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
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