7.40pm Aintree Tips & Betting Preview 13/05/2016

IN SUMMARY: Kruzhlinin can be excused his defeats at the two big festivals and retains potential to build on his quite impressive stable-debut win at Kempton in January. However, the suggestion is PRESENTING JUNIOR (10/1 Each Way), who deserves plenty of credit for reaching the frame twice on soft ground last month and, with conditions finally in his favour now, could be a very tough nut to crack off his current mark. O Maonlai comes here with something to prove but has looked very promising when on song and there is a chance we are yet to see the best of him. The old-timer Mr Moonshine ran better than the bare form suggests when third at Carlisle in March and could also have a say.

1 Cocktails At Dawn – Ended 2014/15 season with wide-margin win from the front at Sandown (2m4f, good) and produced another very good performance to follow-up after break at Chepstow (2m3f, good) in October; fell over the big fences here last month but not yet fully exposed as a chaser and a player if today’s step up in trip suits.

2 Kruzhlinin – Returned from absence with ready success on stable debut at Kempton (3m, soft) in January; subsequent fifth at the Cheltenham festival was very respectable and last month’s defeat in the Grand National can be overlooked; could still have more to offer for Philip Hobbs and will be fine on today’s ground.

3 Kie – Gained latest win at Stratford (2m6f, good to soft) in September, his fourth start for David Pipe; unexposed over this sort of trip and made quite encouraging return from break over hurdles recently but current mark demands a new career-best performance.

4 Mr Moonshine – 12yo who caused 33-1 surprise after 13-month absence over hurdles at Haydock (2m7f, heavy) in February and ran a big race when third back over fences at Carlisle (3m, good to soft) the following month; also has form on decent ground; not out of this.

5 Loose Chips – Made virtually all and fought hard to score at Kempton (3m, good) last month; evidently in good nick but subsequent 4lb rise is probably enough to leave him vulnerable and he may not be as effective on this left-handed track (has gained all seven wins on right-handed circuits).

6 O Maonlai – Just one win from eight starts over fences but his second to Aloomomo at Newbury (2m6f, good to soft) in November was very well advertised by the winner; not in same form on either subsequent appearance but an early jumping error didn’t help at the Cheltenham festival last time and there might still be a big performance in him.

7 Doing Fine – Back from break with good effort when third at Chepstow (2m7f, good) in October and is 2lb lower now, but was pulled up on next outing and took heavy fall when struggling at the Cheltenham festival when last in action; needs to get career back on track.

8 Bucking The Trend – 3-8 over fences (2-3 since fitted with cheekpieces) after making all at Ludlow (3m, good) last month; will find it tougher to dominate this stronger field off an 8lb higher mark but is evidently in very good nick and further progress possible.

9 Corrin Wood – Well beaten all six starts since the beginning of 2015, most recently over the big fences here last month; ran well to a point in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham festival and continues to slide down the weights but it still takes a leap of faith to support him.

10 Presenting Junior – Won seven times during 2014/15 campaign and ran some good races in defeat last season; reached the frame twice on ground much softer than he prefers last month and, with conditions in his favour here, is fancied to take advantage of a workable handicap mark.

11 Al Co – Now 11lb lower than when landing the 2014 Scottish Grand National but hasn’t tasted victory since then; both runs last month were very respectable (the first over C&D) but he’s getting long in the tooth now and probably needs a marathon trip to show his best nowadays; sports first-time visor.

12 Deadly Sting – Plugged on to take well-held third at Cheltenham (3m1f, good) last month but can’t race off 3lb lower mark from out of the weights here and sometimes looks reluctant.

myracing Forecast Prices: 5/1 Kruzhlinin, 6/1 Bucking The Trend, 7/1 Cocktails At Dawn, Loose Chips, Presenting Junior, Al Co, 10/1 Mr Moonshine, 12/1 O Maonlai, 14/1 Kie, Doing Fine, 20/1 Corrin Wood, Deadly Sting