The televised cards at Sandown and Aintree on Saturday are both subject to precautionary inspections, at 7am and 7.30am respectively, with Storm Darragh threatening to bring high winds and rain across the country, but if the elements are kind, Jonbon’s short price for the Grade One Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown is likely to leave the Becher Handicap Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree as the race that punters will be most eager to solve.

The past three races over these unique obstacles, including the Grand National itself in April, have passed without a single faller, but while runners can now survive a mistake, there is still a reward for bold, accurate jumping, as King Turgeon (2.07) proved when making a successful debut over the National course in the Grand Sefton Chase in November.

David Pipe’s six-year-old was a winner over three and a quarter miles at Chepstow in October and the step back up to that trip on Saturday is likely to see further improvement, making him an obvious bet to complete his hat-trick at around 4-1.

Sandown 1.15 Dan Skelton’s West To The Bridge is within sight of his 12th birthday but remains relatively unexposed at staying trips and ran up to his best to finish a close third at Bangor last time.

Aintree 1.32 Last year’s 14-length winner, Richmond Lake, is back on the same mark and has a fine chance of a repeat win at around 7-2.

Sandown 1.50 A typically small field for the first Grade One novice chase of the British season but a fascinating contest all the same. Paul Nicholls clearly holds Rubaud in considerable esteem to pitch him in at the highest level first time up over fences, but L’Eau Du Sud sets a strong standard on his form at Cheltenham’s November meeting and can maintain his unbeaten record over fences.

Sandown 2.25 The front-running Knickerbockerglory was a winner first time up last season off a 2lb lower mark and could be very tough to pass once again.

Sandown 3.00 There are few more talented or reliable chasers in training than Jonbon and while Quilixios, the 2021 Triumph Hurdle winner, is an interesting new rival, even his impressive recent Grade Three win at Naas still leaves him with plenty to find.

Aintree 3.17 Tamar Bridge had been off the track for nearly two years before a very promising return at Uttoxeter in October and races off just a 3lb higher mark here.

Sandown 3.35 The only blip on Montgomery’s record since joining Venetia Williams came when the stable was out of form in the spring, and with the yard now in much ruder health the seven-year-old has a fine chance to give his trainer a second win in this race in three years.