIGGS (3): Last year’s winner and proven over the fences. Will go well again, but he is 11 now and has to cope with nine pounds more on his back.

BECAUSEICOULDNTSEE (3): Ran a stormer to be second to Sunnyhillboy at Cheltenham, but fell at the second fence in last year’s National which is a major concern.

BLACK APALACHI (3): Great record over these fences, including when second two years ago. Can’t be getting any better at 13, but should run well again.

CALGARY BAY (3): Has looked an improved performer this season, but came down at the third last year which tempers enthusiasm. Would not want any more rain.

CAPPA BLEU (3): Paul Moloney rides him in preference to course specialist State Of Play, so he has to be respected. Prefers decent ground.

CHICAGO GREY (3): Won the four-miler at Cheltenham last year, so stamina is not an issue. Can take the odd liberty with his fences, and can’t afford that here.

DEEP PURPLE (2): The least fancied of trainer Evan Williams’ three runners, but talented on his day and could outrun his odds if the fences wake him up.

GILES CROSS (4): Mud-loving frontrunner who will appreciate every drop of rain which falls. With stamina proven, he looks a major contender.

HELLO BUD (2): Has run well in this several times, but is 14 now. Should be prominent for the first half of the race.

IN COMPLIANCE (1): A shadow of his former capable self and one of the rank outsiders.

JUNIOR (4): Well fancied by his shrewd yard, who have laid him out for this. Used to be unreliable, but pretty consistent these days, has won at Royal Ascot and the Cheltenham Festival and stays forever.

KILLYGLEN (3): Still going well enough when falling four fences from home last year. Won on his last start at Down Royal and comes into the race with decent claims.

MIDNIGHT HAZE (1): Has run pretty well on his two starts this season, but likely to be outclassed in this.

MON MOME (3): Won this three years ago, but has shown little this term. As a course specialist, he should not be written off.

NEPTUNE COLLONGES (3): Placed in a Gold Cup and winner of several top prizes. Usually jumps well and races prominently, two ingredients for success in this race.

NEPTUNE EQUESTER (2): Well regarded by his upwardly-mobile trainer and not a totally forlorn hope despite his long odds.

ON HIS OWN (4): The choice of Ruby Walsh, who is brilliant around Aintree, so that is a tip in itself. Won well at Gowran Park, jumps and stays and could still be improving.

ORGANISEDCONFUSION (3): The mount of Nina Carberry, who is as good as most male jockeys. Won last year’s Irish National, but has yet to replicate that performance.

PLANET OF SOUND (4): Classy horse and sound jumper, who has long struck me as a National type. Likes a sound surface, though, and the prospect of rain is a worry.

POSTMASTER (1): Has been doing his winning at soft tracks, so this will be a culture shock. Don’t expect him to stamp his authority on the race.

QUISCOVER FONTAINE (2): Fair Irish chaser, but one who has never won beyond two and a half miles. Obvious stamina worries.

RARE BOB (2): Exposed chaser who was miles behind West End Rocker in the Becher Chase. Has stamina limitations, too.

SEABASS (4): On a roll this season and should be a great ride for Katie Walsh. No sign of an end to his improvement so far, but this is much further than he has ever won over.

SHAKALAKABOOMBOOM (3): Ridden by Barry Geraghty, who has a fine record in this race. Handled the fences well enough in last year’s Topham Chase and has a chance.

STATE OF PLAY (3): Placed in the last three runnings of the National and likely to jump round again. Hard to see him winning, though.

SUNNYHILLBOY (3): Bounced back to form with a decisive victory at the Cheltenham Festival. Third in last year’s Irish National, so his credentials are solid.

SWING BILL (1): Bits and pieces of form, but nothing in his CV to suggest he is up to winning a race of this nature.

SYNCHRONISED (4): Gold Cup winner and well handicapped despite top weight. Had a hard race at Cheltenham and can jump stickily, but has obvious chance.

TATENEN (2): Ascot specialist who boasts decent form on his day. Has huge stamina doubts, however, especially if the ground is slow.

THARAWAAT (1): His stable has won this before, but is unlikely to repeat that with this doubtful stayer.

THE MIDNIGHT CLUB (2): Jumped sketchily when favourite and sixth under Ruby Walsh last year. If Ruby could not get him in the frame, then I don’t hold out much hope for him this time.

TREACLE (4): Ran a personal best to be third in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown last time. From a stable which knows how to ready one for this. I like his chance a lot.

VIC VENTURI (2): Has winning form over the Aintree fences, but was brought down last year. Might have had his best chance.

VIKING BLOND (1): Bits of form at a lower level and unlikely to plunder this big prize.

WEIRD AL (3): Fascinating contender. Top-class on his day, but a hit-and-miss performer. If taking to Aintree, he has a fine each-way chance.

WEST END ROCKER (5): No horse has won the Becher Chase and National in the same season, but this could be the one. Brought down in last year’s race, he jumped well at the track in December and any more rain would be in his favour.