Day two of Aintree’s Grand National meeting gets underway on Friday as the countdown to the big race continues. Here are Andrew Mount’s top tips on Friday.
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Posted: 4pm, Thursday, April 3rd
1.45 Aintree – THE CHANGING MAN (1pt each-way 12/1 William Hill, 1pt to finish exactly second, 13/2 Sky Bet)
There’s plenty of early pace on offer in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase and I’m hoping that Brendan Powell elects to take a lead on THE CHANGING MAN rather than attempt to make the running. Joe Tizzard’s eight-year-old found only the progressive Myretown too good in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham last month, his fourth runner-up effort from his last five starts (it would probably have been five from five had odds-on favourite Jinko Blue not unseated when he won the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot on his penultimate start). Good ground suits and as well as backing him each-way I’ll throw a few quid at him to finish exactly second (a market available with both Sky Bet (13/2) and Coral (yet to price up)). The Tizzard yard’s eight previous runners in this 3m1f Grade 1 contest produced two winners (11-2 and 3-1), a 16-1 second and two third places (15-2 and 4-1).
2.20 Aintree – TINTINTIN (1pt e/w, 18-1 William Hill, 16/1 generally) & WESTERN WALK (1pt e/w, 28-1 Coral, Ladbrokes BetVictor, 25/1 generally)
Nine of the past ten winners of this 2m4f handicap hurdle were ridden patiently in their prep race and TINTINTIN fits the bill having done best of the closers where a one-length fourth of 18 in the Imperial Cup at Sandown on his latest assignment. Fergal O’Brien’s six-year-old needs to prove his stamina but he tends to perform best in the warmer months, recording form figures in March to October of 12211354 (3-8).
WESTERN WALK is a big price but his record in the spring (March to May) of 3324115427 (2-10) suggests that he should be thereabouts. Jonathan Sweeney’s eight-year-old would have needed last month’s seventh of 16 at Naas, his first run for 286 days, and he’s only 3lb higher than when placed in a similar race at last season’s Punchestown festival.
I also need to give a favourable mention to FAVOUR AND FORTUNE who will appreciate the flat track and good ground. He too needs to prove his stamina, but I’ll be having a stake saver.
4.05 Aintree – LOUNGE LIZARD (1pt each-way – 20/1 bet365, 18/1 William Hill)
LOUNGE LIZARD tends to come good in the spring and Henry Daly’s eight-year-old has form figures from late February until the end of April of 2321111 (4-7). He was pulled up at Kempton on his penultimate start but bounced back to score from my fancy Dibble Decker at Huntingdon last month and the ground has come in his favour.
5.15 – TAPLEY (0.5pt e/w – 100/1 generally)
TAPLEY has form figures on sharp tracks of 1221371321310 (5-13), with the ‘duck egg’ excusable as he failed to stay 2m5f at Kempton. He wasn’t totally disgraced in finishing a ten-length 66-1 12th of 17 in the Imperial Cup last time and the combination of better ground and sharp track could see him run a big race at a massive price.
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Andrew Mount’s Best Bets
1.45 Aintree – THE CHANGING MAN (1pt each-way 12/1 William Hill, 1pt to finish exactly second, 13/2 Sky Bet)
2.20 Aintree – TINTINTIN (1pt e/w, 18-1 William Hill, 16/1 generally) & WESTERN WALK (1pt e/w, 28-1 Coral, Ladbrokes BetVictor, 25/1 generally)
4.05 Aintree – LOUNGE LIZARD (1pt each-way – 20/1 bet365, 18/1 William Hill)
5.15 – TAPLEY (0.5pt e/w – 100/1 generally)
The Changing Man
Lounge Lizard
Andrew Mount’s tips for Friday, 4th April 2025
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