Aintree’s Grand National meeting kicks off today and with four of the first five races on the card being Grade 1’s there is plenty of top-class action for punters to get stuck into.
Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle
As always, it will be interesting to see how well horses have recovered from hard races at the Cheltenham Festival four weeks ago, and we should get plenty of clues in the day’s opening contest, which features seven runners who contested either the Triumph or the Fred Winter.
It will also be interesting to see how those two form lines compare. For now, we are going to hedge our bets and back one from each contest.
WINSTON JUNIOR was an excellent second under a hefty weight in the Fred Winter and can reverse Cheltenham form from December with the Triumph third, Minella Study (who was also on our shortlist here) and give rookie trainer Faye Bramley her biggest success to date.
Harry Cobden is back on board today and this four-year-old has improved with every start this season.
Mange Tout looks the main danger amongst those at head of the market although there are again slight concerns over the form of the Gordon Elliott horses, so we will instead take a chance with a big outsider – WOLF RAYET.
We highlighted this horse as one to follow ahead of his run in the Triumph and he massively outran his 200-1 price tag there to finish 8th of 20, beaten only 10 lengths.
He has been disrespected by the market again and we can’t let him go unbacked today.
Manifesto Novices' Chase
The novice chasers are in action next in the Manifesto Chase, where Lulamba looks to bounce back from defeat in the Arkle Chase.
The longer trip will certainly be in his favour, but all four of his rivals have a chance of sorts and so he looks worth taking on.
We are actually going to back the two outsiders in the hope of a real shock (albeit that Koktail Divin looks the most likely to topple the odds on shot).
Paul Nicholls often does better with his runners at Aintree these days than he does at Cheltenham and these look to be BLUEKING D’OROUX’s ideal conditions.
He was touched off in a handicap last time out under a big weight, with there being 17 lengths back to the third. He was the second highest rated of these over hurdles and loves good ground.
MAMBONUMBERFIVE is a horse we have been following for a while now and he looks sure to benefit from today’s step up in trip.
He has been freshened up since disappointing in the Kingmaker at Warwick where the heavy ground may have been against him.
Racing Welfare Bowl Chase
The day’s big race is the Betfair Bowl at 2.55, where Jango Baie looks to go one better than his second in the Gold Cup.
We are big fans of this horse, but the history of this race suggests having a hard race in Cheltenham’s blue riband event isn’t the ideal prep so we are going to side instead with PROTEKTORAT who comes here fresh and could be hard to pass if he gets his own way out in front.
Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase
Our first sight of the famous Grand National fences comes at 3.30 courtesy of the Foxhunters’.
Barton Snow did us a big favour at Cheltenham in the equivalent race there, but he is very short in the market today given the size of the field and the test that these obstacles still presents.
Our three against the field are THUNDER ROCK, LETS GO CHAMP and WILLEWONGA, whilst Unexpected Party and Fan De Blues (at a massive price) are others to consider.
Most betting sites are offering 5 places for each-way bets on this race.
Aintree Hurdle
The fourth and final Grade 1 is the Aintree Hurdle, which sees a rematch between the Champion Hurdle second and third, The New Lion and Brighterdaysahead.
Slight preference would be for the former now back up in trip, but the fly in the ointment could be EL FABIOLO, who lost his way over fences, but who has some top class form in his back catalogue.
He looked to be getting back to somewhere near his best in a conditions race last time out.
Bet365 are currently offering three places for each-way bets despite only five runners.
Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase
Our selection in the Red Rum Chase is BOOTHILL.
Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race
Our selections in the last are FAIRY PARK, LADIES' DAY and ROXY RUSSET.