£50,000 is up for grabs as part of the ITV7 competition on the first day of the Grand National meeting. We run through the seven races in Thursday’s competition, and give your selections to guide you.
Race 1 – 2.20pm Aintree – Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1)
After a barnstorming success at the Cheltenham Festival, there looks to be more to come from PUTURHANDSTOGETHER, who dismissed his rivals in the Fred Winter with disdain. Joseph O’Brien’s juvenile ultimately coasted clear for a six-length victory and the step up to Grade 1 company looks a natural next step. Murcia could be interesting for Willie Mullins, as Paul Townend takes the ride.
Race 2 – 2.55pm Aintree – Brooklands Golden Miller Chronograph Bowl Chase (Grade 1)
It’s a definite concern that Paul Townend has chosen Embassy Gardens, but the credentials of GAELIC WARRIOR otherwise look set to suit this race. Quicker ground has derailed him over shorter trips, but he won a 3m novice hurdle in a canter on yielding going in his younger days, so there should be few stamina doubts too. In terms of raw ability, there are few horses more talented, and it is interesting that he has skipped Cheltenham to be targeted here.
Race 3 – 3.05pm Plumpton – Dine & Stay At The Jolly Sportsman Handicap Hurdle
There is not a lot of quality on show in this long distance handicap hurdle. Overall, the best option looks to be BALLELA BLAZE, who won a 3m point-to-point and had only raced over trips surely shorter than ideal until third at Sedgefield last time over 2m4f. He is down another 2lb in the handicap for that relatively distant finish, but should be suited by this step up in trip in a much weaker race.
Race 4 – 3.30pm Aintree – William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1)
There are now significant fears about Constitution Hill’s jumping given he has been big and bold in the past, but now made substantial errors on his last two starts. He just about stayed upright in the International Hurdle, but his fall in the Champion Hurdle now casts significant doubt as to how he will rebound, and indeed how he will jump here. LOSSIEMOUTH now looks the safer alternative, as although she herself has fallen recently, that looks an aberration, and she was only 2½ lengths behind Constitution Hill at Kempton when never travelling. She may be better suited by this trip than her rival too.
Race 5 – 3.52pm Sedgefield – Canine Premier Flex Plus Joint Supplement Handicap Chase
Having mostly raced against better rivals since joining Andrew Hamilton in November, C’EST QUELQU’UN had been closing on victory until raced over 4m at Hexham last time. That trip proved beyond him, but he was holding his own in class 4 company that day, and drops in class over a more suitable trip on his favoured ground here. The bottom three in this six-strong field look to hold very limited chances.
Race 6 – 4.05pm Aintree – Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase
This is a deep field and given the nature of the race, an outsider winning at a big race would be less of a shock than elsewhere. Nevertheless, the credentials of WILLITGOAHEAD are fairly strong here. This has been a younger horse’s race in recent years, while the last two winners have, like the selection, been beaten into a place in the Cheltenham Festival hunters’ chase last time out. Willitgoahead shaped menacingly that day before not quite getting home, so should find this distance and test much more to his liking.
Race 7 – 4.40pm Aintree – Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase
A tricky handicap in which a number make some appeal. Sans Bruit could easily win this again off the same mark as a year ago, but his form makes him tricky to back. THE FOLKES TIARA, on the other hand, has been in terrific nick in two starts in Ireland this campaign. Henry De Bromhead’s horses were not running great from December onwards, but the nine-year-old still managed a short-head second in a Boxing Day handicap at Leopardstown, with the first and third that day both winning next time out. The selection will handle the 98-day break since having gone very well fresh in the past.
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