The superb Punchestown Festival continues apace on Friday when the feature race is the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle at 3.15.

A small but select field of four (Asian Maze misses the race after her win on Thursday) go to post in what is a virtual re-run of the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle last month when BRAVE INCA had Macs Joy and Hardy Eustace in 2nd and 3rd respectively. It's hard to see why the result should be any different today. Essex completes the line-up but doesn't look quite in the same league.

At Sandown Park the popular Betfred meeting gets underway. Two days of racing over fences, hurdles and on the flat is sure to pull in big crowds to the Esher venue. Best bet on Friday's card looks to be SOUTH CAPE (Each Way) in the 2.55. Mick Channon's runners are in cracking form and South Cape, a recent Southwell winner looks to have a sound chance of a place.

£40 win, £20 place
UNITED
2.50 Ayr. Perfectly placed in the handicap, lightly raced and probably just about getting enough weight from Arcalis. Big vibes this morning.

£20 each way
L’AVENTURE
3.30 Ayr. Darkness drops himself out and could come steaming through under McCoy but his jumping might give you a few heart flutters. The owner asked for Patrick Merrigan for L’Aventure, who is proved at extreme distances. A whole host of novices have chances of making the staying grade, so keep bets small.

£60 win
PURPLE MOON
5.55 Newbury

If lose
£100 win
ALASOUN
6.45 Nottingham
Michael Stoute has two cracking maidens here; Kieren Fallon wanted to get off his O’Brien commitment to ride Purple Moon, and Stoutie has Robert Winston making the trip to Nottingham for Alasoun

ROWAN RIVER 2 b f Invincible Spirit (IRE) – Lemon Tree (USA) [trained by M H Tompkins]First season sire has already made a winning start to the new campaign with Redcar winner Spoof Master and Il Palio a winner at Kempton. Rowan River is expected to follow suit – working exceptionally well on the home gallops and is thought well above average.

STARLIGHT GAZER 3 b c Observatory (USA) - Dancing Fire (USA) [trained by J A Geake]Once raced as a two-year-old, he made a highly satisfactory debut at Newbury finishing 3rd at 50/1 to South Cape. Off the track since with knee injury and has been gelded. Grown, matured and working really well at home and expected to be ready for action early in the season.

The greatest horse race in the world – the Grand National at Aintree on Saturday has attracted the usual maximum field of 40 runners.

There’s been plenty of talk in recent years of the fences getting easier – but on the evidence of yesterday’s Topham Chase over the same course suggests it’s as tough as ever.

It’s hard to predict what will even start favourite – last year’s winner Hedgehunter and Clan Royal who was desperately unlucky when carried out in the same race have been vying for favouritism for some time and it would be no surprise to see a morning plunge on another runner.

Trainer Ginger McCain saddles his final National runners as a trainer and is seeking an incredible fifth win in the race following Red Rum’s immortal three wins and Amberleigh House who is also part of his trio today. The excellent Nina Carberry takes the ride on Forest Gunner while her brother Paul is onboard Sir Oj.

A little rain has fallen on the track overnight – which may just play into the hands of the ones at the foot of the handicap. ROSS COMM, an easy winner on soft ground at Bangor gets the vote, for second we’ll go for Irish raider NUMBERSIXVALVERDE and HEDGEHUNTER for third.