Last year’s Grand National winner Many Clouds bids to emulate fellow back-to-back winner Red Rum at Aintree this afternoon and boasts outstanding from the head of the weights. Oliver Sherwood’s stable star was imperious in his Premier Chase success last month at Kelso and is the 7/1 favourite for the world’s most famous race. BetVictor are paying SIX PLACES on the National and, providing he stands on his feet, last year’s winner is impossible to see out of the race. He should reward each-way support alongside Jonjo O’Neill’s pair of Holywell and Shutthefrontdoor; 14/1 and 16/1 respectively with BetVIctor and six places to each way punters.
Those famous green and gold hoops must go close in the opener with conditions at Aintree perfect for If In Doubt (1.45) to make amends for a luckless passage last month at Cheltenham. Philip Hobbs’ charge landed a nice pot over fences last term but lacked the fluency over the larger obstacles to make any serious inroads last term as a chaser. He looks rejuvenated this term however, winning a Pertemps qualifier at Wincanton over Christmas and third in the real thing last month at the festival.
Barry Geraghty replaces Richard Johnson in the plate and he is a confident selection to reward each-way support from a 4lb higher mark. Connections are similarly represented by Squouateur who was a beaten favourite in the Martin Pipe and is respected stepping up to tackle three miles from an unrevised mark. Another word has to go towards Kings Palace, who ran an excellent third in the Festival Plate and returns hurdling from an 8lb lower mark. A similar word goes towards Urban Hymn back hurdling and likely to go well fresh on his first start since January 2015.
Willie Mullins’ has dominated the opening two days of the Aintree Festival and his Neptune Novices’ Hurdle winner Yorkhill (2.25) is unopposable for the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle over two and a half miles. The 6-y-o’s long-term future undoubtedly lies over fences and he looks an almighty prospected for connections and should maintain his unbeaten record over hurdles with the minimum of fuss. Similar comments must go out to Douvan (3.00) who is unopposable in the G1 Maghull Novices’ Chase. The selection is unbeaten in all five starts over the larger obstacles and, despite yet to run outside of novice company, is odds-on for next seasons’ Queen Mother Champion Chase. Thistlecrack (3.40) should complete a hat-trick of odds-on shots for punters in the Stayers’ Hurdle under Tom Scudamore. The World Hurdle winner made it 4/4 at the Cheltenham Festival and looks a monumental prospect for connections when sent over fences next season.
The betting without markets could potentially unearth some value against the three jollies with the trio of Alisier D’Irlande, Flying Angel and Different Gravey, the latter arguably the best-named horse in training, all value to chase the three home in second.
The 3m Listed Handicap Chase is both one of the most competitive and arguably the most fascinating on the card and is a personal favourite. Victor Hewgo was an unfortunate all-in job two seasons back and Buywise likewise seeing us do our money last term. Fergal O’Brien’s Mystifiable remains open to much further improvement and is unexposed after impressive successes on both starts over the larger obstacles. The handicapper has raised him 22lb for those wins however, and preference lies instead with Mick Channon’s pair of runners Knock House and Warden Hill. The former ran a terrific race to finish fourth in the Kim Muir, whilst the latter has won three of his four starts over fences and make a belated reappearance after beating Sir Mangan 12 months ago at Market Rasen.
Channon must go close with Sgt Reckless (6.10) in the closing handicap hurdler for conditional and amateur riders. The selection was touted as a potential superstar by connections but had his progression interrupted by questions regarding the gelding’s ideal trip, ground and course. Two miles at a strong pace on spring ground should be perfect for the 9-y-o who must go close under Nina Carberry.
Selections
1.45 If In Doubt – Squouateur – Kings Palace – Urban Hymn
4.20 Warden Hill – Knock House
5.15 Holywell – Shuttheftontdoor
6.10 Sgt Reckless
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Be Lucky
For all the latest odds head to BetVictor.com
Be Lucky
Friday 8 April 2016
Thursday 7 April 2016
Aintree Grand National Festival 2016; Thursday Day One
The ground is likely to be on the soft side of good for today's start of the Aintree Grand National meeting and with showers, some heavy, forecast between now and Saturday, the ground is unlikely to quicken up.
Today's proceedings open with a terrific Novices' Chase over two miles four furlongs. Sizing John will be delighted that the brilliant Douvan is not in the field and he promises to be suited by the step up in trip from the minimum distance.
That said, Garde La Victoire (1.40pm) was still going well in the JLT when coming down five out and he can give Richard Johnson and Philip Hobbs a welcome winner, given the pair had a barren Cheltenham. The selection should appreciate underfoot conditions and have the race run to suit, with the pacy Arzal likely to make it a decent test. He is 4/1 at BetVictor and that looks a fair price.
The second Grade One is the Juvenile Hurdle, and Ivanovich Gorbatov is the even-money favourite to follow up his Triumph Hurdle success of last month. He must go close, but I felt Ruby Walsh gave Footpad (2.15pm) too much to do at Cheltenham and back on an easier surface is taken to reverse the form. The selection is 5/1 at BetVictor and that looks a cracking each-way price, however the race will be a watching brief from a personal perspective.
The third Grade One on the card is the Betfred Bowl and this is a high-class renewal, with the Gold Cup placed horses Djakadam and Don Poli meeting the King George winner Cue Card, who came down three out at Cheltenham when, seemingly, going best.
Cue Card is the even-money favourite at BetVictor and is a previous winner at the Aintree Festival but he has never won over fences at the meeting, finishing second to Don Cossack (2015) and Sprinter Sacre (2013). He was reported to be unscathed after his Cheltenham fall and must go close providing he stands up. Today's slower ground will suit Don Poli and he is respected with regular partner Bryan Cooper back on board.
Champion Hurdler Annie Power (3.25pm) cannot be opposed in the Aintree Hurdle, the feature and the fourth successive Grade One contest on the card. The mare gets 7lb from the boys, was too good for the opposition at Cheltenham, and is proven to be every bit as good if not better over this extra half-mile. She is an 8/15 shot which makes little appeal as a betting medium, although I am sure she will be in many doubles and trebles on the day.
Pacha Du Polder was a running-on fifth in the Cheltenham Foxhunters Chase when ridden by Victoria Pendleton. She is not in the saddle today, with Will Biddick taking over. He is likely to be ridden a lot more prominently today but still faces a tough ask, with the Festival winner On The Fringe looking for a double double having won at both Cheltenham and Aintree last year. On The Fringe was not at his brilliant best at the Festival and today's easier ground will suit, but 6/4 is plenty short enough in a 20-runner field around these fences and an each-way alternative is Mendip Express (4.05pm), who finished runner-up in the Becher Chase over the National fences when trained by Harry Fry in 2014 and can reward each-way support (12/1 at BetVictor) as long as his jockey does not get too far out of his ground.
The Red Rum is one of my favourite races of the year and the form of Fayette County (4.40)'s second to Noche De Reyes at Ludlow was franked when the winner followed up back at the Shropshire track by six lengths earlier in the week. That run highlighted the supposed good order he was in and providing the overnight support hasn't shortened his price too much he must go close under Barry Geraghty.
The finale is a ridiculously competitive Mares' Bumper. La Bague Au Roi (5.15pm) comes into the race on a four-timer and has been laid out for the race by Warren Greatrex. The yard were out of luck at Cheltenham but introduced a good Bumper winner at Bangor last week, and this inmate can reward each-way support.
Each Way Lucky 15
1.40 Garde La Victoire
4.05 Mendip Express
4.40 Fayette County
5.15 La Bague Au Roi
Today's proceedings open with a terrific Novices' Chase over two miles four furlongs. Sizing John will be delighted that the brilliant Douvan is not in the field and he promises to be suited by the step up in trip from the minimum distance.
That said, Garde La Victoire (1.40pm) was still going well in the JLT when coming down five out and he can give Richard Johnson and Philip Hobbs a welcome winner, given the pair had a barren Cheltenham. The selection should appreciate underfoot conditions and have the race run to suit, with the pacy Arzal likely to make it a decent test. He is 4/1 at BetVictor and that looks a fair price.
The second Grade One is the Juvenile Hurdle, and Ivanovich Gorbatov is the even-money favourite to follow up his Triumph Hurdle success of last month. He must go close, but I felt Ruby Walsh gave Footpad (2.15pm) too much to do at Cheltenham and back on an easier surface is taken to reverse the form. The selection is 5/1 at BetVictor and that looks a cracking each-way price, however the race will be a watching brief from a personal perspective.
The third Grade One on the card is the Betfred Bowl and this is a high-class renewal, with the Gold Cup placed horses Djakadam and Don Poli meeting the King George winner Cue Card, who came down three out at Cheltenham when, seemingly, going best.
Cue Card is the even-money favourite at BetVictor and is a previous winner at the Aintree Festival but he has never won over fences at the meeting, finishing second to Don Cossack (2015) and Sprinter Sacre (2013). He was reported to be unscathed after his Cheltenham fall and must go close providing he stands up. Today's slower ground will suit Don Poli and he is respected with regular partner Bryan Cooper back on board.
Champion Hurdler Annie Power (3.25pm) cannot be opposed in the Aintree Hurdle, the feature and the fourth successive Grade One contest on the card. The mare gets 7lb from the boys, was too good for the opposition at Cheltenham, and is proven to be every bit as good if not better over this extra half-mile. She is an 8/15 shot which makes little appeal as a betting medium, although I am sure she will be in many doubles and trebles on the day.
Pacha Du Polder was a running-on fifth in the Cheltenham Foxhunters Chase when ridden by Victoria Pendleton. She is not in the saddle today, with Will Biddick taking over. He is likely to be ridden a lot more prominently today but still faces a tough ask, with the Festival winner On The Fringe looking for a double double having won at both Cheltenham and Aintree last year. On The Fringe was not at his brilliant best at the Festival and today's easier ground will suit, but 6/4 is plenty short enough in a 20-runner field around these fences and an each-way alternative is Mendip Express (4.05pm), who finished runner-up in the Becher Chase over the National fences when trained by Harry Fry in 2014 and can reward each-way support (12/1 at BetVictor) as long as his jockey does not get too far out of his ground.
The Red Rum is one of my favourite races of the year and the form of Fayette County (4.40)'s second to Noche De Reyes at Ludlow was franked when the winner followed up back at the Shropshire track by six lengths earlier in the week. That run highlighted the supposed good order he was in and providing the overnight support hasn't shortened his price too much he must go close under Barry Geraghty.
The finale is a ridiculously competitive Mares' Bumper. La Bague Au Roi (5.15pm) comes into the race on a four-timer and has been laid out for the race by Warren Greatrex. The yard were out of luck at Cheltenham but introduced a good Bumper winner at Bangor last week, and this inmate can reward each-way support.
Each Way Lucky 15
1.40 Garde La Victoire
4.05 Mendip Express
4.40 Fayette County
5.15 La Bague Au Roi
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