Race 1
An ultra competitive 3 mile handicap hurdle kicks off the action on Grand National Day at Aintree and a case can be made for plenty. Irish raider Ahlittleluck will be doing his best to follow up his fine Fairyhouse win but he got a relatively easy lead that day and that is unlikely to be the case here with the likes of Tikkanbar and Sykes in the race.
It looks sure to be run at a fast pace and it could set up for a closer. With conditions on the easy side an ability to handle soft ground will be key and one horse who could be tailor made for this race is Prime Venture. This 7yo son of Primary was a decent 8th in the Pertemps at Cheltenham off 141 and he is a pound lower now.
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| The race could be run to suit Prime Venture. |
Isabel Williams claims a very handy 7lbs and she has a good record when riding for her Dad. She was well beaten for us on Court Minstrel but the rain did for that horse’s chances. Before that race she had ridden 18 times for Evan Williams, winning 6 races and finishing in the first four on a further 9 occasions (frame hitting strike rate of 83%).
Prime Venture will appreciate the return to a flat track and he will also relish the underfoot conditions. His last run on a flat left handed track at Ffos Las resulted in a wide margin victory (24f soft) and he wasn’t beaten far off 142 the last time Isabel Williams rode three runs back at Warwick. I think this race could set up for this hold up sort and at odds of 25/1 he could reward each way support.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: PRIME VENTURE E/W @ 25/1 NB
Race 2
The Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle is the second race on Day 3 of the Aintree Grand National Festival and a field of fourteen horses are due to go to post. Black Ops is the current market leader after his brilliant run behind Samcro at Cheltenham and with ground to suit he looks a worthy favourite. He did run poorly on his only previous visit to Aintree though and that has to rate as a slight worry.
Next best in the market is On The Blind Side for the in form Nicky Henderson yard and this unbeaten 6yo son of Stowaway is a fresh horse who will be having his first run since scoring in a Grade 2 contest at Sandown (20f gd/sft). He won his maiden over today’s course and distance but the only worry is that he is unproven under rules on proper soft ground.
Colin Tizzard has his team in stupendous form at the minute and perhaps Lostintranslation can go well for each way players. He was 7th behind Summerville Boy in the Supreme at Cheltenham but he was only beaten 8.5L and he was doing all his best work at the finish. He is bred to appreciate the step up in trip, he will enjoy the ground and at odds of 16/1 he is the each way selection.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: LOSTINTRANSLATION E/W @ 16/1
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| This looks a gilt edged opportunity for Petit Mouchoir. |
Race 3
Only six horses have been declared for this Grade 1 16f Novices’ Chase and Petit Mouchoir is a short price to make amends for his poor run behind Footpad at Cheltenham. He paid the price for forcing too fast a pace at the festival and he finished a very tired 3rd but he is back in calmer waters now and he should be more than capable of winning this contest for Henry De Bromhead and Davy Russell.
Shantou Rock could be the one to chase the favourite home for Dan and Harry Skelton. This admirably consistent son of Shantou is coming here on the back of two fine 2nds in Grade 2 chases at Doncaster and Kempton and he arrives here fresh having swerved the Cheltenham Festival. He is relatively unexposed over fences, he will appreciate the soft ground and at 9/1 he could be the one for the forecast.
STEVOS’ SELECTIONS: PETIT MOUCHOIR/SHANTOU ROCK (REV FCAST)
Race 4
Stamina and an affinity for soft ground will be required for this 25f handicap chase and plenty have realistic chances. Paper Lantern scored for us in great style at Fairyhouse last time but he has been hiked in the weights and off an 11lb higher mark than last time he might struggle to repeat the trick. The one I like for this contest is On Tour for Evan Williams and Adam Wedge.
This 10yo son of Croco Rouge has run well on his two previous visits to Aintree, winning a soft ground 20f handicap chase here back in November off 135 and finishing 2nd off 137 beaten a length in November 2016. He has been freshened up after a below par hurdles run at Uttoxeter and that is a big plus given his excellent record when fresh. The new trip is an unknown but I think he will stay and at odds of 14/1 he is the each way pick
STEVOS’ SELECTION: ON TOUR E/W @ 14/1
Race 5
The 24.5f Grade 1 Stayers’ Hurdle will be contested by eleven horses and Sam Spinner is a short price to get back to winning ways after his defeat at Cheltenham. That race could hold the key to this contest as the next best in the betting is Wholestone, a horse that finished two places and over a length in front of Sam Spinner in 3rd.
However, the big eyecatcher for me at Cheltenham was the winner of last year’s Sefton Novices’ Hurdle here, The Worlds End. Tom George’s son of Stowaway ran a cracker at the festival to finish 7th and he only has a couple of lengths to find with both Wholestone and Sam Spinner on the evidence of that run. The return to Aintree is a big positive and at odds of 8/1 he looks sure to give each way players a good run for their money.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: THE WORLDS END E/W @ 8/1
Race 6
I have long been sweet on the chances of Seeyoutamidnight for the Grand National and I have already put him up ante post at odds of 33/1. If he takes to the fences he looks tailor made for the race and he could prove to be a shrewd purchase for the Thompsons who won the race with Party Politics many moons ago. With 40 horses going to post it makes sense to have a saver, and one horse that could go well at a huge price is one of Seeyouatmidnight’s old foes Regal Encore.
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| Regal Encore could outrun his odds. |
Anthony Honeyball’s son of King’s Theatre is as hit and miss as they come, but he took to the fences well when staying on late for 8th in last year’s renewal. He is 4lb higher now but experience over these fences is a huge plus and he comes into the race on the back of a fine win at Ascot (24f sft).
He stayed on well behind Total Recall at Newbury for 3rd three runs back, beaten 10L conceding 3lb and he is 9lb better off with that rival now. If Richie McClernon can get him into a nice rhythm early and doesn’t get too far back I think Regal Encore is capable of turning that Newbury form on its head and at odds of 33/1 a small each way interest is advised.
STEVOS’ SELECTIONS: REGAL ENCORE E/W @ 33/1 SEEYOUATMIDNIGHT ALREADY ADVISED @ 33/1 ANTE-POST
Race 7
A very tricky 2 mile handicap hurdle closes the show on Grand National Day and the one I like is Sternrubin. This 7yo son of Authorized will have no problems on the ground and he looks more than fairly treated off a mark of 140, especially with top claimer Sean Houlihan taking off a very handy 5lb.
Sternrubin is a horse that likes to get on with things out in front and he could be hard to peg back on soft ground. He hasn’t won over timber since taking a Listed handicap at Ascot off a mark of 142 and with his jockey’s claim he is effectively 7lb lower here.
He has won on ground ranging from heavy to good to firm so he won’t mind what the weather does and he ran a respectable race on his return from a break in the County Hurdle. That should have put him spot on fitness wise for this contest and at odds of 16/1 he is capable of going very close.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: STERNRUBIN E/W @ 16/1 NAP
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