THERE’S some wonderful jumps action from Aintree this weekend, where the feature race is the Monet’s Garden Old Roan Chase.

Uxizandre (3.00) can make a winning reappearance at the scene of his finest hour having won a Grade 1 Novices’ event over course and distance at the National meeting back in the spring.

That followed a second-place finish in the JLT Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and the booking of Barry Geraghty is a big plus with AP McCoy riding at Chepstow having recovered from his recent shoulder injury.

Bold Sir Brian returns from a 554-day absence and is worth bearing in mind for later in the season but the 7/2 at BetVictor for the Alan King runner looks a fair price in an excellent renewal.

On reflection Burton Port (3.40) was never going to take to the National fences but he travelled like a dream in the Bet365 Chase at Sandown last time and can defy a 5lb rise in the veterans’ event.

The selection hasn’t won since April 2010 but that was over course and distance and owner Trevor Hemmings likes to have winners at his local track. I am surprised Barry Geraghty, who has ridden the horse to victory on three previous occasions, appears to have been overlooked in favour of Jason Maguire but the latter is a cracking pilot and the Jonjo O’Neill trained ten-year-old can get his head back in the winners’ enclosure.

I have been waiting for the chase debut of Timesremembered (4.50) for some time and this winning pointer could be a very good Novice Chaser for Emma Lavelle.

The selection finished runner up in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury over Christmas and I will be disappointed if he doesn’t see off today’s opposition led by Horizontal Speed, another who should improve over the larger obstacles.

At Newbury I am sweet on the chances of Battalion (2.20) in the St Simon Stakes back on soft ground. The selection goes well fresh and connections have been patient with the four-year-old who was pulled out of the Coronation Cup on account of the prevailing fast ground at Epsom at the 11th hour back in June.

There’s an excellent card at Chepstow and in the Silver Trophy Regal Encore (4.10) could be very well-handicapped from his current mark, having finished runner up in the Champion Bumper in 2013 before a light campaign last season over timber when he suggested there could be a lot more to offer this term.

Anthony Honeyball can certainly get them ready first time out and can give AP McCoy a winner on his return from injury.

The Racing Post Trophy is the last Group 1 contest of the 2014 Flat season and flat looks an excellent description for a below par renewal.

The each way selection is Restorer (3.50) an 8/1 chance with BetVictor who will appreciate any worsening of conditions having looked very good at Ffos Las on debut and put behind a modest run on the all-weather to finish second in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes last time.

Sunday brings another strong day of racing and Distime (2.05) returns from a 300-day lay-off for John Quinn at Aintree, but is a very confident selection. The eight-year-old finished runner up over course and distance to Unioniste on the corresponding card two years ago and a rating of 115 cannot be the limit of his ability. Connections decided to run him first time out over an extended three miles last season but his stamina gave way and there should be no excuses for a horse with such an excellent record fresh.

King Of The Wolds (3.50) looks well treated for his reappearance for Malcolm Jefferson whose stable star Urban Hymn lost nothing in defeat when beaten a head at Carlisle earlier in the week.

Another with a good record fresh, this fine looking animal is taken to get his career back on track after his form tailed off in the second half of last season.

At Wincanton, Famousandfearless (2.55) remains potentially well handicapped despite a 7lb rise for his latest Uttoxeter success although his stamina has to be taken on trust for this near three-and-a-half mile trip. He is following in the same footsteps as stablemate Standing Ovation who won this corresponding race 12-months ago for David Pipe before going on to land the Badger Beer Chase the following month.

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