HOWARD JOHNSON can make a successful return to one of his happiest hunting grounds with a double at Aintree today.
The Crook trainer has had a good time with his chasers at Liverpool in the last two years, landing big race wins with both Morceli and Joe White and seeing Over The Deel finish a fine third in the Grand National in 1995.
Hurdlers Tom Brodie and Onyourown look set to pick up good prizes over the smaller obstacles today. Tom Brodie is a confident choice to complete a hat trick in the £15,000 added Stanley Leisure Children In Need Handicap Hurdle, having created a very favourable impression in wins at Kelso and Newcastle this term.
Both times he could be named the winner a long way out so well was be travelling. And he showed a fine turn of speed to settle the issue in a matter of strides on each track.
Winning margins of less than two lengths on both occasions considerably understated his superiority as the six year old tends to idle in front. But that means Tom Brodie remains favourably handicapped today when he'll be ideally suited by a track which puts the emphasis firmly on speed rather than stamina.
On your own can make a winning start to a potentially profitable jumping career in the Tote Credit Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.
The three year old is an interesting sort to be sent over the sticks, having shown very useful form in winning three times on the Flat in Ireland for Paddy Burke.
And he is bred to excel at the winter game, as a half brother to useful hurdler Penny A Day from the family of top class stayer Galmoy. Johnson will have been delighted to take charge of the gelding, having already won six races with his very promising elder relation Direct Route.
He will doubtless be expecting big things from his new recruit and has found an ideal opportunity for him to make a successful start over jumps. Impressive though Bellator was in scoring at Wetherby on his debut, that rival will do very well to concede 3lb to Onyourown who was at least his equal on the level.
Blurred can also make a winning debut over jumps in the Aurelius Juvenile Novices' Hurdle at Ascot. The Mark Tompkins trained gelding comes here at the top of his form.
In the Crowther Homes Bectier Chase only three runners are in the handicap proper, of whom Scotton Banks and Young Hustler were both well held behind One Man on their reappearance at Wetherby.
Glemot may be good enough to take advantage of the weight he receives from both.