Mate to be second-best

"A lion of a horse" is the way the Frenchman sums up Best Mate, but Jair du Cochet won't be easy meat for any rival if he continues the progress he made over fences as a novice last season.

Tactics could prove crucial in what will be a small field, and it would come as no surprise to see Valley Henry run a big race if he's back in the sort of form which saw him stretch all bar Best Mate coming down the hill in the Gold Cup last March.

However, Jair du Cochet is a superb jumper with bags of speed and a recent hurdles win under his belt. He also gets a 5lb allowance from his main rivals, which might just be enough to tip the balance if things get tight up the home straight.

Ascot's big jumping prizes continue to struggle for entries, but there ought to be no complaints about the turnout for tomorrow's First National Gold Cup.

A clutch of last season's very best novice chasers will be tested over some of the stiffest fences in the country, and the one who catches the eye is Nicky Henderson's Isio. The main factors you look for in a potential winner here are bold jumping allied to scope for further improvement.

And Isio has ticks in both boxes. Three wins from his first three starts over fence earned him a place in the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham, and although he never looked like worrying the exceptional Azertyuiop there he battled on willingly to finish an excellent third.

Isio shapes as if tomorrow's step up in trip will prove no problem. Henderson's flying start to the season is another big plus and, with the recent rain to suit, he could be picking up another big pot.

The Betfair Jockeys' Challenge, which pits British riders against their Irish counterparts, is one of the main features of tomorrow's Aintree card.

Don't expect to see a repeat of the team tactics which were a feature of the Shergar Cup on the Flat at Ascot last year, but do look to Quality First as a sporting each-way bet over the National fences in the betfair.com Grand Sefton Handicap Chase.

Heather Dalton's gelding jumped like a buck when sixth in Clan Royal's Topham Chase over course and distance back in April and should be spot on after running as if the race was needed here on his reappearance.

The BBC will be back at Aintree on Sunday for what promises to be a typically eventful renewal of the £75,000 Tote Becher Chase.

With the Nigel Twiston-Davies team back on song the 2002 Grand National winner Bindaree has to be interesting, while last year's National third Amberleigh House will also have his supporters.

However, this could be the day for another proven Aintree performer in the shape of Ardent Scout.

Sue Smith's gelding is very fortunate to be in the line-up, as the Wetherby stewards banned him for 30 days under the rules relating to schooling in public on his reappearance.

Problems over scheduling an appeal against that verdict have thrown his connections a lifeline, though, and Ardent Scout looks capable of taking it. That fast-finishing fourth at Wetherby was certainly eye-catching, but Ardent Scout is best assessed on his performance in this race last year.

He bolted up that day, jumping boldly throughout to storm clear of Amberleigh House.

TILLERMAN has been disqualified from second place in the Queen Anne Stakes at a hearing of the Jockey Club's disciplinary panel.

A prohibited substance, clenbuterol, was found in his urine following his run in the Royal Ascot Group One contest, and those findings were confirmed at Portman Square.

After considering evidence, including statements from trainer Amanda Perrett and other witnesses, the panel was satisfied that the source of the substance was an ongoing course of Ventipulmin, which was being given to Tillerman on veterinary advice.

BARACOUDA, who misses today's Ascot meeting due to the good-to-firm going, looks set to reappear at Newbury tomorrow week.

"Everything is fine with the horse, it's just the ground," said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus.

Cunningham's pick
1 Jair Du Cochet
2 Best mate
3 Valley Henry