It’s day two of Aintree’s Grand National Festival on Friday 4th March, 2025 and there’s another scintillating seven races taking place on Merseyside. Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers has delved through the form guides and picks out his best bets, which includes an eye-catching 33/1 shot in the Topham Handicap Chase at 4:05pm.
2:20pm Aintree – William Hill Handicap Hurdle
One of the talking horses of the Cheltenham Festival, KOPECK DE MEE ran no sort of race when heavily backed in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, but the Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old will make a swift reappearance in the 2:20pm at Aintree on Friday. Highly touted as the next superstar off the Closutton production line, the French recruit will need to jump a lot better than he did during the early stages of that Cheltenham contest, but having remained on a mark of 136 then he’s certainly of interest. He showed an excellent level of form in France, so it’s worth giving him another chance and he can get the better of the likes of Wade Out, Impose Toi and Be Aware, who all sit prominent in the betting for this hugely competitive contest.
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4:05pm Aintree – Randox Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Topham Handicap Chase
One of the highlights of the Grand National Festival is the Topham Handicap Chase, as the professional jockeys get their first taste of the National fences. A huge field will go to post and there’s a strong Irish contingent at the head of the betting with James Du Berlais and Blue Lord both looking likely leading contenders for Willie Mullins, while The Goffer is another interesting runner from the Emerald Isle.
However, one at a huge price that can run well is Alan King’s GRANDEUR D’AME, who was left with an impossible task last time out in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Hindered by the standing start, the Barbury Castle inmate was left ten lengths at the start and could only finished 12th. He travelled well into that race, but was always playing catch up, so the run can be ignored. He’s been dropped 1lb to a mark of 138 and while the nine-year-old may not be the slickest of jumpers, you certainly don’t need to be efficient over the National fences these days, so he could well get away with a few errors and grab a place at huge odds.
Topham Handicap Chase Preview – Pauling and Jones Can Make it a Bad Day for Rivals Over National Fences
The Topham Handicap Chase is the showpiece over the Grand National fences on the second day of Aintree’s festival. 30 runners are set to go to post over the 2m5f trip and Joe Napier previews this big field and gives his verdict. A dramatic conclusion to the 2024 running saw Arizona Cardinal rally past James…
Wed 02 Apr 20255:15pm Aintree – Hallgarten And Novum Wines Handicap Hurdle
There’s a hugely competitive conditional jockeys handicap hurdle to end proceedings on Friday and the likes of Afadil for Paul Nicholls and the fast-improving Manuelito are entitled to be sitting towards the head of the betting. However, there’s another contender who is on an equally impressive incline and that’s Olly Murphy’s DIAMONDS FOR LUCK, who has won his last three races and is bidding for a four-timer.
A winner of minor races at Sandown and Wetherby in recent months, the six-year-old has been excelling in the mud to claim those victories. This is a whole new ball game, as he steps into handicap company, but the mark of 122 looks more than attractive. Lewis Saunders will take a valuable 7lbs off his back as well, so he lines up here with a featherweight to carry and if he can act in the quicker conditions then he could well continue his fine winning run.
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