Offering high-priced tips and top four predictions for National Champion jockey Mick Fitzgerald, chief tips Tom Collins and Sky Sports host Sean Boyce.

Aintree’s big race this year saw the return of defending champion I Am Maximus, just one of many races for racing owner JP McManus, who made his mark in the success of the Golden Cup at Cheltenham.

Iroko looks like his leading fantasy, and the seven-year-old mentioned a preview performance group from every member of the competition.

Tom Collins

“I think owner JP McManus has a strong hand with Iroko, I am Maximus because of his two main horses in the field.

“I’m Maximus who won the race last year, so we know he handled the national track, travel and conditions.

“Iroko is the young gun on the scene. He has come into contact with and is ready to compete in a big competition after a few times without seeing his best rides.

“The intense Raffles is another young gun and he has the potential to win this one, but I think it has more potential than what I actually see so far.

“Grangeclare West has only 11 games and 5 wins. He was smashed with heart wood and Corbetts Cross-two very good followers. His jump wasn’t great, he had to bear a lot of weight, but he was a good horse and his game was 20/1.”

Mick Fitzgerald

“I think one of the professional bets is that JP McManus won the game. It’s just that I’m Maximus and Iroko is fantasizing alone.

“I went back and watched me become Maximus again to remind myself of how I performed last year.

“So when you look at the form of Iroko, he is second only to Gold Cup champion Inothewayurthinkin.

“The drier the ground, the better the chances out of Huwick, who came here in good form.

“I want to throw it into Minella, Indiana, India. He is 12 years old and the statistics are against him, but he’s in work and I can see him have a chance to get there.”

Sean Boyce

“The intense Raffles is obviously the draft pick for this game. His five or six pounds are good and an impressive champion for the Irish country.

“Back in September 2021, Intense Raffles beat Iroko in Auteuil’s AQPS game, and I think that will happen again.

“Then, I was looking for a higher price, and I competed with Beauport for Midlands national champion Nigel Twiston-Davies.

“I threw the killer at 100/1. His stamina has a big question mark, but he is a huge price for his own quality horse and he doesn’t know how to play a bad game.”