The opening day of Aintree was a frustrating one yesterday as we didn't manage to find a winner. We move on though and I really fancy one in the last here.
13:45, Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices' Chase
No Bet
This is a really good race and I like Handstands, especially after he accounted for the Arkle winner at Sandown last time out. My worry is that he's shown a aptitude for much softer ground than this. Dancing City won here last year but ran poorly last time out at Caldwell Potter comes here off the back of a huge race at Cheltenham last month. There's enough worries about the runners here for me to leave it alone.
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14:20, William Hill Handicap Hurdle
Favour And Fortune 16/1, 1pt each-way (5 places)
This is a wide open race with most of the fancied runners having run at the Festival last month but I'm keen to take a chance on one who didn't. Alan King's Favour And Fortune won last year's Scottish Champion Hurdle last April and arrives here off just a pound higher mark. He ran poorly last time out at Kelso but had previously finished a game 4th in the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury in February. He's been given a break and this will be his first run on decent ground for a while, and I think that is key to this horse's chances. He's worth a play at the prices given that he finished 2nd in a Grade 1 on his only previous course visit.
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14:55, TrustATrader Top Novices' Hurdle
Tripoli Flyer 3/1, 2pts each-way (3 places)
Romeo Coolio sets a high standard here after finishing 3rd in the Supreme last month but he had a hard race that day and he's had a long season. Tripoli Flyer did not run that day and so comes here fresh since a cosy win in the Dovecote at Kempton in February. He'll love this trip and ground and I think he's got a massive chance here for the British.
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15:30, My Pension Expert Melling Chase
No Bet
This is a poor turnout for this race and I can't really see Jonbon losing unless he beats himself... again!
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16:05, Randox Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Topham Handicap Chase
Marble Sands 18/1, 0.5pts each-way (5 places)
Lounge Lizard 18/1, 0.5pts each-way (5 places)
This is as wide open a race as you can get and pretty much anything could win but I will take a chance on a couple of outsiders. Marble Sands ran a cracker off a pound higher mark than this to finish 2nd at Cheltenham on New Year's Day and has skipped Cheltenham to come here. He's a horse I've always liked. Lounge Lizard will enjoy this ground and is still feasibly handicapped off a mark of 135. He races off a nice low weight and has a likeable profile.
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16:40, Oddschecker Sefton Novices' Hurdle
No Bet
This is a below par but open renewal of the Sefton. Mister Meggit looked like a top prospect in the Autumn but hasn't been seen since and it's hard to know what to expect. The rest of the field are much of a muchness and nothing really appeals to me.
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17:15, Hallgarten And Novum Wines Handicap Hurdle
Celtic Dino 7/1, 2pts each-way (5 places)
I really like the chances of Sam Thomas's 6 year old novice hurdler here. He looked like a horse to follow in the Autumn when winning well at Wincanton and Ascot before finding the ground too hard when upped to Grade 1 company here on Boxing Day. He's been limited to just 1 run since when 3rd at Kempton in February but I don't think he was seen to best effect that day. He's back on a bigger track here and he will adore this quicker surface. Sam Thomas runs Lump Sum in here as well to help keep the weight down on his number 1 contender here and that's something I like to see. Huge chance.
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