Our 44/1 Day 3 Aintree Accumulator The third and final afternoon of Aintree's Grand National Festival is of course set to be dominated by the People's Race, the National due off at 4.00pm and sure to dominate the sporting afternoon across Britain and Ireland. It's another stunning seven-race offering from Aintree, with racing from 1.20-5.35, including a trio of Grade 1 contests headlined by the Liverpool Hurdle (3.05). We've put together a day three accumulator for Aintree's big meeting, which returns odds of 44/1 if successful, including a couple of horses bidding for compensation after narrowly missing out last month at Cheltenham. Get the price on our Accumulator with AK Bets: Aintree Day 3 Accumulator Selections: 1.55, Aintree - Lulamba @ 6/5 with AK Bets 3.30, Aintree - Strong Leader @ 13/2 with AK Bets 5.00, Aintree - Only By Night @ 7/4 with AK Bets Accumulator price: 44.38/1 with AK Bets Henderson's Lulamba to shine Nicky Henderson saw LULAMBA agonisingly denied by 100/1 shot Poniros in last month's Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and now the Seven Barrows supremo is going for some stealthy compensation by allowing his talented four-year-old tackle older horses in this Turners Mersey Novices' Hurdle over two-and-a-half-miles. He would become the first 4YO winner since Bouggler for Emma Lavelle in 2009 and the French import looks well positioned. The Auteuil winner impressed at Ascot in January on his UK introduction and was always prominent in the Triumph market thereafter. He covered the move of favourite East India Dock in the Cotswolds, but was gunned down by Poniros in the final strides. He only enhanced his reputation with that effort and the weight concession from these older rivals makes him an appealing proposition with further progress likely as he steps up in trip having won over 2m2f in France on debut. Strong Leader to show up again After getting run down by Bob Olinger in the defence of his Stayers' title at Cheltenham, Teahupoo will bid to go a place better here, but Gordon Elliott's charge is best fresh and a 23-day turnaround is of some concern. There are no such fears for STRONG LEADER, with Olly Murphy again bypassing the Cotswolds in March in favour of this race, a year on from his charge producing a personal-best in his decisive win from the re-opposing pair of Buddy One and Hiddenvalley Lake. Strong Leader won well at Newbury on his comeback and this contest will have been to the fore in plans ever since, ensuring his solid run in the Cleeve Hurdle in January is a positive as he did something similar last year in the Trials Day contest. He boasts Aintree form figures of 121 and his love affair with the Merseyside venue can continue under champion jockey-elect Sean Bowen. Cromwell to strike again Gavin Cromwell enjoyed quite the Cheltenham Festival last month and the Gold Cup-winning handler could see his mare ONLY BY NIGHT going a place better after getting nailed very late in the Arkle. Keith Donoghue appeared to have done everything right as he landed the hitherto unbeaten chaser in front after the final fence and, while she stayed on strongly up the hill, she was powerless to prevent the thrusting Jango Baie from snaring the prize after coming from a most unpromising position. He held that form up with a good run in defeat here on Thursday. Only By Night did have the measure of re-opposing L'eau Du Sud at Cheltenham, however, and can rubber stamp that now despite the Skelton inmate donning a pair of first-time cheekpieces. He's had two hard races in recent months and might struggle giving 7lb to the mare. Odds courtesy of AK Bets and correct at the time of publishing
