Ageing Prince to rule for a day

Trainers can be fickle folk. Just three weeks ago there were protests from dozens of them that the unusual proximity of the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals this year would leave little chance that a horse might run at both. This afternoon, however, we find - if we ignore the dreadful novice hunter chase - that almost half of the runners were in action in Gloucestershire a fortnight ago. If nothing else, it will be a fascinating test of whether Cheltenham form can be relied upon at Liverpool.

So many horses which ran well at Cheltenham seem to get beaten at Aintree that some punters simply latch on to any which bypassed the first Festival. Yet there is surely more at work than a simple lack of freshness, and the significant differences between the two courses must never be overlooked. Horses which ran well two weeks ago may certainly be worth backing, but only if they have also shown their form on an easy, flat track.

Some, of course, have done so at Liverpool itself, and TOUREEN PRINCE (nap 3.45), who has an outstanding chance in the John Hughes Memorial Chase over the National fences, is a perfect example. Though he is now 13 years of age, he has shown little sign of feeling it, and only Dublin Flyer beat him home in this race last year. Jim Culloty, his jockey, has benefited from the tutelage of Terry Biddlecombe, husband of the gelding's trainer, Henrietta Knight, and is well worth the 5lb he takes off Toureen Prince's back.

If Couldnt Be Better lives up to his name and takes the Martell Cup just two weeks after running third in the Gold Cup, it will be a major encouragement to backers of Rough Quest, the Grand National favourite, who finished second at Cheltenham. His chance is obvious, but at the prices it may pay to side with Scotton Banks (2.35), who might be vying for favouritism had he not run poorly at Haydock last time. He is surely worth another chance.

The two-mile novice chase features many of those who fell by the wayside in one of the most accident-strewn races ever seen for Cheltenham's Arkle Trophy. Manhattan Castle (next best 3.10), who unshipped his jockey at the start that day, is the one to back, while Castle Sweep (2.00) should reverse Festival form with Kimanicky. Mistinguett (4.20) and Top Spin (5.20) must also go well.

The field for Saturday's Grand National lost two more names yesterday, when both Dextra Dove and Toogood To Be True were scratched following injuries. Thirty horses are still being quoted, and the final field may now dip into the 20s for the first time since 1970.

Yesterday's results, page 29