County Durham trainer Howard Johnson and his number-one jockey Graham Lee, who took centre stage with three winners at Cheltenham last month, are set to make further waves tomorrow on the opening day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree.

Grey Abbey is their representative in the Betfair Bowl Chase, the £150,000 opening-day centrepiece, while Mephisto, winner of the Ebor at York last August when trained by Luca Cumani, gives the formidable duo a sterling chance in the John Smith's Mersey Novices' Hurdle.

Grey Abbey, who runs tomorrow instead of in Saturday's Grand National, won the Scottish National for Johnson and Lee last season and has followed-up this term in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby and Cheltenham's Pillar Chase.

His latest effort, after a troubled preparation, and on ground quicker than ideal, saw him finish sixth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup to Kicking King.

Ground conditions tomorrow should be much more to the liking of this mudlover and formidable staying chaser.

Mephisto has won two of his three races over hurdles since joining Johnson and hopes are high that he can add to his tally tomorrow.

He has had this race on his agenda for some time and it will take a good one to beat him.

Nap selection Faasel can win the John Smith's Anniversary Four-Year-Old Hurdle. He won his first three races for trainer Nicky Richards before being outstayed by Mephisto at Kelso. On his latest start, at tomorrow's distance of two miles, he was narrowly beaten by Penzance in the Triumph Hurdle, Tomorrow's flatter track could suit this strong traveller even better.

Thursday's tips:

Aintree

2.00 Monet's Garden, 2.35 Grey Abbey, 3.10 Faasel (Nap), 3.45 Star Jack, 4.20 Caracciola, 4.55 Mephisto, 5.30 Funny Times.

Leicester

2.10 Owners Biscuits, 2.45 Azuree, 3.20 Polish Eagle, 3.55 Asaateel, 4.30 Nufoos, 5.05 Day Care, 5.40 Cesare.

Tomorrow's other meeting is at Taunton.

Updated: 10:44 Wednesday, April 06, 2005