1.15pm Aintree Tips & Betting Preview 29/10/2017

1.15pm Aintree tips for Sunday’s Class 3 race. Competitive three mile handicap hurdle for conditional riders, close to £8,000 to the winner for this deep looking contest. Read on for our free betting tips, predictions and analysis.

IN SUMMARY: SHANTOU TIGER shows the best of his form on tight tracks, the front runner will be hard to catch round here if he can get the fractions right on the front end. Black Ivory may well be his biggest danger, Malcom Jefferson was careful not to over run his charge last season, that approach can pay dividends this season with plenty of improvement in the tank. Red Infantry hasn’t conclusively proved his stamina for the trip but this is a good track to try a new trip out on. He won first time up last season so needs plenty of respect.

1 VERYGOODVERYGOOD – Not the easiest to win with but produced his career best under these conditions at Ludlow in April. Connections add first time cheekpieces having tried a visor in the past. Has an each way chance in an open race.

2 MONSIEUR ARKADIN – Improving with experience, would have won comfortably last time but for coming down at the last. Looked very tired there so coming back just three weeks later is a slight question mark. Looks well enough treated on handicap debut so worth considering.

3 SOLWAY DANDY – Almost two and a half years since his last win, he failed to cash in on easier opportunities in the summer. This looks too deep a contest for him.

4 LANDECKER – Poor return to action last month where heavy ground shouldn’t have been an excuse. All four wins have come at Kelso which raises another concern despite being attractively weighted with conditions to suit.

5 ANOTHER FRONTIER – Three pounds higher than for his last win, that (like the rest of his best form) came on significantly softer ground. No great record fresh so easy enough to pass over.

6 U NAME IT – Not seen in action since January 2016, his last decent form came in the April of 2015. Tough to do anything more than watch him on this occasion.

7 RED INFANTRY – Won at the first time of asking last season from two pounds lower. Yet to conclusively prove his stamina at this trip but underground conditions will suit so worth each way consideration.

8 BON CHIC – Very inconsistent since leaving Dan Skelton. She sports a first time visor here in a change from her usual cheekpieces. Well enough weighted from seven pounds below her last winning level if the new headgear works the oracle.

9 BLACK IVORY – Progressed well last season, Malcolm Jefferson keen not to overface him. Still green when winning at Uttoxeter, he shapes as if the step up to this trip will see improvement from him. Looks a big player.

10 PORTRAIT KING – Veteran of four runs over the National fences, he has a much lower hurdling mark to play with. This is a sharp enough test at the trip so it’s hard to see him playing a significant role.

11 CYCLOP – Developed into a slightly temperamental staying chaser in recent seasons, he is at his best on deeper ground. Unquestionably well treated but this is his first run over hurdles since March 2015, so is easy enough to just watch.

12 VERTIGO – A first time tongue strap brought him back to form last time. All his best form has been over two and a half miles under testing conditions so has plenty of questions to answer here.

13 GREEN ZONE – Notched a hat-trick at shorter in July, struggling since from inflated marks. Yet to convince that three miles is his trip, tough to recommend as a backable proposition.

14 ALMOST GEMINI – February 2016 the last time he tried this trip over hurdles but has been running well over 2m 1f at Pontefract on the flat so well worth another go at this trip. Each way shout at this best if the extra distance has the desired effect.

15 CHICORIA – Showed promise in his youth but eighteen months since he last ran under rules. Won on his only visit here and well treated if he retains all his old ability, that is a big ‘if’ though.

16 SHANTOU TIGER – Does his best work from the front on sharp tracks so this contest should be right up his street. Just a pound higher than when placed at Carlisle in July, if Lorcan Murtagh can get the fractions right, he’ll be hard to catch.