SIR ALEX FERGUSON takes a break from the stresses and strains of trying to win the Premier League with Manchester United by donning his owner’s hat at Aintree tomorrow on the opening day of the Grand National meeting.

The legendary manager is part-owner of What A Friend, who runs in the feature race, the £150,000 totesport Bowl Chase, and has strong claims on the strength of his Grade 1 victory at Leopardstown in late December.

It may prove, however, that Ferguson will have to settle for a minor role, as What A Friend is set to cross swords with the mighty Imperial Commander, whose victory in last month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup confirmed him to be a true champion.

Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, who will have a six-strong representation in Saturday’s Grand National, Imperial Commander got the better of Denman in truly gritty style at Cheltenham to claim the coveted crown.

He is reported to have come out of that race in tremendous style and, if he’s in the same sort of form tomorrow, Imperial Commander will surely have too much firepower for What A Friend.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of What A Friend, can take the opening BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle with Big Buck’s, the mount of Ruby Walsh.

Unbeaten in three starts this season, the current reigning champion stayer, looked better than ever at Cheltenham last month when winning the World Hurdle for the second successive year.

Time For Rupert, runner-up that day, takes him on again tomorrow, but it is difficult to see the placings reversed as Big Buck’s bids to win this Grade 1 race for the second year in succession.

Nicholls and Walsh can also take the Matalan 4-Y-Old Anniversary Hurdle with Sanctuaire, who confirmed his burgeoning ability when taking the Fred Winter Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He is fancied to follow up.

Also worth noting on the first day of this richly-endowed three-day meeting, is Sonevafushi, trained by Cherry Coward at Scackleton, near Sheriff Hutton, and the winner of all four of his starts in point-to-points this season. He is fancied to go well in the John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase.

On the Flat at Leicester, nap selection Rigidity should go well for Henry Cecil in the ladbrokes.com Kibworth Handicap.

Two runs last season confirmed Rigidity to be a promising type. Following a debut runner-up display at Newmarket, the then juvenile won comfortably at Yarmouth.

A mark of 77 for a handicap debut does not look overly harsh for Rigidity, who is selected to carry Tom Queally to success in this one and quarter mile event.

Only four runners go to post in the ladbrokes.com Conditions Stakes and Richard Fahey saddles two of them, Falasteen and Tasmeen, two relative newcomers to his Malton yard.

The pair face a tough test, however, against Singeur, who produced the best form of these runners last year as a juvenile. Robin Bastiman’s speedy inmate should be hard to catch in the hands of Danny Tudhope.


Racing selections

Aintree
2.00 Big Buck’s, 2.35 Sanctuaire, 3.10 Imperial Commander, 3.45 Sonevafushi, 4.20 Watch My Back, 4.55 Green Belt Elite, 5.30 Arcalis.

Leicester
2.15 The Best Mode, 2.50 Thaliwarru, 3.25 Rigidity (NAP), 4.00 Mohanad, 4.35 Singeur, 5.10 Toto Skyllachy, 5.40 Maxim Gorky.

Tomorrow’s other meetings:
Taunton, Wolverhampton.

Today’s meetings:
Catterick, Lingfield, Nottingham, Kempton.