Day 1 of the Grand National Festival was a tricky one for punters, with hot favourites La Bague Au Roi, Buveur D’Air and Minella Melody all filling the runner up spots.
Four more Grade 1’s are in store for us today, check out our Aintree Tips for all our analysis for Ladies Day!
The Top Novices’ Hurdle is the first top level contest on the card, which sees a number of horses from the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle taking each other on once again. Itchy Feet did best of them in the Cheltenham curtain raiser and under similar conditions he may well do so again.
Topofthegame was a game winner of the RSA Chase and in beating Santini and Delta Work, the form is strong. He bids to follow up in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase up against the JLT runner up Lostintranslation, who should appreciate this step up in trip.
The big spring festivals have eluded Waiting Patiently so far for varying reasons, but he finally gets his chance in the Melling Chase. He was no match for Cyrname in the Ascot Chase, but was ahead of Politologue and he comes into this contest fresher than most of his rivals.
Challow Hurdle winner Champ failed to follow up in the Ballymore at Cheltenham, appearing to get outstayed by City Island, so this trip could stretch him. Warren Greatrex’s unbeaten Emitom takes a marked step up in grade in the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle and falls firmly in the ‘could be anything’ category.
Today’s best bet runs in the big race of the day, Waiting Patiently in the Melling Chase. Ruth Jefferson’s stable star wears cheekpieces for the first time and the rain has come, which should make conditions ideal.
He was readily put in his place by Cyrname in the Ascot Chase, but finished best of the rest and over three lengths ahead of Politologue. That form was franked by Paul Nicholls’ charge finishing runner up to Altior in the Champion Chase and we expect Waiting Patiently to confirm that form today, especially as he arrives here fresher than his main rival.
The Topham Handicap Chase is the second race of the week over the National fences and Ross O’Sullivan sends over a fascinating contender in the shape of Call It Magic.
He got a sighting of the fences when a good fourth in the Becher Chase in December, seeming to not quite get home. A drop down in trip should be perfect for him here and a recent run at Fairyhouse should have left him spot on for today.
This middle day of Aintree’s Grand National Festival has been very kind to trainer Nicky Henderson in the past, saddling multiple winners of a number of the races in recent times.
Merseyrail Handicap Hurdle – Won 3 of the last 6
Top Novices’ Hurdle – Won 5 of the last 9
Mildmay Novices’ Chase – Won the last 2
Melling Chase – Won 2 of the last 7
Topham Handicap Chase – Won 3 of the last 6
Sefton Novices’ Hurdle – Won 2 of the last 5