Black Apalachi can still defy the odds

The belated spring weather has arrived too late to change the going dramatically on Merseyside and it will still ride on the slow side, which is ideal for Black Apalachi, who enjoys ease in the ground.

Inevitably, plenty of critics will pick holes in the Dessie Hughes-trained gelding's CV since he got no farther than the second fence two seasons ago and crashed out at Becher's on the final circuit last year when travelling strongly in front.

But jockey Denis O'Regan reckons they would have taken some catching on the latter occasion and, sandwiched between those two mishaps, the 11-year-old relished the challenge of these big fences when running out an impressive winner of the Becher Chase, albeit over the shorter trip of three-and-a-quarter miles.

Black Apalachi is certainly no plodder - he has discovered more speed as he has got older and he did everything right when finishing second to stablemate Vic Venturi at Fairyhouse in February.

That was only the dress-rehearsal and while Hughes has warned punters not to underestimate Vic Venturi, who won last year's Becher Chase over the course, O'Regan is confident he is on the right one.

The more the ground dries out the better the chance of the favourite, Big Fella Thanks. He finished sixth last year when still a novice and owner Harry Findlay says: "Ruby [Walsh] feels that inexperience found him out but he learned plenty from that and he was very impressive when he won his trial at Newbury. If he takes to it a second time - and plenty don't - he'll be right there at the end."

Mon Mome, the hero 12 months ago, finished strongly up the hill to snatch third place behind Imperial Commander in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month and he seems better than ever, while 2008 winner Comply Or Die, who was runner-up last year, is another who is from the same mould as triple winner Red Rum in that he comes alive when he sees these unique fences.

David Johnson, who owns Comply Or Die, prefers his proven Aintree specialist to his other horse, seven-year-old The Package, who ran a magnificent race when second in the William Hill Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

No horse of that age has won since Bogskar in 1940 and The Package might be stretched to confirm his Festival running with last year's Irish National winner Niche Market, who faded into ninth place having been in front going to the third last.

The ground was softer than Niche Market likes it, so it was an excellent warm-up for the big day, and, having been unlucky to have been reeled in by Tricky Trickster in February's Aon Chase at Newbury, he must go close.

But Hughes, who never got further than Becher's Brook in his riding days, believes that this could be Black Apalachi's day - and so do I.