The best bets and tips for the second day of the prestigious Aintree meeting
The 2011 Grand National meeting started brilliantly for punters as Big Buck’s, Zarkandar and Baby Run won at Aintree on Friday.
That trio made sure that it was a great day for punters and though Denman denied racing fans a Paul Nicholls hat-trick on day one, the bookies still took a hammering on Merseyside.
Friday’s televised card looks set to be another enthralling affair and with five races for punters to sink their teeth into there is plenty of money to be made ahead of Saturday’s Grand National. Remember, bet with Blue Square and if your horse falls at Aintree, you’ll get your money back.
2.00 – John Smith’s Top Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (2m 110y)
An enthralling renewal of the Top Novices’ Hurdle to kick off proceedings on Friday and there are plenty of classy and improving sorts set to take their chance.
Gary Moore’s Sire De Grugy is likely to be favourite and should run his race, while Nicky Henderson’s A Media Luz has more than enough ability to win a race of this nature. But the opener can go the way of Donald McCain’s hugely talented DESERT CRY who has looked a hurdler of some potential this season.
The selection made it third time lucky over obstacles at Sedgefield before he finished second to a well regarded sort at Kelso last time out. That defeat came after he travelled strongly into contention approaching the business end of the race and he launched his challenge in effortless style. He is sure to enjoy a flatter track at Aintree and the test of speed on offer at Merseyside will be right up his street.
Nick Wilby’s selection – Desert Cry (10/1, Betfred)
2.30 – John Smith’s Mildmay Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (3m 1f)
This year’s Mildmay Chase looks a thoroughly intriguing contest and punters will be left wondering whether Wayward Prince’s fantastic performance in the RSA Chase will have left its mark on Ian Williams’ star. If the answer is no, he is sure to be tough to beat while Nicky Henderson’s Master Of The Hall and Irish mud-lark Quito De La Roque are both seriously class chasers.
However, it could be worth taking one more chance on Paul Nicholls’ ROBINSON COLLONGES after his too bad to be true performance at the Cheltenham Festival. Nothing seemed to explain his abysmal display at Prestbury Park, but it wasn’t the talented horse that we have watched in action this year and it seems a while ago that he looked to be all over Wishfull Thinging before falling at Wincanton in November.
His legendary trainer retains the faith and if he can regain his upward curve of improvement, his assured jumping and tactical pace could help him bounce back to winning ways on Friday.
Nick Wilby’s selection – Robinson Collonges (11/1, Stan James)
3.05 – John Smith’s Melling Chase (Grade One) (2m4f)
This year’s Melling Chase looks a difficult puzzle for punters to solve and the betting would suggest that the race is a very open affair. Albertas Run, Kalahari King, Somersby and MASTER MINDED were all in action at the Cheltenham Festival and it’s unlikely that all four will be firing just three weeks on.
Albertas Run will be tough to beat if he’s in the same mood as he was at Prestbury Park, while Irish raider Tranquil Sea would be of serious interest if the rain came overnight.
However, it isn’t often you get the chance to back Master Minded at 5/1 and though he was a bitter disappointment for favourite backers at the Festival, that race seemed to unfold too quickly on ground too firm for the legendary chaser.
He was already under pressure before he blundered two from home there and Ruby Walsh was really easy on him after his mistake. That probably explains how he ended up finishing eighth, but with more time to get into a rhythm at Aintree, we could see the same horse that won his first three starts this season. True, Master Minded could only finish second in this race three years ago, but he is an older and wiser horses now and Nicholls is confident that the step up in trip will bring out the best in the legendary dual-Champion Chaser.
Nick Wilby’s selection – Master Minded (5/1, Paddy Power)
3.40 - John Smith’s Topham Chase (Class One) (2m5f)
Thirty horses go to post for the Topham and it looks like being another seriously exciting contest. Plenty look to be in with a chance, but it may pay to keep things simple and side with Paul Nicholls’ highly regarded MON PARRAIN.
The selection looked a superstar in the making when cruising to a facile success at Sandown on his British debut and a 16lb hike in the weights doesn’t look too extreme after a performance of foot perfect jumping from Ruby Walsh’s mount.
Nicholls has opted to run the five-year-old in this rather than the totesport Bowl on Thursday and he looks like beating this field off 11st6lb could be well within his capabilities.
A mention must also go to Willie Mullins’ Scotsirish who is certainly no 20/1 shot. Second in this race off 1lb higher last year, he is a classy operator and can take to the fences and fill the places once again.
Nick Wilby’s selection – Mon Parrain (11/2, Ladbrokes)
4.15 – John Smith’s Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade One) (3m1/2f)
A fiercely competitive Grade One to end Friday’s coverage at Aintree can go the way of Patrick Rodford’s highly admirable mare SPARKY MAY.
The six-year-old has been in sensational form this season and after tasting Grade Two success at Ascot earlier in the season, she was unlucky to bump into the awesome Quevega in the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Not many horses in training would have been able to get near Willie Mullins’ superstar that day and Sparky May did well to hold on to second after being ridden aggressively to beat the favourite.
With a more patient ride, the selection might have finished further ahead of the field (although still nowhere near the winner) and she can gain a well deserved victory at the highest level.
Nick Wilby’s selection – Sparky May (11/2, Ladbrokes)
