Aintree Festival 2024 day one tips as Corbetts Cross is Garry Owen's pick for William Hill Bowl

Corbetts Cross (2.55) is no laughing matter in the William Hill Bowl on day one at Aintree.

Emmet Mullins’ charge looked a smart chaser in the making following a successful novice hurdle career. He went some way to confirming as much when third to Grangeclare West on debut at Naas last November. The seven-year-old then opened his account by routing Three Card Brag at Fairyhouse almost a month later.

He got far closer to Grangeclare West when second to his old rival in a Leopardstown Grade One. The gelding didn’t enjoy the best warm-up for the National Hunt Chase when falling at Fairyhouse. But he recovered to crush Embassy Gardens in last month’s big race at Cheltenham. There is plenty more to come from this bold galloper who can upstage established superstars. The shrewd handler should double up with ROMEO MAGICO (4.05) in the Foxhunters’ Chase. The winning pointer showed class and guts to win on his Rules debut at Limerick last December.

He then didn’t mind stepping up to three miles when giving Ferns Lock most problems at Thurles in January. The gelding hacked up from Neo King back over almost 2m 4f at Down Royal last month and will relish tackling these famous spruce fences against a strong field.

GREY DAWNING (1.45) can boost Dan Skelton’s title bid in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase. The useful hurdler was a cracking third to Stay Away Fay switched to fences at Exeter last November. He put that run to good use when showing Gaillard Du Mesnil no mercy down in trip at Haydock.

The grey would have reeled in Ginny’s Destiny at Cheltenham in December but for a blunder two out, albeit then routed Apple Away back over three miles in the Hampton at Warwick. He exacted revenge on Ginny’s Destiny in style in the Turners last