The Punt Daily: Tom Collins with three to follow on Friday

GOOD THING

Speaker Connolly (5.20 Wexford)

Speaker Connolly should be almost unbeatable in this race and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw his forecast price of 5-1. The six-year-old gelding built on three below-par beginners' chase efforts when dotting up at Leopardstown on handicap debut in December off a mark of 119, despite making a number of errors. He then put in a fine effort to finish third (made numerous mistakes again) over the same course and distance in February in much better company, before unseating when still travelling well at Cheltenham. He reverts to hurdles off a 24lb lower mark and should dot up if handling the drop in trip.

DARK HORSE

Ebony Jewel (5.15 Aintree)

The rain properly got into the ground at Aintree on Thursday and plenty of runners won't appreciate conditions, but Ebony Jewel is one horse that won't mind it at all and he can go close in the closing bumper. Trained by Nick Alexander, Ebony Jewel put a runner-up effort on debut behind him for other connections when dotting up on his first start for the yard at Ayr, kicking clear of ten rivals on soft ground. He galloped through the mud that day and achieved an RPR of 122, the third best figure in this race, and should have further improvement to come.

EACH-WAY PLAY

Ballyhill(4.05 Aintree)

Nigel Twiston-Davies won this race in 2009 with Irish Raptor and he looks to have a good chance ten years on with the classy Ballyhill, who has been plying his trade in Graded company. A former Aintree winner, albeit on the Mildmay course, Ballyhill has unsurprisingly found Clan Des Obeaux and subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Siruh Du Lac too good on his last couple of starts, but now drops back into handicap company off a mark of 142 and this fine jumper should be tough to hold on ground he will relish.

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