Last season's Martell Grand National runner-up Smarty has been installed as the 11 to 2 favourite by the sponsors for the Tote Becher Chase at Aintree on Sunday.

The eight-year-old gelding, trained by Mark Pitman, made a triumphant return to action when scoring an easy victory over hurdles at Plumpton early this month.

Narrow Water is 6 to 1 second favourite (with a run), while Ardent Scout, who just missed out on last year's Becher Chase when beaten half a length by Young Kenny, is a 7 to 1 chance.

Gower-Slave, who won over course and distance in the John Hughes Trophy in April when beating a field of 24 by five lengths, is 8 to 1.

The race is run over three miles and three furlongs of the Grand National course.

Unfortunately, due to a ban collected at Taunton last Thursday for excessive use of the whip, Timmy Murphy will not be in the saddle this weekend.

Another jockey with suspension on his mind is Mick Fitzgerald, who said yesterday that he would definitely appeal against the "very harsh" six-day ban which could force him to miss Newbury's prestigious Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup meeting on December 1st.

If he is unsuccessful, he would lose the ride on Marlborough in the big race after being handed the ban for irresponsible riding of a major nature on Sunday.

He was found guilty after his mount Surprising went across Telemoss, causing that horse to almost come down, after the third last hurdle of the Jockeys Employment & Training Scheme Hurdle.