Meadowbank, regarded by trainer Mick Easterby as a Grand National horse in the making, can playing a starring role over the unique Aintree course tomorrow.

The giant-sized gelding travels to Merseyside for the £50,000 Tote Becher Chase and is napped to add to his success at Wetherby last Saturday.

Meadowbank, owned by Lord Manton, showed Skillwise a clean pair of heels on his latest start and can confirm that form tomorrow over three miles and three furlongs.

The Grand National fences will, of course, be a new experience to him, but the seven-year-old jumps like the proverbial stag and is expected to relish the extra demands of these famous obstacles.

Easterby has fancied runners throughout the Aintree card and Dancing Phantom, fit from the Flat, should go well in the Stanley Racing Children In Need Handicap Hurdle.

Gudlage was a winner on this course four weeks ago and it would come as no surprise to see the Sheriff Hutton gelding oblige again in the CTP Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

Easterby has yet another winning chance with Flat Top in the Sefton Handicap Chase.

The best of the action at the other two meetings takes place at Plumpton in the shape of the £20,000 John Newton Waterproof Membrane Sussex National.

Mark Pitman is expected to hold the key to this long-distance event with Cimmarone Cove, who bypassed a tempting engagement at Ascot today to wait for this valuable prize.

Tony McCoy has treble prospects aboard Garruth (1.15), Idaho d'Or (2.50) and Hit And Run (3.20).

At Fakenham, recent winners Plough Boy (1.55) and Bassenhally (2.25) have solid chances of completing respective doubles.

Tomorrow's tips:

Aintree

12.35 Better Days, 1.05 Gudlage, 1.35 Bramble Fair, 2.05 Dancing Phantom, 2.40 Meadowbank (Nap),3.15 Flat Top, 3.45 Kaizen.

Fakenham

12.55 Job Rage, 1.25 Who Dares Wins, 1.55 Plough Boy, 2.25 Bassenhally, 3.00 Finnoula's Rainbow, 3.35 Esendi.

Plumpton

12.45 Polish Spirit, 1.15 Garruth, 1.45 Will Of The People, 2.15 Cimmarone Cove, 2.50 Idaho d'Or, 3.20 Hit And Run, 3.50 Little Bud.

Updated: 12:14 Saturday, November 24, 2001