Latalomne, arguably an unlucky loser of last month's Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham, can gain rich compensation at Aintree tomorrow.

The Brian Ellison-trained gelding lines-up for the £120,000 Martell Melling Chase - the most valuable race of the day - and is strongly fancied to clinch the spoils.

A high-class chaser, only just out of the novice league, Latalomne was in the process of running the race of his life at Cheltenham when he hit the deck at the second-last fence, when holding a slight lead from Cenkos, the eventual runner-up with Flagship Uberalles, the winner, hard driven in third.

It is anyone's guess where Latalomne would have finished, but the Norton performer had still not been asked a serious question at the time of his unfortunate departure and majority opinion seemed to be that he would have taken all the beating.

Thankfully, none the worse for that fall, Latalomne will relish tomorrow's fast ground. As for the half-mile longer distance, he has already won at this trip. A bold bid is anticipated.

All eyes will be on Barton, another local horse, in the Martell Mildmay Novices' Chase.

Tim Easterby's prolific winner over fences and hurdles failed to produce his best at Cheltenham last month when finishing unplaced in the two-miles Arkle Chase.

He steps up to an extended three miles here and, although the ground will be quicker than ideal for him, the longer trip should suit. Tony Dobbin has the mount.

The Martell Topham Chase For Sport Relief is, as usual, staged over the Grand National fences, and a cracking contest is forecast.

My vote goes to Ceanannas Mor, trained by Nicky Henderson, who ran a cracking race at Cheltenham to chase home his stablemate The Bushkeeper in the Kim Muir Chase. He looks the ideal type for this course and is awarded the nap vote.

Another Chance represents Malcolm Jefferson in the Martell Noblige Handicap Hurdle and should go well under Adie Smith.

The seven-year-old has been admirably consistent this season and gained a valuable success at Huntingdon last time out. He stays this trip of two-and-a-half miles well and has every chance of finishing in the money.

Trainer Jonjo O'Neill has had a cracking season and the former champion jockey has good prospects of adding to his score tomorrow. Carbury Cross (2-00) and Joss Naylor (4-20) give the popular O'Neill a good basis for a double-strike.

Tomorrow's tips:

AINTREE

2.00 - Carbury Cross

2.35 - Westender

3.10 - Latalome

3.45 - Ceanannas Mor (NAP)

4.20 - Joss Naylor

4.50 - Barton

5.25 - Another Chance

SEDGEFIELD

2.25 - Captaintwothousand

3.00 - Cuthill Hope

3.35 - Aston Mara

3.40 - Double Timer

4.10 - Business Class

4.40 - Jolly Minster

5.10 - Bergamo

Updated: 12:41 Thursday, April 04, 2002