Tom Segal has three bankers for his Aintree Placepot

Aintree's card is probably the most competitive National Hunt meeting since the Cheltenham Festival and at first glance it looks an impossible Placepot to crack.

In such circumstances it's easy to end up with an expensive perm but I believe there are a few horses to bank on to keep it manageable.

The first is Torn And Frayed in the opening 2m4f maiden hurdle (12.47), and although the 3m1f novice handicap chase (2.32) looks much trickier, Jammy George looks sure to go well with the Harry Whittington team in such good form.

The final banker is Jobsonfire in the 3m½f conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle (3.07). He won three in a short space of time last season and has risen nearly 30lb in the handicap, but he started from a low base and I doubt the handicapper has caught up with him yet.

It's possible to make a case for everything in the 3m1f veterans' chase (1.22) but Vieux Lion Rouge always goes well fresh and won off this mark on his reappearance last season.

Venetia Williams' first runners of the season went well at Lingfield during the week, so it's worth including her only runner on the card, One Style, too.

It's hard to get away from the claims of Itchy Feet in the Old Roan (1.57) but he's been off since jumping badly at the Cheltenham Festival, so it's worth putting in the classy mare Annie Mc too.

If you have got to the final leg (3.42) you have done well and hopefully all 16 will line up to allow the extra place. Strong Glance, who shaped well over a trip too short on his reappearance, and the bottomweight Jacamar would be my two against the field.

Aintree Placepot perm

12.47
8 Torn And Frayed

1.22
2 Vieux Lion Rouge
10 One Style

1.57
3 Itchy Feet
11 Annie Mc

2.32
7 Jammy George

3.07
11 Jobsonfire

3.42
14 Strong Glance
16Jacamar

1x2x2x1x1x2=8 lines

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