Aintree. Not just a celebration of the biggest steeplechase in the world but also a redemption arc for those who were thwarted at Cheltenham. Today features no more than four consecutive Grade One’s, with plenty looking to get back to winning ways and some trying to keep up the gallop.
Big Race View
The Aintree Bowl takes the eye and is the biggest Grade One of the day in what looks a slightly more competitive event than the Gold Cup. But strip it away to it’s bare bones and there is probably three main contenders. One of them is Irish raider Spillane’s Tower. The form from the Irish Gold Cup in February is a great guide for this race, with two horses finishing in the top two in the Cheltenham feature and Fact To File scoring the Ryanair. The better ground should suit and the run in the King George can be easily forgiven
Despite his troubles there is only one track that Ahoy Senor can perform at. It’s Aintree. In six starts here in Liverpool, Ahoy Senor has yet to finish outside the top three which is incredible consistency. Whilst he may not have won the Gold Cup, even if he didn’t fall, he ran on strongly to suggest he may go well here.
Big Race Bet: Aintree Bowl (Grade One) – Spillane’s Tower @ 3/1 (William Hill), Ahoy Senor e/w @ 6/1 (General)
Excellent at Each-way
Without Lulamba, the 4-Y-O Anniversary Hurdle has been thrown wide open. Those who raced at Cheltenham are coming from the Fred Winter handicap, and chucked into Grade One company may be a mean feat. Whilst Puturhandstogether is a great choice, Filibustering looks one to note at a bigger price. Only one hurdles race saw him blitz the field at Kelso last month by 11L and strung the field apart. Big prices are always ones to look out for at Aintree.
Excellent Each-way bet: 4-Y-O Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle (Grade One) – Filibustering e/w @ 12/1 (BetVictor)
Handy Handicap Guide
We have to wait for Race Six on the card for the only handicap of the day, but the Red Rum is very competitive in it’s own right. The obvious factor here is to avoid those that ran at Cheltenham last time. Sans Bruit has been actively handicapped for this race again and races off the exact same mark. He’s a good-to-soft horse so all runs this Winter have come with a big excuse, but he’s gone under the radar and may pull of a double in the race named in honour of Aintree legend Red Rum.
Rath Gaul Hill has only had one run this season, but it was a winning one that completed a hat-trick at Newbury. It looks like he’s also a good-to-soft Spring horse and has been patiently waited on by trainer Samuel Drinkwater to deliver in the latter months of the campaign.
For the local Donald McCain yard, I’ve been keeping a close eye on Galunggung all season long. He’s been very consistent with two wins and two placed efforts in five starts, and comes into this race off the back of a win at Carlisle. On form evidence he looks to be horse who appreciates better ground and has a good low weight on his back.
Handy Handicap Bets: Red Rum Handicap Chase – Sans Bruit @ 13/2 (General), Rath Gaul Hill e/w @ 9/1 (William Hill, BetVictor), Galunggung e/w @ 40/1 (General)
Selections:
13:45 – Manifesto Novice’s Chase (Grade One) – Jango Baie @ 11/4 (William Hill)
14:20 – 4-Y-O Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle (Grade One) – Puturhandstogether @ 13/8 (William Hill), FILIBUSTERING E/W @ 12/1 (BetVictor)
14:55 – Aintree Bowl (Grade One) – Spillane’s Tower @ 3/1 (William Hill), Ahoy Senor e/w @ 6/1 (General)
15:20 – William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade One) – Constitution Hill @ 10/11 (William Hill, BetVictor)
16:05 – Foxhunters Chase – Willitgoahead @ 4/1 (General), Ontheropes e/w @ 33/1 (William Hill), Bardenstown Lad e/w @ 66/1 (General)
16:40 – Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier H’cap) – Sans Bruit @ 13/2 (General), Rath Gaul Hill e/w @ 9/1 (William Hill, BetVictor), Galunggung e/w @ 40/1 (General)
17:20 – Nickel Coin Mares’ National Hunt Flat Race (Grade Two) – Betty’s Daisy e/w @ 16/1 (William Hill), Highland Haven e/w @ 22/1 (William Hill)
Best of Luck!
