Day one was dramatic and saw us land a few good results, fingers crossed we can go even better today on a great Ladies Day at Aintree.
1.45 Handicap Hurdle
A nice easy contest to kick off with just 22 runners here of which I think you can give most of them some form of chance. I’ll be playing Trustintimes each-way for the inform Harry Fry. The West Country based trainer has had two wins and a second from his last six runners and this horse has the benefit of a break as he returns to a ground which should be perfect for his chances. This is his first time at the trip but going a bit further at a speed track like Aintree I think will suit him. I saw him in the flesh at Ascot and he impressed me greatly that day. The form from that run worked out too with Fortune De Mer winning at Cheltenham next time out who was behind him in second.
1 Point Each Way Trustintimes
2.20 Mildmay Novice Chase
Had the ground been softer I would have been all over Wendigo, I was lucky enough to see him jumping earlier in the week and he looked in great form. I do just worry about the surface for his chances. The rest have limited appeal from a tipping perspective to me so I will sit and watch this one.
No Bet
2.55 Novice Hurdle
Sober Glory is the right favourite but has certainly had a busy enough season and I just wonder if you want to be taking odds on about a horse having his sixth race of the year off the back of a second in the Supreme which may have taken plenty out of him. I’ll chance a small each-way play on La Conquiere to outrun her price. If you forgive her no-show at the Festival she has a really nice profile and gets her seven-pound sex allowance. She took nicely to Aintree 12 months ago when second in the Mares Bumper and could well outrun her current 20/1 price.
1 Point Each Way La Conquiere
15:30 Melling Chase
A Melling that looks to be Heart Wood’s to lose, the Ryanair winner warrants plenty of respect after his ten-length win against Jonbon last month. Him and Grey Dawning both ran at Cheltenham and we saw in the first race yesterday how the freshness angle is one to give plenty of consideration to. Solness has been given plenty of time to get over his run at the Dublin Racing Festival which came in ground he really wouldn’t have enjoyed. His Grade One win at Christmas, as well as back form beating the likes of the current Gold Cup winner, means he needs considering here.
1 Point Each-Way Solness
4.05
Last year’s first and second, Gentleman De Mee and Lisnamult Lad, both return here off the back of recent runs looking a shade underwhelming but I suspect this race has once again very much been the target. The Topham is of course over the Grand National fences, and you need a bit of luck as well as a horse who can be foot perfect here. I’ll chance two both each-way. Croke Park has a bit of history with Aintree he was sold for ÂŁ400,000 after racing here, he perhaps hasn’t quite lived up to his price tag but if you look back at his novice chase season, he beat some big names and due to this season’s slightly poorer efforts has ended up on a workable mark. The other I will play is Soul Icon who was ninth in the race last year, trip wise I think two and a half miles is at the top end of his range. This season, connections have run him three times and all three runs have been over 3 miles, this drop back and unique test should be right up his street. Three pound lower than last year and with a different prep, I think he can make the frame at least under Tom Bellemy who is having some Spring.
1 Point Each Way Croke Park / 1 Point Each Way Soul Icon
Sefton Novice Hurdle
We look to have a cracker of a Sefton here, Johnny’s Jury was a clever winner of the Albert Bartlett staying on impressively up the Cheltenham hill. Today this looks a different test, but he should be at home on this kind of track. Johnny Burke rides due to the final day of Gavin Sheehan’s ban. He has previously won on the horse so that poses no issue. I think you may just see him jump off a bit more handy this time round. If you fancy something at a bigger price I wouldn’t be giving up on Kripticjim who was sixth in the same race Johnny’s Jury won. A return to a flatter track should well suit and he can offer you an each-way play here.
1 Point Win Johnnys Jury / 0.5 Point Each Way Kripticjim
Handicap Hurdle
The closing handicap hurdle looks very tricky, my first bit of advice would be to do your homework on the riders. To my eye there is a significant difference in ability with many of the riders in here. One rider who I think is increasingly dependable and seldom makes an error is Izzy Ryder who is on my old favourite No Ordinary Joe. Now with Faye Bramley and down to a mark of 120 he could just have one last dance left in him, now ten he is very much a veteran in this kind of race but his Ascot effort in February shows there is something still there hopefully the visor can give a huge hand to his chances too.
1 Point Each Way No Ordinary Joe
