15.40 Aintree: Fine performance expected from Fine Parchment

First run in 1949, the Topham Chase is run over one lap of the Grand National fences and offers those horses not quite strong enough to challenge in the Grand National, a chance of Aintree glory.

With 30 horses lining up in the race, it’s almost as difficult to pick the winner in this race as it is in the National, but here are a few tips that can help sort the winners from the losers.

Mon Parrain is the red-hot favourite for this race at 6/1 but there has only been one winning favourite in the last ten years and opposing Mon Parrain at a short price looks the best option.

Dev is next in the betting at 9/1 but he can be ruled out to as 11-year-olds or 0-90 since 1993 and the age will count against the Irish fancy.

Talking of Irish fancies, only three Irish-trained horses have won this race since 1979 and Irish horses can also be ruled out.

Punters need to look for horses who come into the race having raced over seven times this season and horses that fill that criteria are Swing Bill (20/1), Fine Parchment (14/1), Calusa Caldera (28/1) and Bible Lord (66/1).

Both Calusa Caldera and Bible Lord are running out of the handicap and three of the last 7 winners have won from out of the handicap, but the edge is with Fine Parchment who finished second here in November, and has won three of his last six starts.

Swing Bill finished third behind Fine Parchment at Newbury in March, and while the David Pipe-trained ten-year-old is better weighted today, Fine Parchment can return home the winner of the mini National.

A £20 stake on Fine Parchment winning the Topham Chase would return £300. New customers can sign up here to get £60 in free bets.