Day Two of the Aintree Grand National Festival is fast approaching after a party atmosphere during day one.
Thursday saw the punters dealt a huge blow when odds-on favourite Lulamba unseated Nico de Boinville in the second race of the day before the crowd and Nicky Henderson’s team got their revenge when Jango Baie won the Aintree Bowl. The performance of the day was put in by Barton Snow who cruised home in the Foxhunters’ – and was tipped by the Daily Star Sport’s expert tipster Jason Heavey in his Thursday selections.
Here, Jason gives his selections for Friday’s action at Aintree.
1.45 William Hill Handicap Hurdle
WELLINGTON ARCH bids to repeat his victory of 12 months ago – and I fancy him to do it. The seven-year-old will find it tougher this year as he is 14lb higher in the weights. But trainer Jonjo O’Neill says he is improving and he bounced back to form with victory in a warm handicap at Uttoxeter.
He likes to race handily and last year he made most of the running before repelling Kopeck De Bee and Favour and Fortune.
The latter runs again and, despite top weight, he is a major player with conditions to suit. He can place again but may find Wellington Arch, a 9-1 shot, a tough nut to crack.
It is a compressed handicap with a stone between the 22 runners and other contenders are Hot Fuss and Indeevar Bleu who bolted up at the course in December.
Jazzy Matty was chinned in the Grand Annual and returns to hurdling 17lb lower than his fencing mark. Act Of Authority at 16-1 is my best each-way fancy. He was a solid fifth in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham.
TIP: WELLINGTON ARCH
LONGSHOT: Act Of Authority
2.20 William Hill Mildmay Novices’ Chase (Grade One)
REGENT’S STROLL can score for Sir Alex Ferguson and give the football legend another success on Merseyside.
Sir Alex and his pals forked out £660,000 for the horse and he’s yet to really justify the price. He was a good third to Meetmebythesea at Cheltenham and did his best work in the final stages, staying on strongly up the hill. So he should be suited by the step up to three miles-plus.
Daily Star horse Wendigo (we own a share in him) is a big danger if he can step forward from an excellent effort in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham. He was taken off his feet for most of that race but still ran well until coming down at the last. He is a real trier.
Salver would prefer softer ground, while Miami Magic is another with a serious chance.
Doyen Quest looks a bit overpriced at 16-1 and with the dead eight runners he appeals as an each-way alternative. He should enjoy the track and ground and has been kept back for this.
TIP: REGENT’S STROLL
Longshot: Doyen Quest
2.55 ThatPrize Guy Top Novices Hurdle (Grade One)
BARON NOIR is a value alternative to the odds-on Sober Glory in a small but select field.
Alan King thinks highly of his six-year-old who ran a blinder to be fourth in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. He stayed on well up the hill although he probably wasn’t as streetwise or battle hardened as a few others.
I suspect the better ground and flat track on the Mildmay Course will suit him even more and he can give Sober Glory a run for his money.
Baron Noir has a bit to find with Sober Glory on Cheltenham form but I’m hoping he will take another step forward. Sober Glory was hampered in the latter stages before settling for second to Old Park Star. He would deserve to win this race but makes no appeal at odds of 8-13 – with Baron Noir a more tempting 9-2.
Sinnatra was fifth in the County Hurdle and may just lack the gears of the other two. It is hard to fancy any of the other three although Jamie Snowden’s La Conquiere may outrun her 25-1 price.
TIP: BARON NOIR
Longshot: La Conquiere
3.30 JCB Melling Chase (Grade One)
GIDLEIGH PARK can send punters home giddy in the JCB Melling Chase on day two of the Aintree Festival.
The eight-year-old ran a career best in last year’s race, beating all bar Impaire Et Passe, who flew past him in the final strides. The selection had Jango Baie behind him and it was a fantastic run from the front.
I’m hoping Bryan Carver can secure the lead again from an early stage but there is plenty of pace in the race with Solness and JPR One among his rivals.
With Grey Dawning and Heart Wood dominating the market, Gidleigh Park is a lovely price at 8-1. He arrives fresh and has been trained for the race. In contrast most of his rivals had a hard race at Cheltenham. Heart Wood was impressive in the Ryanair and is a huge danger while Grey Dawning was a gallant fourth in the Gold Cup and the drop in trip is wise.
L’Eau Du Dud tries the longer trip while there are also stamina doubts around JPR One and Solness. The latter, at 14-1, is a big player if he stays.
TIP: GIDLEIGH PARK
Longshot: Solness
4.05 Randox Topham Handicap Chase
BILL BAXTER (Nap) returns to the scene of his greatest triumph over the Grand National fences.
The tough grey won this race in 2023 and he is only 3lb higher in the weights this time round. He is also three years older but he has shown enough ability this season to suggest he is as well as ever.
Bill Baxter ran a terrific race in the Becher Chase over the big fences coming home in sixth place behind Twig. He then chased home the progressive King Of Answers at Kelso last time.
Sam Twiston-Davies will have him fairly handy to use his stamina and if he can lay up with the pace he is a great each-way poke (25-1).
The classy Il Est Francais will be fascinating to watch over the fences and is likely to lead, while Cheltenham winner Madara is likely to start favourite.
Will The Wise was second to Madara last time and is better off at the weights, while other players are Booster Bob and Ile Atlantique. Viroflay could outrun his odds and at 33-1 he’s an each-way shout with Olive Nicholls in the plate.
TIP: BILL BAXTER
Longshot: Viroflay
4.40 Oddschecker Sefton Novices’ Hurdle
NO DRAMA THIS END can erase the miserable memory of his Cheltenham flop.
He never went a yard in the Turners Novices Hurdle after a tardy start when he became too far back and he should be more at home over today’s longer trip and smaller field. Sam Twiston-Davies gets the ride with Harry Cobden on stablemate Talk To The Man.
The latter has been well backed but one blessing is that No Drama This End did not have a hard race at Cheltenham.
In contrast Johnny’s Jury won a gruelling Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and goes for a Grade One double which will be a big ask. Saying that there are no stamina doubts with Johnny’s Jury.
Ben Pauling’s Mondoui’boy was fourth in that race and has every chance although it’s a concern that he may have had a hard race.
Dan Skelton’s Dalston Lad has solid form in handicaps and should go well although he will have to take a huge step forward while Olly Murphy’s Harbour Island looks overpriced at 22-1 for Sean Bowen and is a live longshot.
TIP: NO DRAMA THIS END
Longshot: Harbour Island
5.15 Debenhams Handicap Hurdle
SHERMINATOR is back – and can terminate his rivals. The five-year-old is in rude health with smooth victories at Ludlow and Exeter and is fancied to make a mockery of his handicap mark in this ultra-competitive heat.
The 6-1 shot has the assistance of the excellent Patrick Mullins and given luck in running the pair can stride to success.
Dan Skelton’s Harry Lowes will have his backers. He is progressive and remains unexposed while Olly Murphy’s Wandering Ego has a similar profile.
Wreckless Eric and Static are others to consider while the canny Tony Martin saddles Hamsiyann who should be noted in the betting.
Afadil and Pourquoi Pas Papa represent Paul Nicholls and both have a small chance of a place with ground conditions to suit while Toby McCain-Mitchell will be aiming to squeeze a bit more out of Melon.
I was taken with how easily Lucinda Russell’s Litleangel Duseuil won on her British debut at Ayr and she might be worth a few pennies each-way.
TIP: SHERMINATOR
Longshot: Litleangel Duseuil
AINTREE DAY TWO
1.45 Wellington Arch
2.20 Regent’s Stroll (trb)
2.55 Baron Noir
3.30 Gidleigh Park
4.05 Bill Baxter (Nap)
4.40 No Drama This End
5.15 Sherminator (nb)