Trainer Howard Johnson, who was dealt a severe blow on the farming front last weekend when he lost his entire herd of healthy livestock to foot and mouth, bids to bounce back at Aintree tomorrow.

The County Durham handler saddles Direct Route in the £12,000 Martell Melling Chase and Norman Williamson's mount is strongly fancied to win this Grade 1 race for the third consecutive year.

Johnson had to have 400 cattle and more than 600 sheep destroyed as a 'firebreak measure' to help stem the spread of foot and mouth in his area, and the mass cull left him deeply distressed. It was, he says, "the worst day of my life."

On a more upbeat note, Johnson has his horses in cracking form, as he proved at Musselburgh on Tuesday when he completed a double with Big Max and My Shenandoah.

The same day he described Direct Route as "spot-on" for his Aintree bid and this top-notch chaser, who habitually comes good in the spring of the year, is expected to take all the beating.

With Tiutchev, Edredon Bleu and Flagship Uberalles in the field, it is not going to be easy, but Direct Route is a class act on his day and, providing the ground does not get too soft, he is capable of coming out on top.

Red Striker can get punters off to a good start in the Heidsieck Diamant Bleu Novices' Handicap Chase.

Norman Mason's gelding has been in cracking form lately, winning two of his last three starts. He is napped to oblige again here under Richard Guest.

In the John Hughes Trophy Chase, run over one circuit of the Grand National course, Malton jockey Russ Garritty is in for an exciting ride on the bold-jumping Flying Instructor.

Paul Webber's gelding returned to the winning trail after a breathing operation at Haydock last time out.

Previously successful over Aintree's Mildmay course, he can now underline his versatility by doing his stuff over the Grand National course.

The Heidsieck Monopole Mildmay Novices' Chase brings together the cream of this season's young fencers and the vote goes to Shotgun Willy, trained by Paul Nicholls.

Joe Tizzard's mount has won three of his four starts and conquered the high-class First Gold at Newbury on his latest outing. He is fancied to have the edge over Bacchanal and Hati Roy.

The exciting Montalcino can clinch the Martell Mersey Novices' Hurdle for Venetia Williams, while Len Lungo and Tony Dobbin can capture the Martell Sefton Novices' Hurdle with the unbeaten Skippers Cleuch.

An extra meeting to help compensate for the lack of racing is being staged at Wetherby tomorrow.

Mick Easterby, who has such a good record on this course, is fancied to hit the target with Noshinannikin in the Wetherby Racecourse Weddings Handicap chase.

The mount of Richard McGrath, the seven-year-old runs here instead of fulfilling an engagement at Ascot yesterday.

Tomorrow's tips:

Aintree

2-00 Red Striker (NAP)

2-35 Montalcino

3-10 Direct Route

3-45 Flying Instructor

4-20 Skippers Cleuch

4-50 Shotgun Willy

5-25 Seixo Branco

WETHERBY

2-25 Cherry Tart

3-00 Palacegate King

3-35 Valigan

4-10 Premier Drive

4-40 Noshinannikin

5-15 Just Jake

5-45 Ascot Touch

Updated: 12:59 Thursday, April 05, 2001