IF you can forgive Detroit City one bad run then he is surely the one to be in the Grade 1 Baltika Beer Aintree Hurdle, tomorrow's main supporting race to the Grand National.

Philip Hobbs' admirable grey had run up a sequence of eight wins over hurdles before his unaccountable flop in last month's Champion Hurdle when, the 6-4 favourite, he never appeared happy at any stage before trailing home in sixth place.

Hobbs has never been able to put his finger on what went wrong that day and has been more than satisfied since with Detroit City's home work.

The step-up to two and a half miles tomorrow should be in his favour and he should be give the chance to atone for his Cheltenham blip.

In the John Smith's Maghull Novices' Chase, Twist Magic makes plenty of appeal.

Paul Nicholls' charge looked to be travelling well within himself when coming to grief two from home in the Arkle Trophy, won by My Way de Solzen. How he would have fared is impossible to say for certain, but there was every sign that he was in the process of producing a career-best performance.

John Mackie has his horses in good form and the Burton-on-Trent trainer has good prospects with Gidam Gidam in the John Smith's Extra Cold Handicap Hurdle.

The gelding has proved a useful money-spinner over hurdles and was a gutsy winner at Market Rasen last month, after which Mackie nominated this race as his next objective. A bold bid is anticipated.

Theatrical Moment has looked a high-class horse in being unbeaten in three starts this season and Alan Swinbank's smart gelding will surely be hard to beat in the John Smith's Champion Open Flat Race.

At Newcastle, Zomerlust is worth noting in the £16,000 bet365 Handicap, the feature race on the card.

This straight seven furlongs looks ideal for John Quinn's charge.

Richard Fahey sent out Mister Hardy to make a successful debut at Newcastle a fortnight ago and the juvenile turns out again in the European Breeders' Fund Novice Stakes.

His 7lb penalty is virtually cancelled out tomorrow by the claim of Fahey's accomplished apprentice, Jamie Moriarty.

Fahey can also score with Intavac Boy (3.05).


Racing selections

Tomorrow

Aintree
1.45 Pepperoni Pete, 2.15 Twist Magic, 2.50 Detroit City, 3.25 Gidam Gidam, 5.00 L'Antartique, 5.35 Theatrical Moment.

Newcastle
2.05 Mount Usher, 2.35 Zomerlust, 3.05 Intavac Boy, 3.45 Mister Hardy, 4.30 Celestial Halo, 5.10 Nadawat.

Tomorrow's other meetings:
Chepstow (National Hunt), Lingfield (all-weather Flat).

Today's meetings: Aintree (National Hunt), Southwell (all-weather Flat), Folkestone (Flat).