Horse Racing tips: General Custard on the menu for Timeform at Aintree

13:00 – General Custard (NAP)

GENERAL CUSTARD, twice a winner in novice hurdles in 2018/19, missed all of last season, but he shaped with promise on his return from that long absence on his chasing debut at Wetherby last month. General Custard was only fourth, but he was up against some talented rivals, most notably the impressive winner Shan Blue, who has since followed up in style. The lightly raced General Custard is entitled to improve for that experience and looks to have been handed a fair opening mark for his handicap debut.

14:10 – Bennys King (NB)

BENNYS KING won both starts for Dan Skelton in the 2018/19 season after joining from Venetia Williams and he took his game to another level last term, creating an excellent impression when winning a competitive handicap at Newbury. Bennys King failed to convince when upped to three miles at Wetherby but he produced a career-best effort when only narrowly denied by a thriving rival over two miles and five furlongs at Ascot, impressing with how well he stuck to his task having been slightly softened up by an early battle to get to the lead. Bennys King is a nine-year-old, but he is lightly raced for his age and it’s possible that there’s a bit more to come. He makes his return with trainer Dan Skelton in excellent form and a bold bid looks on the cards.

15:20 – Romain de Senam (EACH-WAY)

ROMAIN DE SENAM was a useful handicap chaser for Paul Nicholls and a largely consistent one, but he didn’t shape with much promise when well beaten on his first start for Dan Skelton at Fontwell last month, jumping none too fluently. He showed more promise at Stratford last time, however, only finishing sixth but taking a big step back in the right direction and offering hope that he can soon cash in on a falling handicap mark. The handicapper has given him a big chance by easing his mark another 3 lb and he looks well treated based on the form he showed when last successful at Newton Abbot in May 2019. He bolted up by 13 lengths on that occasion from a mark 3 lb higher than the one he can race off here.