Aintree Festival Preview - Day #1

 Aintree Festival Preview - Day #1

I think the dust has just about settled from the Cheltenham Festival which is great timing as we now look ahead to Aintree for one of the best meetings of the year which of course includes the Randox Grand National on Saturday.

In this preview I'll be looking into every race as well as my best bets for the meeting. Again I'll be picking a selection along with the potential dangers in each race so lets keep this introduction short and get straight to it!

13.45 - Manifesto Novices' Chase 

Although there are many horses that win at Cheltemham do go on to win here, personally I like to try and stick with the one's that have skipped the festival and have this meeting as their main spring target so with that being said I'm siding with IMPAIRE ET PASSE. He disappointed last time out but his form from last season over hurdles as well as his 2 previous chase starts is pretty solid so I'd be happy to forgive him for that. Paul Townend is on board and I think he'll win this.

Of course the main danger here would be the Arkle winner that is JANGO BAIE. Nico De Boinville gave him a great ride at Cheltenham proving he's more than capable of mixing it with the big guns in grade 1 company and would have a decent chance of backing that performance up here.

Selection: Impaire Et Passé 


Danger: Jango Baie 

14.20 - 4 Y-O Juvenile Hurdle

With Lulamba not running this race has suddenly become wide open with a fair few with chances but the one I've come down on MAMBONUMBERFIVE For Ben Pauling. He bombed out at Cheltenham on trials day but was so impressive in the Adonis At Kempton last time out and I don't think he'd have much problem at all on quicker ground. Ben Pauling's horses seem to come alive in the Spring and I think He's slightly over priced and would be a great each-way punt at around 14/1.

I suppose the one whose open to the most improvement would be the lightly raced LIVE CONTI for the Skelton team. He's only raced once in the UK winning easily enough around Wetherby and could step forward again here and run a very big race 


Selection: Mambonumberfive EW

Danger: Live Conti 

14.55 - Aintree Bowl

Again I'm siding with one here who decided to skip Cheltenham all together leaving this as the main target and that's the favourite GREY DAWNING. Looking through this field I cant find many that are going to relish this good ground including this lad but I just think He's a little less dependant on there being softer ground than the 2 Irish runners behind him in the market. This wouldn't be a strong fancy by any stretch but I do think He's got a big chance.

One I like at a price would be THE REAL WHACKER. He will enjoy the good ground and has showed some decent form up until now. He won the Charlie Hall back in November as well as finishing 4th in King George and 5th in a Gold Cup. That's some pretty solid form coming into a race like this and looks a great each way bet at around 20/1.

Selection: Grey Dawning


E/W Selection: The Real Whacker

15.30 - Aintree Hurdle

For the sake of my sanity I'm going to try and forget the Champion Hurdle but after the events of that race it does leave me with a tough decision to make here and as much as it pains me to say it I am going to side with LOSSIEMOUTH. I do think 2m4f is her optimum trip and if she's ever going to get the better of Constitution Hill than it'll most likely be here. This selection purely comes down to price and the fact that one is 2/1 and the other is 8/11 is a major factor on my decision here.

It goes without saying that the one and probably only danger is CONSTITUTION HILL . I'm fully aware this could come back to bite me and it does feel slightly wrong going against him however he obviously is still a top class horse and could easily see a world where he's back to his best.

Selection: Lossiemouth


Danger: Constitution Hill



16.05 - Foxhunters Open Chase

I must admit, this isn't a division I'm particularly mad on however there is one horse that really caught my eye at Cheltenham and that is Gordon Elliot trained WILLITGOAHEAD. He finished 3rd that day coming from way off the pace and was finishing strongly only being beaten 3 lengths. If he's there or there about coming to 2 out he will have a huge chance.

I will give a small each-way chance to JET PLANE for Dan Skelton. He was an impressive winner at Weatherby back in February before finishing 3rd at Haydock last time out. I would wait until the day to get extra places but 25/1 looks too big a price and could be decent value. 

Selection: Willitgoahead


E/W Selection: Jet Plane

16.40 - Red Rum Handicap Chase

I'm siding with the Skelton's again here and I'm doing so with CALICO. He absolutely bolted up at Cheltenham back in October off a mark of 138 and comes into off of 140 but will carry 6lbs less than that win. He's had a couple of respectable runs at Doncaster since then finishing 3rd and 4th respectively and I'd be surprised if he's out of the places here.

The danger for me would be MYMATEMOZZIE. Gavin Cromwell is having an amazing season so far and although this horse hasn't been wining races, I'd be very surprised if he isn't in the places and will definitely be in the mix at the business end of the race.


Selection: Calico EW


Danger: Mymatemozzie

17.15 - Mares Bumper

Again I must admit this is not a division I'm particularly keen on however the one mare in here that does interest me would be STRONG RUN for Fergal O'Brian. She was beaten by the favourite in the market at Cheltenham back in November but a flat track should suit and I wouldn't be surprised if she was to reverse the form with her here.

The favourite in this race that beat Strong Run at Cheltenham is SEO LINN so she seems to obvious danger here. We haven't seen her since then but she definitely has the scope to improve on that performance here.


Selection: Strong Run


Danger: Seo Linn


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