Preview and tips of every race on today's card at Aintree including the 2011 Grand National
Forty horses will line up in the 2011 Grand National on Saturday as a high class field bid to conquer the unforgiving Aintree fences in the ultimate test of horse and jockey.
An explosive opening two days at this year’s meeting has seen a number of well fancied runners make it a punter friendly trip to Liverpool but the action is about to get a whole lot more difficult for racing fans to solve and Saturday’s card at Aintree is as fiercely competitive as it is utterly intriguing.
The feature is sure to be an exhilarating affair and all the traits that have made the National the world’s most famous steeplechase are sure to be
in evidence on Merseyside this weekend.
We take a look at Saturday’s card – remember, bet with
Blue Square and the firm will refund your stake if your horse falls at Aintree on Saturday.
13:45 John Smith's Mersey Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (2m 4f)
The opening race on National day looks a seriously enticing renewal of the Mersey Hurdle and a whole host of runners from the Cheltenham Festival make a quick reappearance just three weeks after their trips to Prestbury Park.
The race to focus on at the Festival looks to be the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and SPIRIT SON heads to Liverpool after being denied in the final strides of the Grade One.
Nicky Henderson’s big bull of a horse is sure to have a sensational future in the chasing division, but he is a top class hurdler in his own right and his form looks to be the best on offer.
The selection had Cue Card (fourth) and Recession Proof (fifth) behind him at Cheltenham and he can confirm the form and justify his lofty reputation.
Nick Wilby’s selection – Spirit Son (3/1,
Bet365)
14:15 John Smith's Maghull Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (2m)
Another race that revolves round form at the Cheltenham Festival and Finian’s Rainbow will be odds on and to gain compensation for his second in the Arkle just over three weeks ago.
Nicky Henderson’s talented chaser had looked to have doubts surrounding his suspect jumping but still managed to make it three victories from three starts over the larger obstacles at the beginning of this season.
Those successes came after he had found it hard to settle but he seemed to relish a truly run race in the Arkle and he looked assured under the hands of Barry Geraghty at Prestbury Park.
However, a chance is taken on GHIZAO who could well be up to reversing the form after finishing fifth in the same race.
The selection has looked a classy individual this season and two power-packed performances (beating Arkle winner Captain Chris) this season looked to have him in good shape ahead of the Festival.
A blunder four from home ruined his chances of success at Cheltenham, but he can bounce back to winning ways in a race Paul Nicholls has made a habit of targeting in recent years.
Nick Wilby’s selection – Ghizao (7/2,
bet365)
14:50 John Smith's Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) (2m4f)
A fascinating renewal of the Aintree Hurdle can go the way of Champion Hurdle absentee BINOCULAR who will be bidding to prove he is the best hurdler either side of the Irish Sea.
Nicky Henderson’s superstar was forced to miss a trip to the Cheltenham Festival three weeks ago but that might do his chances at Aintree no harm at all and after Peddlers Cross was made to work very hard to finish second to the superb Hurricane Fly at the meeting, Henderson’s superstar could have a bit more left in the tank for the season.
Binocular possesses plenty of speed and tactical pace which should ensure the step up in trip doesn’t prove too much of a hindrance and the French import can reverse the Fighting Fifth form with Peddlers Cross.
Binocular’s stablemate Oscar Whisky is sure to be there or thereabouts and looks a very generous price after shaping well at the Festival with the step up in trip almost certain to suit.
15:25 John Smith's Handicap Chase (Listed) (3m 1f)
Another wide open race for punters to wrap their heads around and Bensalem will be a very popular favourite after his victory at the Cheltenham Festival. A 9lb hike in the weights doesn’t look too harsh for a horse with his ability and he has every chance of making it a quick double.
However, a chance is taken on the unexposed TARABLAZE who would look a sensational bet if it was certain he could handle the daunting Aintree fences. That doesn’t look a forlorn hope after his recent confidence boosting success at Bangor-on-Dee and he can be given another chance to transfer his useful hurdling form to the larger obstacles on the big stage.
Nick Wilby’s selection – Tarablaze (9/1,
bet365)
16:15 John Smith's Grand National Chase (Grade 3 Handicap) (4m4f)
The most competitive and puzzling handicap of the year can go the way of WHAT A FRIEND who is an incredible 15lbs well in at the weights after his fourth to Long Run in last month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Hugely talented but equally quirky, What A Friend travelled supremely well at Cheltenham and he was finishing so well at the finish, he nearly collared Kauto Star for third after Denman and Long Run had secured the first two places. The four of them finished well clear of their rivals and the time and quality of the first three would suggest that the race is one of the best Gold Cups for some time.
There will be plenty of punters that believe the actual weight What A Friend has to carry in the National will offset his huge advantage and many will believe that the handicapper has little to worry about with the gelding having to carry 11st 6lbs over a frightening 4m4f.
However, ever since the compression of the weights the classier horses are really beginning to assert themselves in the Grand National and the first two home in 2010 and the first four to finish in 2009 all carried eleven stone or more, including Don’t Push It who powered to success under 11st5lbs last year. With a Grade One victory in the 2009 Lexus Chase to his name, What A Friend is certainly classy.
If the thought of backing a 12/1 shot doesn’t capture your imagination and you fancy betting on a horse at a bigger price, the alternative to What A Friend could come in the shape of Dermot Weld’s Irish raider MAJESTIC CONCORDE.
Weld’s eight-year-old was given the green light for the Aintree showpiece after he impressed with a schooling session at the Curragh on Tuesday and, similar to What A Friend, he looks one of the classier horses lining up in Saturday’s forty horse field.
100 rated on the flat, he still looks unexposed over fences and has only been over the larger obstacles twice in the last year. His master trainer is sure to be worried about his lack of experience, but he certainly knows how to place his horses and despite being hit with an 11lb hike in the weights for his success at Leopardstown at Christmas, he looks to have plenty of untapped potential.
Nick Wilby’s selections – What A Friend (14/1,
Stan James)
17:00 John Smith's Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)(2m110y)
Twenty-two horses set to go to post in the John Smith's Handicap Hurdle and VIA GALILEI can continue his upward curve of improvement after his second in the Imperial Cup last time out.
The selection almost denied his 8lb rise there and found only Alarazi too good after travelling supremely well under the hands of Jamie Moore who probably sent the superstar for home too early.
It’s likely that he hasn’t finished improving yet and he can hold off the likes of Plan A, Red Merlin and Nearby.
Nick Wilby’s selection – Via Galilei (7/1,
Stan James)
17:35 John Smith's Champion Standard Open NH Flat Race (Grade 2) (2m1f)
The final race of the 2011 Aintree Grand National meeting can go the way of PERSIAN SNOW who looks well overpriced at 12/1.
Philip Hobbs’ talented five-year-old fluffed his lines at Ascot last time out but he is sure to relish the better ground at Aintree and he will benefit greatly for a better pace after suffering from a slowly run race last time out.
He looks a chaser for the future but can win this on the way to greater things and build on the favourable impression he created on his debut.
Nick Wilby’s selection – Persian Snow (12/1,
bet365)
