Aintree 2015: Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap Hurdle preview (17:15)

Lac Fontana has a touch of class, and looks decent each-way value in the Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap Hurdle at Aintree (17:25), having shaped far better than the bare result last time out.

The Paul Nicholls trained gelding has won four of his 12 starts over hurdles, and they include a game success in the 28-runner 2m 1f County Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2014, where Lac Fontana stayed on strongly to beat Arctic Fire by 1/2 a length off a mark of 139.

That is fine form, as the runner-up has since developed into a very useful sort and chased home Faugheen in the Champion Hurdle when last seen in action.

Lac Fontana went on to follow-up in a Grade 1 contest over 2m 4f at this track off an official rating of 148.

The six-year-old also ran well on his seasonal reappearance when third to Faugheen in the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle at Ascot, and caught the eye last time out when ninth of 25 to Aux Ptits Soins at the Cheltenham Festival.

Although beaten 11 1/4 lengths, Lac Fontana got badly hampered and lost stacks of ground at a crucial stage in a rough run race before sticking on well at the death to be nearest at the finish.

The assessor has since dropped Lac Fontana 2lb to a mark of 149, and is just 1lb higher than when the son of Shirrocco was last successful at this venue.

It gives Lac Fontana a big shout at the weights, especially as connections have shrewdly booked the services of promising jockey Sean Bowen, whose claim takes an invaluable 5lb off his back.

Bowen has a near 26 per cent strike rate for the yard (eight wins and eight placed from 33 rides) so, taking his claim into account, Lac Fontana is weighted to run a big race at a track which clearly suits.