RIVERSIDE Theatre heads a three-strong team from the Nicky Henderson yard in the Betfred Bowl Chase at Aintree today, and his jockey Barry Geraghty is confident the eight-year-old will be even better over the longer distance.

The horse won the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham last month, and Geraghty is confident of more success.

“There was a lot of talk beforehand about whether he’d handle the track (at Cheltenham),” said the Irish rider.

“He didn’t jump the first two well, he jumped OK during the race but never really travelled and he found everything hard work for a horse that’s won the Ascot Chase twice.

“Whether he slightly had an off-day maybe that was it. He was a different horse to what we saw at Ascot but I wouldn’t blame the track. Maybe he was just a bit flat having his second run back (after a long absence).

“His best runs might be right-handed but that’s just where he’s been, he’s won at Newbury so I wouldn’t read much into that.

“The first two fences were in a straight line and he didn’t jump or travel over them.

“I’d be more than happy over three miles, he looked like a stayer at Cheltenham, maybe he even wanted further.”

Burton Port was fourth in the Betfred Cheltenham for the Henderson team and he is reported to be in top shape.

“Nicky’s very happy with him. He seems in good form,” said owner Trevor Hemmings’ racing manager Michael Meagher.

“I suppose Nicky’s other horse Riverside Theatre has to be a big danger and Medermit ran a good race in the Ryanair.

“There’s last year’s winner Nacarat and plenty of them in there with a chance.”

Medermit was only a length behind Riverside Theatre when third at Cheltenham, and his trainer Alan King is also pleased to have the chance to run the grey over further.

“I have been itching to run Medermit over three miles all season, and I finally get my way in the Betfair Bowl,” the Barbury Castle handler said.

“He has had a few tough races this season, but he always seems to bounce back better than ever and his close third to Riverside Theatre and Albertas Run in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham ranks among his finest.

“People say that if Medermit is going to stay the longer trip it will be on a track like the Mildmay Course, but as ‘Choc’ (Robert Thornton) observed the other morning you need stamina as much at Aintree as you do at Cheltenham.

“He made the point that you can take a breather and free-wheel down the hill at Cheltenham, whereas at Aintree they are racing flat out a long way from home.

“True, Medermit had a hard race at Cheltenham, but he looks fresh and well and I am expecting another big run.”

Different tactics will be tried on Grumeti as the Alan King-trained gelding bids to reverse Cheltenham form in the Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree today.

Grumeti led before the final flight, where he made a mistake and was collared soon afterwards before having to settle for third place in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, beaten a total of three and three-quarters of a length.

Countrywide Flame, the winner that day, is one of Grumeti's rivals on Merseyside.

“They always said that he needed a bit of cut on the Flat, so I don't think the change in the weather will inconvenience him,” the trainer told www.alankingracing.co.uk.

“Grumeti came out of Cheltenham very well. His Triumph Hurdle third is top-class form.”