Grand National undercard selections: The Big Bite (16/1), Apple's Jade (2/1) and William Henry (16/1)

The big one at Aintree is off at 17:15 on Saturday but there’s plenty of good racing on the undercard.

I’m backing THE BIG BITE for his first attempt at 2m4f, as I suspect 16/1 is a generous price.

He jumped poorly two starts ago at Kempton and notably improved in that department when racing up with the pace in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, which turned out to be a seriously tough job against a brilliant winner in Klassical Dream.

He faded fairly quickly around three out as others quickened past him, but his jockey took no chances and accepted defeat pretty much as soon as it became inevitable, which should have saved his legs.

I’ve been following this horse all season as he does look to have a big engine, so the step up to 2m4f could be right up his street and I suspect a flat track will be too.

He had a big break after Kempton and the Supreme might have been a shock to the system, so I’d be optimistic he can improve for the run and have a say in the finish here.

1pt win The Big Bite @16/1, 14:25 Aintree, Saturday

The feature Grade 1 of the day is the Stayer’s Hurdle where star mare APPLE’S JADE sits top of the market at 2/1.

She flopped over two miles on soft ground at the Cheltenham Festival but had previously been the star of the National Hunt season on either side of the Irish Sea, so her price here, at a track she’s excelled at in the past, might be an absolute steal.

As such, I can’t really be against her as 2/1 might even be a little big, so I’m backing her with a saver – and if you’re a fan of accas, fill your boots.

My main bet in this race is WILLIAM HENRY, as at 16/1 he is very interesting after landing the Coral Cup with a staying performance in his first run since a wind op, which might have transformed his form.

The Coral Cup is always full of graded horses so that’s really strong form, and, looking back on his hurdle form, he’s had plenty of good runs at a high level and remains unexposed at this staying trip, so despite being a nine-year-old I suspect there’s still improvement in him.

He simply looks a big price.

1pt win Apple’s Jade @2/1, 15:40 Aintree, Saturday
1pt win William Henry @16/1, 15:40 Aintree, Saturday

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