Howard Johnson and Graham Lee, on the mark at Aintree yesterday with Grey Abbey, can follow-up tomorrow with Inglis Drever in the main supporting race to the Grand National.

The six-year-old World Hurdle winner at last month's Cheltenham Festival lines-up with eight others in the £150,000 Scottish and Newcastle Aintree Hurdle.

Tomorrow's half-mile shorter trip is unlikely to count against a horse who has twice won over two miles this season.

Brave Inca, a narrowly beaten third in the Champion Hurdle, could be the main threat to Inglis Drever but I fancy the County Durham star to shine once more.

Ashley Brook, who ran a blinder in the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham, can take the John Smith's Maghull Novices' Chase over two miles.

This bold front-runner beat all except Contraband at the Festival and if the same tactics are adopted tomorrow he will be hard to catch on this faster course. Paddy Brennan again has the mount.

Tony Dobbin, with three winners on yesterday's card, all for Nicky Richards, can score on Len Lungo's Rasharrow in the John Smith's Champion Bumper.

An impressive winner on his debut at Wetherby, Rasharrow made a great effort at Cheltenham to finish third in the Bumper race, still looking a tad inexperienced. He would not need to improve much on that to win tomorrow.

Aintree

1.45 Crossbow Creek, 2.15 Ashley Brook, 2.50 Billyvoddan, 3.20 Inglis Drever, 4.10 Innox (Nap), 4.55 Translucid, 5.30 Rasharrow.

Newcastle

TV races: 2.10 Cesare, 2.45 Fair Spin, 3.15 Nero's Return,

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Hereford and Lingfield.

Updated: 10:51 Friday, April 08, 2005