Good afternoon folks
Final hurdle blunder cost Greyval but tough races those and two short favourites are not my cup of tea!
Two more races for Aintree Day 2 as below, nothing further to follow. Back tomorrow throughout the day for Grand National Day selections.
3:30 Aintree
MILLERS BANK– 1 Pt Win @ 11/1 boost William Hill, 10/1 generally
5:15 Aintree
A DIFFERENT KIND– 1/2 Pt Each way @ 40/1 5 places generally
FRUIT AND NUT– 1/2 Pt Each way @ 25/1 5 places generally
2:20 Aintree
CAPTAIN CONBY– 1 Pt Each way @ 14/1 Bet365 5 places, 12/1 6 places 11/1 6 generally
BUDDY ONE– 3/4 Pt Each way @ 11/1 6 places generally
Six are coming on from the Coral Cup spearheaded by Camprond who was mugged by Langer Dan having looked all over the winner at Cheltenham. He’ll be suited by the fact this race (over a shorter trip on a sharper track) will take about 20 seconds less in its completion, but so too will Captain Conby, who traded 11/10 in-running before shrinking into sixth. Keith Donoghue, on him for the first time in the Coral Cup, will have learnt a lot about him that day to put into practice here at Aintree, where he’s liable to be later on the scene, and he was in the process of running well at the track (in the mix for third) when falling at the second-last in the Grade 1 Mersey. Buddy One is equally a smooth traveller and cantered into the lead in the Martin Pipe. Both should go very well IMO!
2:55 Aintree
COLONEL HARRY– 1/2 Pt Each way @ 40/1 4 places Bet365, 33/1 5 places if you so wish, 28/1 4 places generally
Ran very well at Kelso, a similar track to this, and going left handed seems to have improved him. Will make the running which suits. May be outclassed but IMO I think he will outrun these huge odds so worth chancing.
4:05 Aintree
GESSKILLE– 1.25 Pt Each way @ 8/1 Skybet 7 places, 8/1 6 places generally
NUMITOR– 1/2 Pt Each way @ 33/1 Skybet 7 places, 33/1 6 places generally
The more unique the track the more meaningful the old maxim of ‘horses for courses,’ and therefore Aintree is top of the list for generating specialists because the oval, and obstacles, are so uncommon. Step forward Gesskille, who’s had two goes around Aintree and covered himself in glory both times, finishing second in the Grand Sefton and then the Becher, and from a long way back on each occasion when the winners (Al Dancer and Ashtown Lad, respectively) were far handier. Performances like those, with the way he jumped, meant the Topham became the automatic spring target, and he’s been freshened up for it by the training team of Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, who had their first (but I doubt their last) Cheltenham Festival winner last month. Gesskille is bound to be there or thereabouts. Numitor was tipped LTO and travelled as if back in form so a chance he takes to these fences which should suit his jumping/prominent racing style.
4:40 Aintree
BLENKINSOP– 1/2 Pt Each way @ 16/1 Skybet 5 places 18/1 Will Hill 4 places, 16/1 4 places generally
HURRICANE BAY– 1/2 Pt Each way @ 50/1 4 places generally
Blenkinsop is a massive improver and can go well. Hurricane Bay is a ridiculous price on form with Stay Away Fay etc, jockey on fire and rides this distance brilliantly for this trainer (33% Win record) so worth a dart I thought.