Plenty of doubts surrounding hot favourites at Aintree

Black Op
2.25 Aintree
SP forecast 13-8

Impressive winner at Doncaster in January who has improved significantly in two outings since, despite tasting defeat. Tom George’s gelding was only outstayed late by Santini in a Grade 2 on heavy ground at Cheltenham two starts ago and followed that with a clear second behind the potentially top-class Samcro in the Ballymore at the festival. That is the best form on offer, but George has gone 32 runners without a winner and Black Op was disappointing in the bumper at this fixture last year.

Conclusion Enough doubts for one so short. Lay.