Aintree Placepot picks: Paul Kealy's perm for the £75,000 guaranteed pool

Wide-margin point-to-point winner Mossy Fen Coolio will probably be a short price for Aintree's opener (12.20), but I wouldn't want a hurdles debutant as a Placepot banker in a seven-runner race.

On Deadly Ground was a head second in his point and the winner has won over hurdles for Willie Mullins, while the third has been second in a Leopardstown bumper, so that form is solid, and he looks the obvious back-up.

Newbury's Pertemps qualifier on Thursday was dominated by chasers running off lower hurdles marks, so don't be surprised if Katate Dori, having his prep for the Coral Gold Cup, is a player in the second (12.55). 

The Lord Maid, who progressed well last season, is the other one who catches the eye.

Champagne Twist ought to go well in the third (1.30), with Ben Pauling suggesting in his stable tour that he was over last season's troubles. This looks a tight enough heat and I don't see why Strackan is such a big outsider.

We finally get a third place to go for in the fourth leg (2.05), in which Mambonumberfive has to be considered a major player. He won a soft Grade 2 over hurdles last season, and is a big horse who was bought to go chasing, so should take to the discipline.

Of those with chase form, Dunstall Rambler resumed his progress back at 2m with an easy win last month and may still have more to offer despite a big rise in his handicap mark.

I'll go with three in the Sefton (2.40), with favourite White Rhino joining main plays Colonel Harry and If Not For Dylan.

There's a big enough field for the last (3.15), but I get the impression Dominic's Fault and Don't Mind If I Do are going to be the standouts in the betting and both look reasonably treated, the latter on his handicap debut.

Aintree Placepot perm

12.20
3 Mossy Fen Coolio
4 On Deadly Ground

12.55
3 Katate Dori
4 The Lord Maid

1.30
1 Champagne Twist
6 Strackan

2.05
6 Mambonumberfive
9 Dunstall Rambler

2.40
2 Colonel Harry
4 White Rhino
17 If Not For Dylan

3.15
3 Don't Mind If I Do
4 Dominic's Fault

2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 2 = 96 lines

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