We arrive at the start of the Aintree Grand National Festival. Day One in Liverpool has some great contests on the way for us to get stuck into, our Cheltenham day by day blogs ended the week in significant profit, let’s hope we can do the same again here with my Grand National day 1 tips.
Best of luck for the week ahead and make sure you check out the brand-new Lucky Dip feature we have for the big race on Saturday, you could just land a big price about a fancied horse for the Grand National in our odds.
1.45 Aintree – Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
The first race is interesting with a small field but plenty of quality on show. The Turners first and second reoppose each other for a fourth time and Grey Dawning is expected by the market at least to come out on top again. Away from the front two in the betting Il Etait Temps is a horse I just can’t warm to and would be keen to take on.
The one that I think is a shade overpriced is the outsider of the field Colonel Harry, the softer the better for this fella who will be perfect at the trip. He needs to improve to get near the front pair, but I just wonder if he can outrun his price. I expect Grey Dawning to confirm his superiority in this division and give first blood to Dan Skelton in the three-way battle for the Trainers’ Championship.
Grey Dawning to Win and Each-Way Colonel Harry
2.20 Aintree – Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1)
A fresh Sir Gino arrives here having missed Cheltenham and in truth I think would have scooted home had he run and not had the issues in the yard. At odds-on I can let him go unbacked here, we haven’t had enough of a sample size to know how Nicky Henderson’s horses are running. The one I like at the prices is Kalif Du Berlais, connections rightfully left going to Cheltenham after winning well at Kempton in February.
He, I think, is the right horse to back given this has been his target since then and will be fresher than most. He handles soft ground having won on French heavy and soft ground last time out, I think he is a really exciting prospect and will give Sir Gino a run for his money. The Triumph was a muddling race which left me with more questions than answers bar the winner, Kargese was a fair second and should be respected but I can’t get away from wanting to back Kalif Du Berlais at a price which even offers you the chance to play each-way here.
Kalif Du Berlais each-way
2.55 Aintree – Aintree Bowl Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)
This actually feel quite an easy one for me to assess here, If Geri Colombe is ok after a fine Gold Cup second, he just wins. The slower the ground the better his chances for me, just the three runs this season will see him fresher than most here.
Shishkin like Sir Gino missed his intended Cheltenham engagement, I think the ground won’t suit him, Corbetts Cross is going to need to step up again on what he has done and Bravemansgame has had a frustrating season and I suspect that run will continue here. Gerri Colombe for Gordon Elliott will be the one to be with and is my day one Aintree NAP
Geri Colombe to win NAP
3.30 Aintree – William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)
This looks an obvious puzzle to solve with Bob Olinger and Impaire Et Passe clear on ratings, both will be ok on the soft/heavy ground unlike others in the field here. Bob Olinger finished in front of Impaire Et Passe last time they met over two miles, and I expect the same outcome again here.
I have seen some suggest the form could be reversed but for me Bob Olinger is so well-suited to the trip and conditions he will confirm his superiority once again.
Bob Olinger to win
4:05 Aintree – Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase
Really gutting to see my ante post pick not declared, it means we get to look over the race again which is headed in the betting by On The Line, he is a grand horse but not the easiest to ride. One I am going to chance a flyer each-way with, is Tea Clipper trained by Tom Lacy. Tom is in good form from his select group of horses and puts a tongue tie and cheek pieces on this nine-year-old. If we look at the form book, going back to just over a year ago he was sixth at Cheltenham in the Ultima won by Corach Rambler. He has run respectably at times this season in a variety of contests but has perhaps been slightly disappointing to not win one of his two Hunter Chase starts.
My one concern is the ground, but he was worth chancing at a price even with that concern. My other each-way dart here will be Lieutenant Rocco, his two Hunter Chase runs this year have been ok without pulling up too many trees but I think he has form to suggest this test will be right up his street. The trip looks ideal and his run at Cheltenham in the Cross Country when fourth displayed an appetite for a slightly different test which the fences here will also offer. The booking of Will Biddick is another big plus and I think he can outrun his big price here giving us two darts at each-way prices.
Tea Clipper and Lieutenant Rocco both Each Way
4.40 Aintree – Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
This is arguably one of the hardest races of the week to solve and looks mega competitive. I am quite keen to keep Irish raider Whiskywealth, a winner on his last two starts. This eight-year-old by Yeats has shown a love of deep ground, he arrives from a trainer with a small operation but one that has shown the ability to travel to the UK to get winners previously.
His jockey takes a handy seven off his back and has looked fair value for that to date. From those heading the betting I do feel Path D’oroux’s six-pound swing with Unexpected Party, who beat him at Cheltenham, is significant enough to see him reverse the form and will be the other Irish horse I want to keep on side here.
Whiskyweather and Path D’Oroux both Each Way
5.15 Aintree – Goffs Nickel Coin Mares National Hunt Flat Race (Grade Two)
This race is always a worth a watch even if you aren’t having a bet, as it showcases some of the mares that we need to be watching for the future. There’s two that in here I will be backing from a win perspective. Honky Tonk Highway is a bet for me at the prices over the favourite Baby Kate. A point-to-point winner in the mud she displayed a great attitude when claiming a decent mares contest on her debut for the Skeltons at Sandown in March.
Despite inexperience she beat some tried and tested mares that day and I think she will show a bit more here and improve again. One at a bigger price to at least watch if not back each-way is Metkayina who has joined the very capable and underrated Noel Williams team. When with Sam Curling she made a good start to life when third at Galway in heavy ground before improving to win at Ludlow. She may not win but I think she will outrun her current odds.
Honkey Tonk Highway to Win and Metkayina Each Way
