The Grand National is the biggest betting race of the year, but if you can find the winner, as well as six others on Saturday, you could win an enormous jackpot worth £100,000. GG give you our selections in each race below…
Race 1 – 1.20pm Aintree – William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle
After two of Nicky Henderson’s runners filled the first two places in Cheltenham’s 3m handicap hurdle, one of whom was stepping up to this trip for the first time, a similar occurrence may await in Aintree’s version. BO ZENITH has looked in need of a step up in trip all season despite dropping back to 2m last time. He was unsurprisingly outpaced, but might be a completely revived horse here at a track in which he was second in a juvenile Grade 1.
Race 2 – 1.55pm Aintree – Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Triumph Hurdle runner-up Lulamba is up in trip, something Nicky Henderson has evidently planned since then, but he was beaten by a 100/1 debutant at Cheltenham, which does limit some confidence. HORACES PEARL is unbeaten and won on this card in the Grade 2 bumper last season. He looks to still be improving and is one not to underestimate given the form of that bumper has broadly worked out well too.
Race 3 – 2.05pm Newcastle – Acorn Catering Equipment Handicap Hurdle
It looks as if the pin has dropped for LUMINARIES, who had been nowhere near winning in his first 12 career starts, but has won the last twice, both over course and distance. He won by two lengths at the start of March, but increased his winning margin to six lengths last time and another 9lb rise might not stop him as this is still a low grade affair.
Race 4 – 2.30pm Aintree – William Hill Handicap Chase
Favourite Myretown is a non runner, significantly opening this race up. Given some rope by the handicapper after disappointing at Cheltenham, which clearly doesn’t suit, RICHMOND LAKE may now be well enough treated to strike. The nine-year-old had been running well all season prior to the Festival and is now 2lb lower than when second over 2m4f in December. He has since proven perfectly capable of staying further, so should be thereabouts on this flatter track.
Race 5 – 2.40pm Newcastle – Val And Kath Bollado Memorial Handicap Chase
It was a remarkable move just before the off that saw CHOOSETHENEWS go off favourite for the 4m1f Eider Chase at this venue six weeks ago having never run over further than 3m before. Such market support proved unfounded, as he could only finish fifth, but there must be a working theory among connections that he is well treated given such confidence in the betting. Back at 2m4f, a trip he usually operates at, there are enough form lines to suggest a handicap victory is coming soon.
Race 6 – 3.05pm Aintree – Ivy Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1)
Although Teahupoo is definitely the most able horse in the race, his ideal conditions are on softer ground after a layoff. He races here just 23 days after his runner-up effort in the Stayers’ Hurdle and on going quicker than ideal, so does look worth opposing. Against him, GWENNIE MAY BOY is an appealing alternative. The seven-year-old was a rampant winner of a course and distance handicap on this card last term and stepped up to Grade 2 company to easily defeat Grand National contender Beauport last time. He may just be improving at the perfect time to claim this.
Race 7 – 4.00pm Aintree – Randox Grand National Handicap Chase
If the going is not too lively for him, Irish Grand National winner INTENSE RAFFLES can follow in the footsteps of I Am Maximus by winning the two races in back-to-back seasons. Thomas Gibney’s grey jumped well when winning at Fairyhouse last April and two handicap hurdle runs can be readily ignored. He has since finished a close second in the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase, in which he narrowly failed to give weight and a beating to Nick Rockett, who now gives him 12lb, while also finishing clear of Minella Cocooner. The ground is the only question mark on an otherwise impressive CV for this race.
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