 |
| Cue Card a popular winner of the Aintree Bowl |
It was something special then to mean that Annie Power
wasn’t the most impressive Willie Mullins runner or even the most impressive
mare of the day with Apple’s Jade reversing form with Ivanovich Gorbatov to the
tune of 42 lengths – a massively impressive performance on only her 4th
start. Where next?
In the opener Arzal scored a deserved all the way victory
over his rivals. On the Fringe proved why he is the very best hunter chaser
around with Pacha Du Polder not staying on under prominent tactics. He will be
short odds for the Fox Hunter treble at Punchestown.
Donald McCain has had a miserable season with over 50 horses
moved to other stables. Wins for Cue Card and Annie Power will always be emotional
affairs but this was perhaps the story of the day for racing fans seeing
Katachenko winning the race named after Red Rum, the horse that cemented his
father’s legacy at the course of his greatest triumphs.
Day 2 offers further quality and a chance for Willie Mullins
to take the lead from Nicholls as Vautour lines up in the feature Melling
Chase. We are over the national fences once more in the Topham and theres the
small matter of 3 novice grade 1’s to whet the appetite.
Shrew’s Shrewdies
1:40 - Starchitect 10/1 e/w, Tycoon Prince 8/1 e/w
2:15 – Agrapart 8/1
e/w
2:50– Un Temps Pour
Tout 7/4 – Otago Trail 20/1 e/w
3:25 – Vautour ¼ -
God’s Own 14/1 to follow him home
4:05 – 4 e/w against
the field: Minella Reception 16/1 , Astracad 33/1, Bishops Road 12/1 (if he
comes here and not the National – if not back him for that instead) Top Cat Henry 25/1
4:40 – Ballyoptic 9/1
e/w
5:15 - Barcadys 5/1 - Bolving 20/1 e/w
Race-By-Race Guide
1:40 – Handicap
Hurdle, 2m4f
A nice easy handicap hurdle to start the card.... Paul Nicholls will be aiming to claw back some ground before Mullins fires some more big guns later in the day: Ibis Du Rheu is up 4lbs for his Cheltenham win and could yet improve further. Stablemate San Bento seems to hit the frame regularly enough without winning.
Melodic Rendevouz has been a great horse over the years but you'd expect he's now on the downgrade.
Blazer ran well in the Coral Cup and is preferred to the other JP McManus runner Box Office, albeit he has an attractive handicap mark. Possibly more so than Champagne at Tara. Starchitect also had a good Cheltenham run - he feels the type of horse to win one of these fairly soon.
Clondaw Kaempfer won here in 2014 but doesn't seem the same horse nowadays.
A lot of 1's next to your name isn't a bad thing as a progressing novice and Ma Du Fou may have a chance now in handicapping company.
The twinkle in Gordon Eliot's eye when Tycoon Prince is mentioned is hard to forget for a trainer with such strength in depth. The 117 days off don't worry me a bit and only add to this looking like a good weight for him - He would need to have trained on well to be up for this but is the potential hidden superstar in the field.
Virgilio could also bounce back.
As an interesting side note, subsequent Grand National first and second Aurora's Encore and Sunnyhillboy won this race a few years before their national efforts so maybe worth keeping an eye on for future winners!
2:15 – Novice Hurdle,
2m
It’s hard to know how much Limini had in hand over
her rivals at Cheltenham as it all seemed like easy work for her – racing for
the first time against the geldings will be telling… Her most likely opponent
to beat will be Buveer D’Air who defends his trainers excellent record in the
race. He probably wasn’t seen to best effect when third in the Supreme and
could improve again on that run. It’s probably between these two.
The main danger to them is Agrapart who was an
emphatic winner of the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury and if the ground stays soft
may well have a big part to play in the finish. I’d take Newbury form over
Cheltenham to translate well at Aintree and he’s probably better place value
than the win on the principles.
If one is to emerge from the pack at a price it could be Three
Stars who hasn’t been since November and may spring a surprise.
2:50– Mildmay Novice
Chase, 3m2f
This is a good renewal of this race which pits gutsy RSA
winner Blaklion against Cheltenham handicap winner Un
Temps Pour Tout. Blaklion has had a long season and was more likely
prepared to peak at Cheltenham, contrasting that to Un Temps Pour Tout who had
a large spell off, no doubt with the handicap in mind, and will be fresher as
well as quicker around a sharper track.
 |
| Un Temps Pour Tout bids to beat RSA winner Blaklion |
Ballyalton is the third Cheltenham winner in the field. He
steps up in trip today but will have a bit to find on the principles on form.
The horse he beat that day ran a respectable 4th on Day 1 behind
Arzal and you’d expect a similar sort of fate awaits.
Out Sam was a beaten favourite behind Un Temps Pour Tout at
Cheltenham and there’s no reason he’ll reverse form off level weights.
Similarly with Roi Des Francs 6th place behind Blaklion.
Native River was another beaten by Un Temps Pour Tout but has
improved well since then up to being 2nd behind Minella Rocco at
Cheltenham. He has a strong chance but is likely a better stayer so the speed
track may not suit.
Henri Parry Morgan and Otago Trail both come in under the
radar having not run at Cheltenham. The former is fast improving and may have
been fancied if it weren’t for a dire Aintree run on his only other appearance
here. Otago Trail looks a nice one at a price and the step up in trip could
well be a plus and is worth the risk.
3:25 – Melling Chase,
2m4f
Vautour wins without doubt and represents a better interest
rate than you’d get from the bank. Ironically, it is probably the weakest horse
in this race Clarcam who is one of only two horses ever to beat him over
fences (the other being Cue Card by a nose). That was at Christmas a couple of
years ago when Vautour was an improving novice and would take a minor miracle
to happen again today.
 |
| Vautour will be near impossible to beat |
It should be fairly close between the rest who will surely
be racing for 2nd. Al Ferof lost nothing in defeat back
in 4th and 3rd behind Vautour in the Ryainair and King
George respectively though his two Aintree runs to date have been a shade below
his best.
God’s Own put in a career best just missing out on the frame in
the Champion Chase and should improve bounds for a spring campaign and maybe
improve past Al Ferof. He was beaten by Vibrato Valtet in November but
should now reverse that form. That said, Vibralto may be a fresher horse after
crashing out early in the Ryanair. Somersby has been the wrong side of
10 years old sometime now but the decline in form has been slow and he always
has a place squeak in these races even if the bet is 98% sentimental.
4:05 – Topham Chase,
2m5f
Over the national fences this can be even trickier to call
with more runners having potential chances. It probably warrants a
runner-by-runner guide but I haven’t got time!
It’s a real shame Bishops Road didn’t quite make it
into the National field as first reserve (assuming one hasn’t come out before
1pm today) If he does make it in at bottom weight then lump on! He is joined by
some good horses at the top including Willie Mullins’ Turban who has been laid
out for this for some time and will make a bold bid. Village Vic was
progressing well before a poor show at Cheltenham
Astracad is one who has gone well around Aintree in the past
and is an old favourite of mine. Pass The Hat has a decent chance
too.
Mr Moonshine will jump the fences fine and seems to have come
back to form on last few runs despite being handicapped to his best.
Minella Reception I like a lot. Ran well in second on his only
other run at Aintree, seems well handicapped despite a flop last time and his
best form seems to come in bigger fields.
I always like a bottom weight horse in a handicap and
Richard Newland knows how to ready them round these fences, so Top
Cat Henry might hit the frame.
If anyone tells you that they categorically know, they are
lying.
4:40 – Sefton Novices
Hurdle, 3m
It’s not quite the Topham but this is still fiercely
competitive.
Gangster was pretty disappointing in the Albert Bartlett when
the English form seemed to dominate. Perhaps a shorter journey over on the
ferry will be to his benefit and he could bounce back. That would put him in
the mix.
Baoulet Delaroque ran well in 5th in the Coral Cup
at Cheltenham but this probably demands a bit more and he won’t be as fresh as Ballydine
who looks a good sort for this after good second at Doncaster last time
out and is second highest rated behind Bellshill who seems to run over any
old distance but has been largely off the boil in recent starts for Mullins –
maybe this trip will suit better?
But I do love an unexposed improver and Ballyoptic is just that.
I like Twiston-Davie’s form and he’s won at good tracks over this distance which
suggests a big run here. If that’s not enough Baoul’s and Bally’s for the
commentator, Brian Cooper rides Balko Des Flos who probably won’t
win but will like the softer ground.
Tomngerry wins my favourite name of the day and could pick up a
place if handling the step up in class.
This race often throws up a big price winner and so it’s
worth looking at the top of the market. Potter’s Legend at 16’s will do if
that’s your cup of tea.
5:15 - Aintree Champion Bumper
 |
| Ballyandy faces a tricky task to achieve the double |
This is probably between the Cheltenham bumper 1-2-3 all of
whom are top horses for the future.
Yes, Simon Holt its another race full of 'Ballies" and I think Ballyandy is potentially
a superstar, Battleford isn’t bad either. Battleford has 4lb in hand today
due to Ballyandy’s penalty and that just edges it for him. But more interesting might be the third Barcadys who has 5 lengths to find but will eat up the softer ground here.
They hold most of the rest bar perhaps Bolving who could have won by as far as he liked on debut and is the wildcard in this pack.
No comments:
Post a Comment