A cracking day of racing on Grand National Day, and it all kicks off in style, with Donald McCain looking to kick off a day his family is famously laden with history in, with some of his stable stars. Up and Go arrived from the pointing scene with a lofty reputation, and with the exception when falling behind Taquin De Seuil at Sandown, has an unblemished record thus far. He looks like an out and out stayer, staying on comfortably to win his last two novice hurdles over two and a half miles on fairly deepish ground, he will make a useful three mile chaser in time. On good ground and a flat track he may be found out however, and the value play could be the smart Eduard for Nicky Richards and Brian Harding, who has useful form in competitive hurdles. He was second in a Grade 2 at Kelso last time out over two miles and a quarter, and stayed on well on gain on Mwaleshi late on, who made all and took advantage of getting first run. On better ground and stepped up to two and a half miles, he can duly make amends.
At least the combination of Donald McCain, Tim Leslie and Jason Maguire can gain swift compensation with Overturn, who will arguably be the most well supported horse of the day, despite not even running in The National itself! The gamest of horses, he had the ground go against him at Cheltenham and was put under pressure of the looming presence of Simonsig in his slipstream. He will get his ground and a good flat galloping track can hopefully make all to the delight and roar of a packed Aintree crowd.
The best bet of the day looks to be Solwhit in The Liverpool Hurdle, a race that Big Bucks has won doing handsprings in recent years. With the superstar still on the side-lines however it looks well and truly up for grabs. Although Grands Crus chased him home in 2011, he looks a force of old and Solwhit has cemented his place at the top of the staying hurdle division, winning The World Hurdle decisively at Cheltenham last month. He famously won a bumper Aintree Hurdle field in 2009 with dual winner Al Eile in behind, not to mention previous Cheltenham Festival winners Celestial Halo and Hardy Eustace. His form tied in with Hurricane Fly looks incredibly strong, and he looks the best bet of the day to build some ammo up to fire later.
The 18 runner handicap chase looks a cracking renewal, and Battle Group is a deserved favourite having won a handicap hurdle on Thursday in facile fashion, rejuvenated with the application of cheek-pieces. A horse who has been on my radar for a while however is Loch Ba for Mick Channon and veteran Andrew Thornton, who is riding better than ever. He unseated when never really travelling at Cheltenham, and looking at his form aside from that, he has been very progressive since leaving Henrietta Knight. A rating of 137 may still under-estimate him. Cantlow and Opening Batsman are both respected at the head of affairs but would perhaps prefer a little more juice in the ground. Brave Spartacus could be a price to run into a place for The Reveley’s, and is over-priced at around 50/1, stepped up in trip.
The Grand National needs more luck than drinking a good pint in the majority of pubs in Huddersfield, or understanding the lingo here in La Linea, but I do occasionally run good, and hopefully that coincides with Teaforthree winning The Grand National. I tipped him up Ante Post for The National Hunt Chase last season, and I love the horse to bits, he is one of the best jumpers in training, it’s a pity Sprinter Sacre has set the bar so high! He got a cracking ride that day from JT McNamara, but kept finding and finding, and wasn’t stopping after four miles. Aintree has been his aim all season, and the way he travelled at Newbury and Cheltenham showed he is clearly getting better, and travels as strongly as ever. He would have won The Welsh National, if hadn’t been for an inspired Paul Carberry on Monbeg Dude, the pair pulling 11 lengths clear of the field. He will prefer the good ground and the harder fences the yard are flying. He just needs the rub of the green, we’re not asking much! On His Own and Chicago Grey are too short for horses that fell here last year. Colbert Station lacks experience, and I would be worried about Imperial Commander and Balthazar King’s recent absences. Ballabriggs is a game old sort who will probably run into a place; similar comments go for Cappa Bleu, who looks the biggest danger. Both travel, jump and stay, traits you need in a race like this. At the bigger prices, Saint Are and The Rainbow Hunter look the biggest chances of getting a good run for your money.
The Conditionals Handicap Hurdle looks another chance for leading claimer Brendan Powell Jr to show his superiority over his peers with Jumps Road for in form Colin Tizzard yard. He ran a cracking race when tiring over two and a half miles at Ffos Las, tiring late on, and since then when dropped back to two miles he has looked even better. Although up 12lb for two wins, his form looks pretty solid, and a cracking each way bet with Ranjaan and Cockney Sparrow making the market at the head of affairs.
The Champion Bumper here last year had two of the most exciting prospects in racing with The New One outstaying My Tent or Yours in the straight, and both have gone on to show them both to be even better over hurdles. Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty have another exciting prospect with Tistory in the famous silks of Punchestowns, but at a 5/2 favourite, he looks plenty short enough, and there could be value elsewhere. Wilde Blue Yonder ran with plenty of promise on debut for Alan King to suggest he has plenty of potential, running behind subsequent Cheltenham Bumper fifth Purple Bay on debut at Doncaster. He will improve a lot for that, and the stable are in good heart. Another chance at a price is Dance of Time for The Reveley team, who was impressive when showing a game attitude at Doncaster, before winning under a penalty at Southwell again a month later. He is well bred, and the form of his races is working out very well.
1.45 Aintree – Eduard
2.15 Aintree – Overturn
2.50 Aintree – Solwhit (Nap)
3.25 Aintree – Loch Ba
4.15 Aintree – Teaforthree
5.10 Aintree – Jumps Road
5.45 Aintree – Wilde Blue Yonder & Dance of Time
The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner
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