THEATRE GUIDE has been given a chance by the handicapper and looks sure to go well in the Crabbie's Topham Chase over the famous Grand National fences.

Colin Tizzard's eight-year-old finished third in the Hennessy two seasons ago but has been fairly lightly raced since due to one reason or another.

He has stood up to his racing pretty well in the second half of the season but after a promising comeback at Kempton, where he dead-heated with Fox Appeal at Kempton, he has ultimately been disappointing.

However, on closer scrutiny there are viable excuses for each defeat.

At Cheltenham behind Many Clouds in the BetBright Cup he loomed up going well turning into the straight before getting tired on his first run for three months, perfectly understandable.

Upped in class then for the Ascot Chase, he ran well for a long way but ended up making the running and just made a slight mistake when the pace quickened and was immediately on the back foot.

Then at Cheltenham, back up in trip, he jumped and travelled beautifully before seemingly not getting home behind The Druids Nephew so the drop in trip should be in his favour.

Crucially, the handicapper dropped him 5lb for that run to a mark of 142 and given he was placed in the Hennessy off 145 he has to go close if the ability remains intact.

Two and a half miles around the Mildmay course should be perfect for Champagne Fever in the Betfred Melling Chase.

Willie Mullins was disappointed that he was prevented from running his grey in the Queen Mother at Cheltenham, especially given the reason why.

The dual Cheltenham Festival winner was bitten on the lip by a stablemate in transit over the England and it was felt he was in too much discomfort to run.

But as the general consensus is that Champagne Fever is at his very best when fresh, and he had won the Red Mills Chase barely three weeks before Cheltenham, it surely enhances his chance in this.

Neil Mulholland will be getting twitchy as The Druids Nephew is one of the favourites for the big one on Saturday but it is a measure of how far he has come as a trainer that he also holds serious claims of winning the Betfred Mildmay Novices' Chase.

Carole's Destrier could quite feasibly have run in the RSA Chase last month were it not for the fact his stablemate The Young Master ran instead.

While Carole's Destrier may not have run in any fancy races, his rating suggests he would not have been out of place at Prestbury Park.

He is a strong stayer with a turn of foot, which he displayed when winning at Ascot, and while his most recent assignment at Wetherby was straightforward, he jumped like a top-class prospect.

Mulholland said after that race he looked a bit "tubby" so expect even more improvement.

Glingerburn has done absolutely nothing wrong all season and while the E-Lites Top Novices' Hurdle represents his stiffest test to date, so far all his form has worked out a treat.

He is a nimble jumper and possess a change of gear only seen in the best.

The Saint James looks interesting in the Alder Hey Handicap Hurdle, while Alpha Des Obeaux can give Mouse Morris something to cheer about in the Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle.

It has been a miserable season for Morris but this five-year-old has gone close against Black Hercules and Douvan in his last two races and with the string in better form, he might sneak under the radar.

David Elsworth has started the season well so Justice Good should prove hard to beat in the Loddington Conditions Stakes at Leicester, Gothic Empire can continue Marco Botti's good form in the totequickpick Maiden Stakes at Wolverhampton, with Willem an interesting runner in the Bet365 Novices' Hurdle at Fontwell.

SELECTIONS:

AINTREE: 1.40 The Saint James, 2.15 Glingerburn, 2.50 CAROLE'S DESTRIER (NAP), 3.25 Champagne Fever, 4.05 Theatre Guide, 4.40 Alpha Des Obeaux, 5.15 Barters Hill.

FONTWELL: 1.55 Willem, 2.30 Bertenbar, 3.05 Taylor, 3.40 Romeo Americo, 4.15 Epsom Flyer, 4.50 Right Step, 5.25 Brown Bear.

LEICESTER: 1.30 Jammy Guest, 2.05 Twisting Hay, 2.40 Margot Rose, 3.15 Justice Good, 3.50 Oceanographer, 4.25 Journey, 5.00 Hanno.

WEXFORD: 4.30 Lady Of Portlairge, 5.05 Turnandgo, 5.35 Ballyadam Brook, 6.05 Sacre Malta, 6.35 Diamond Dame, 7.05 De Benno, 7.35 Idee Emery.

WOLVERHAMPTON: 5.50 Black Truffle, 6.20 Trending, 6.50 Hopes N Dreams, 7.20 Yorkshireman, 7.50 My Mo, 8.20 Al's Memory, 8.50 Gothic Empire, 9.20 Day Of The Eagle.

DOUBLE: Carole's Destrier and Champagne Fever.