The 2011 Aintree Grand National meeting kicks off on Merseyside this Thursday and we have all the best Grand National tips ahead of the first day of the three day showpiece.
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With the likes of Denman, Big Buck’s and Zarkandar all making swift reappearances after the Cheltenham Festival, there is sure to be some short prices knocking around and some seriously classy individuals will head to Liverpool in search of more Grade One success.
Punters will be well aware of the poor record of Festival winners at Aintree and a whole host of horses that missed a trip to Prestubury Park will be roaring ahead of this week’s racing. We take a look at the action and try and find a few winners ahead of this year’s Grand National.
2.00 – BGC Parntners Liverpool Hurdle (Grade One) (3m 110y)
The opening race of the 2011 Aintree Grand National meeting looks like it has the potential to be one of the races of the whole meeting and it would take a brave man to bet against legendary staying hurdler BIG BUCK’S.
The selection added a third World Hurdle to his impressive CV at Cheltenham three weeks ago and though the re-opposing Grand Crus gave him one of the toughest races of his career at Prestbury Park, it always looked like Big Buck’s had too much for David Pipe’s talented star. Indeed, he is yet to be truly tested over the smaller obstacles and two victories in this race in the last two years have proved that he has the resolve to win two Grade Ones in relatively quick succession.
Irish raider Carlito Brigante is capable of putting up a bold show and Khyber Kim would be a threat to all if his stamina held out in a return to form.
However, Big Buck’s looks like he will have far too much in his locker once again and the 4/6 on offer at Paddy Power looks seriously appealing.
2.30 – Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade One) (2m 110y)
The second race of the day looks another contest at the mercy of one of the more impressive Cheltenham Festival winners andZARKANDAR can make it a quick fire double for Paul Nicholls. The ultra-impressive Triumph Hurdle winner has been a revelation this season and followed up his impressive display in the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton with a scintillating performance at the Festival.
A half-brother to the fantastic Zarkarva, he looks to have speed in abundance and the classy French import will not be inconvenienced by the softer ground and drop in trip at Aintree. It is likely he will be too good for his rivals and he is sure to make an impact in next year’s hurdling division.
Nicky Henderson’s Grandouet will be looking to turn the tables on the selection after finishing third behind him three weeks ago and his slick jumping and ability to travel strongly in his races should mean that he makes it a real test for the odds-on favourite.
3.05 – Totesport Bowl Chase (Grade One) (3m1f)
The totesport Bowl has been a graveyard for favourites over the last few years and high profile defeats suffered by Kauto Star, Imperial Commander and Denman have let down plenty of punters in the past. The poor record of horses that took their chance at Cheltenham is a massive concern for those making a quick reappearance and punters should tread carefully if they are looking to back Gold Cup second Denman.
The legendary chaser is one of the greatest of all time and there is no doubt that he is the best horse in this race by some distance. On paper, it almost looks like it could be a walk in the park for the multiple Grade One winner and the handicapper would have racing fans think that this could be a procession for Ruby Walsh and ‘The Tank.’
However, he was turned over in the race when odds-on two years ago and it is far from certain that he will enjoy the flat track and greater test of speed that Aintree provides. Instead, it could be worth taking a chance on the hugely talentedPUNCHESTOWNS to finally prove that he has what it takes to succeed in this sphere.
Nicky Henderson’s chestnut has been somewhat of a disappointment since he left the hurdling division for the larger obstacles and poor performances in last year’s RSA Chase and this year’s Argento Chase have had many people questioning his resolve.
That being said, it is worth noting that away from Cheltenham his form reads 1111121 and that second was when giving fitness and weight to the classy Pride Of Dulcote at Newbury in December.
Henderson has had this race for Punchestowns in mind for some time and he is sure to love the test of speed that the Merseyside track provides. True, you would rather be on Denman if the two are eyeballing eachother at the final fence, but at a much bigger price and with Barry Geraghty in the saddle he could add another Grade One victory to his admirable CV.
Nick Wilby’s selection – Punchestowns (6/1, bet365)
3.40 – John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase (Class 2) (2m5f110y)
A typically wide open renewal of the Fox Hunters’ Chase that should see Baby Run set a blistering pace out in front after his tumble at the Cheltenham Festival. He certainly has the form to win the race and he looks sure to run well, but his dodgy jumping can be an issue and he is taken on with recent runaway Newbury winner TURKO.
The selection is a very smart recruit to the hunter chase division and his sensational display last time out was enough to prove that he retains plenty of his old ability. Despite the fact he fell in the 2008 Grand National, Turko should be able to deal with these fences and he has reportedly been working particularly well ahead of his trip to Liverpool.
Herons Well and Moncadou could also run a huge race in what looks to be a fiercely competitive event.
4.15 – Matalan.co.uk Red Rum Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (2m)
The participation of Woolcombe Folly in this year’s Red Rum Handicap Chase means that only six of the thirteen horses will be racing from within the handicap and it looks like there are some seriously talented horses running off absolute featherweights.
Recent Grand Annual winner Oiseau De Nuit and third Leo’s Lucky Star are sure to be popular after their impressive runs at Cheltenham, but it could be worth taking an each-way chance on Donald McCain’s SPORTS LINE.
The eight-year old has dropped to an attractive rating of 140 after running off 149 earlier in the year and though he is 1lb out of the handicap here, his superb 7lb claimer Henry Brooke will mean that the selection only has to run off 9st 7lb. That is sure to help the strong pulling recruit from Willie Mullins’ yard and the tight track at Aintree is sure to be right up his street.
Sports Line wasn’t far behind the best novices in Ireland last season and he could make a mockery of the 25/1 on offer on Wednesday evening.
Nick Wilby’s selection – Sports Line, each-way (25/1, William Hill)
4.50 – totepool Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (2m4f)
The totepool Manifesto Novices’ Chase sees Wishfull Thinking out to return to winning ways after his second behind the classy Noble Prince at last month’s Cheltenham Festival. A winner of a competitive handicap at Cheltenham in January, he has the best form in the book but he will do well to hold off the challenge of MEDERMIT.
Alan King’s stable star ran disappointingly flat in the Arkle when well fancied at the Festival but the classy hurdling recruit can get his chasing career back on track on softer ground and over slightly longer. He looked like he was finding life difficult when the action was unfolding at Cheltenham and Richard Thornton never looked entirely happy in the saddle as the pace began to quicken.
The selection will relish the easier going and with time to find his feet over a course that is sure to suit, he can return to the winner’s enclosure for the first time since his victory in the Grade One Scilly Isles at Sandown in February.
Nick Wilby’s selection – Medermit (9/4, Stan James)
5.25 – Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle (Listed) (2m4f)
The last race of the day looks by far and away the most daunting for punters and 22 horses go to post in an enthralling renewal of the Silver Cross Handicap.
County Hurdle second Get Me Out Of Here bounced back to form at Cheltenham and a 5lb rise in the weights might not be enough to stop him if he is in the right mood, while Paul Nicholls’ talented Sire Collonges is sure to attract plenty of support for the legendary trainer.
However, it looks like MEGASTAR has a fantastic chance to win off an attractive race on his debut in handicap company.
The Tolworth runner-up has failed to come up to expectations in some pretty hot company over hurdles, but he has never been disgraced and he was travelling well with a number of classy horses in the Neptune Investment Hurdle at Cheltenham.
He never managed to land a telling blow on the likes of First Lieutenant and So Young, but he shaped impressively and he hasn’t been overly punished buy the handicapper.
Nick Wilby’s selection – Megastar, each-way (8/1, Ladbrokes)
