There’s another £50,000 jackpot up for grabs in the ITV7 on day two of Aintree’s Grand National Festival, which takes place on Friday 4th April. The ITV Racing cameras remain on Merseyside for another stunning day’s racing and the ITV7 is jam-packed with some tricky races from Liverpool. We try to point you in the right direction of a few winners and pick a selection in each of the seven selected races.
Race 1 – 2.20pm Aintree – William Hill Handicap Hurdle
A flop when heavily backed in the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival, KOPECK DE MEE is looking to show the promise he had shown in France and claim victory in a hugely competitive betting heat at 2:20pm. He made a glaring error at the first hurdle in that Cheltenham finale last month, and was then always struggling. He’s sure to benefit for that experience and Willie Mullins is sure to bring him on for that effort, so off a mark of 136 he can claim this prize.
Race 2 – 2.55pm Aintree – TrustATrader Top Novices’ Hurdle
Third in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last month, ROMEO COOLIO will have the benefit of not bumping into Kopek Des Bordes in the Top Novices’ Hurdle, and that should mean Gordon Elliott’s star can claim Grade 1 glory. He ran a stormer at Cheltenham, but was ultimately beaten by a top notch novice and he should improve for that effort again and he can down Salvator Mundi and Tripoli Flyer, who look the main dangers here.
Race 3 – 3.05pm Bath – Best Odds Guaranteed dragonbet.co.uk Handicap
We head to Bath for Race 3 in the ITV7 and William Knight’s REGAL ENVOY has been in smashing form claiming a brace of wins at Chelmsford City and he can duly land the 3:05pm contest. Given a 3lbs rise for his latest victory, the six-year-old looks more than capable of continuing on an upward curve and looks the solid option in a trappy event.
Race 4 – 3.30pm Aintree – My Pension Expert Melling Chase
Nicky Henderson’s JONBON failed yet again at the Cheltenham Festival when finishing second in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, but the Seven Barrows star can bounce back to winning ways and down his three rivals in the Melling Chase at 3:30pm. He won this event last year in fine style and while El Fabiolo will be a lively adversary it’s Jonbon that is the proven class act and a return to Aintree should see him return to his best.
Race 5 – 3.40pm Bath – DragonBet Born From The Betting Ring Handicap
Daryll Holland’s KAMEKO SPIRIT still remains a maiden after eight starts, but looks more than capable of breaking that duck in the 3:40pm at Bath. Second on his last two starts at Chelmsford and Wolverhampton, he’s been given a rise of 2lbs for this contest, but a mark of 50 still looks workable in a pretty minor event.
Race 6 – 4.05pm Aintree – Randox Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Topham Handicap Chase
The likes of Blue Lord and James Du Berlais are sure to run huge races for Willie Mullins in the silks of Isaac Souede and Simon Munir, but the Topham is a race jam-packed with quality and there could be some value alternatives in the race. Alan King’s GRANDEUR D’AME was left at the start at the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but ran well for a long time and finished 12th. He’s one that could improve on that effort, and while his jumping has shown frailties the National course isn’t the test it once was, so he can brush through the top of his fences and go close at huge odds.
Race 7 – 4.40pm Aintree – Oddschecker Sefton Novices’ Hurdle
Gordon Elliott’s FAMILIAR DREAMS has been hugely progressive this season over hurdles and she’s now being sent into the deep end in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at 4:40pm. A winner of a Leopardstown maiden hurdle, the Cullentra House inmate then went and bounded to a two-and-a-quarter length success in a Grade 3 mares’ novice hurdle at Limerick. Taking on the boys here he will have more on his plate, but she’s certainly going the right way and looks capable of making it three wins in a row.
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