After the ITV cameras stop rolling on Wednesday, we still have two of the most competitive races on the card to come. Here is how to play the Grand Annual and Champion Bumper.

4.50 - Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase

The Grand Annual has been won by veterans, defined as horses aged ten or older who are nearer the end of their careers than the start, in two of the last five years. Yet this year’s field looks extremely youthful by comparison.

There is only one ten-year-old, Dancing On My Own, and he won last year’s Red Rum (the Aintree equivalent of this race) and also won over course and distance in October.

Libberty Hunter is eight, so is no greenhorn but he comes into the race as unexposed over fences as it is possible to be. He has run three times, the minimum number of runs required for Premier handicaps, and would be unbeaten but for falling three out on his chase debut.

He has since won easily in soft conditions at Wincanton and Cheltenham. On the second occasion, he had a bit in hand when beating Matata, who is set for Tuesday’s Arkle. Harry Cobden has been booked to ride, which is just the icing on the cake as Cobden is possibly the best jockey in Britain at the moment.

Libberty Hunter has slowly moved into favouritism and those looking for a play at bigger prices may want to look at Dan Skelton’s trio in the race. There are cases to be made for Calico and Frere D’Armes, but the standout from his entrants looks to be Unexpected Party.

He went off second-favourite for a major handicap here in November having won a Listed novice the time before. He was fifth that day, and has since come up short in three top-quality novice races. The result is a trip down the weights, he is now 8lb lower than when 5-1 in a top handicap, and this two-mile trip promises to suit him better. Stable jockey Harry Skelton has been booked for a while.

Selection: Libberty Hunter

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5.30 - Weatherbys Champion Bumper

Willie Mullins lost Maughreen, one of the ante-post favourites for this race, but still has enough firepower to saddle eight in the race. That includes early favourite Jasmin De Vaux, but the one of his that appeals most is You Oughta Know.

He was second to Jeroboam Machin at the Dublin Racing Festival. The winner also misses this race, and that race last year produced the first and second at Cheltenham.

Mullins always has a sackful of runners in this race. It is more interesting that Paul Nicholls runs his best bumper horse, Teeshan. Usually, Nicholls gives the Cheltenham bumper to the Irish and sends his best to Aintree. It is a real vote of confidence that Teeshan runs here.

Teeshan came to Nicholls after winning a point-to-point by a yawning 41 lengths. He was all the rage ahead of his debut at Exeter, and swept away to win an admittedly ordinary race by seven lengths without coming under any serious pressure.

He looks really professional despite his inexperience and Teeshan is ready for this sort of test.

Selection: Teeshan

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