Aintree Festival Preview - Day 3

Day 2 review

Another tricky day with not too much to shout about. We started off with Doyen Quest who finished 4th but just missed out on a place to get us on the back foot early. 

Next we had L'Eau Du Sud and in hindsight I have no idea what I was thinking with this selection, absolutely terrible!

Things finally went our way in the next race as the NAP of the day lands at 10/1! A massive result that got us into the green for the day. 

Zeus Power then kept the ball rolling and won at 5/1 for us! from a nightmare start to this was exactly what we needed.

Harry Lowes was our last bet of the day and ran a admirable race but could only finish 3rd to round up day 2.

12.45 - Maghull Novices' Chase

A relatively short price favourite in Salvatore Mundi to kick off day 3 and It's one I'm going to side with here. He came alive here last year when he won the top Novices' Hurdle beating Romeo Coolio and I'm hoping he returns to the same vain of form here. He's been a bit hit and miss this season since switching to fences as he was beaten at 1/7 on seasonal reappearance by Kappa Ja Pyke however in hindsight that's actually worked out to be a half decent bit of form. I won't spend too long on this.. he's just better than these and should take all the beating. 

Mighty Bandit is a progressive type this season with a string of 1's next to his name with wins coming at Newbury and Doncaster but I do think the favourite will just be too strong here.

Selection: Salvatore Mundi 

Danger; Mighty Bandit

13.20 - William Hill Handicap Hurdle

A tricky contest this and not one I'm keen on getting too involved in. Supremely West heads the market after his emphatic win in the Pertemps at the festival which was a massive result for us! I don't have a huge opinion in the race but I think I'm going to have a small play on another Skelton horse here and that Ace Of Spades EW at a big price. He also ran in the Pertemps finishing 13th but his previous form is pretty solid most noticeably finishing 2nd to Ma Shantou back in October so I'm happy to take a bit of a swing on him here at around 25/1.

The favourite is obviously the first choice of the yard and has to be respected, but he's had his day in the sun so I'm happy to let him go at that price.

Selection: Ace Of Spades EW

Danger: Supremely West

13.55 - Mersey Novices' Hurdle

I've been really toying between the top 2 in the market here but I'm just about going to side with Bossman Jack for Dan Skelton. He was travelling well in the Turners when he made a terrible mistake at the last but still managed to stay on for 6th and whilst he probably wouldn't have won that day, He would've placed at least which makes him a more solid option than the re-apposing Ballyfad. As far as I can see this is a 2 horse race but the way I look at is Bossman already has the beating of Ballyfad so I see no reason to why that form should be reversed here. He's a backable price and should take all the beating.

Selection: Bossman Jack

Danger: Ballyfad

14.30 - William Hill Handicap Chase

A proper good race this with a few holding solid claims but I'm actually quite sweet on one here and that's last years winner Cruz Control. He's won the last 2 renewals of this race most recently off a mark of 139 beating Imperial Saint by 5 lengths and he gets in here just 1lb higher off a mark of 140 so I see no reason why he cant back that up again and make it a hattrick of wins in the race. He's offered very little throughout the course of the campaign but I can only imagine they've been racing with this race in mind again and has a huge chance once again. 

The top 2 in the market can't be ignored with Mr Hope Street heading the market which could be a notorious Skelton 'Plot Job' but I'm willing to take him on at the prices. Brave Fortune also has a decent chance bringing over some good form from Ireland placing behind the likes of Rising Dust and The Enabler this season and looks to be well handicapped himself.

Selection: Cruz Control

Danger: Mr Hope Street

15.05 - Liverpool Hurdle

The Stayers Hurdle division is just one I could never get my head round this season but I'm putting up one that skipped the big one ay Cheltenham this year and that's last years winner Hiddenvalley Lake. He's clearly a horse that does his best work fresh as we've only seen him once since last spring where he was 5th in the Boyne Hurdle on heavy ground so It's tricky to make a case for him purely off of form, but this has obviously been the plan all year and I think his fitness might be the difference here.

Honesty Policy is the favourite and was very good at this meeting 12 months ago where he just touched off Regent's Stroll in the Mersey Hurdle. He ran a fair effort in the Stayers Hurdle this year finishing 5th and comes here with a solid chance.

Selection: Hiddenvalley Lake

Danger: Honesty Policy

16.00 THE GRAND NATIONAL

As great as the Grand National is, it can be an absolute minefield at the best of times & finding the winner can be a tricky task. For that reason, I’m going to have a swing at a couple at big each way prices starting off with Lecky Watson for Willie Mullins. The 2025 Brown Advisory winner hasn’t had much luck since his Cheltenham success, most recently in the Bobbyjo where he finished 8th of 8 however it was on heavy ground and had to carry a 12lb penalty that day, so I’d be quick to forgive him for that. I’d say this has been the plan all season & 40/1 about a grade 1 winner over fences just looks way too big for me so I’m more than happy to give him a go here. 

Willie Mullins has held the key to this race for the last couple of years so It’s only right that I stick with him for my 2nd selection in the race with Spanish Harlem. Much like Lecky Watson he’s had a tough time of late with his form figures reading P-U-P in his last 3 starts but if he can put it all together on the day I think he could outrun his odds at a huge price. He won the Kerry National on Yielding ground back in September under Danny Mullins who I would assume would take the ride on him again here, if he can get back to that level of form in be in with a place chance at the very least. Again, it’s probably the hardest handicap of the year to find the winner but 2 EW selections at big prices seems to be the best way to play it – Good Luck!

Selections: Lecky Watson EW & Spanish Harlem EW

17.00 - Weatherby's Bumper

I think there's more chance of me getting a ride in next years Grand National than having a bet in this race if I'm honest. A wide open contest that doesn't appeal to me at all. The favourite Basshunter has a small chance but has a tendency of running a bit keen in the early stages of a race so I'll be packing up and calling it a day after the national.

NAP:  SALVATORE MUNDI

NEXT BEST: BOSSMAN JACK

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