The gap between Cheltenham and Aintree is around three weeks this year and although you would ideally want a little longer, it’s more than doable. Here we pick out three horses that won at the Cheltenham Festival and look well set to bring up the double at Aintree. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
Paul Nicholls’ bank-breaking purchase produced a career-best display to win the novices’ handicap chase on Day 3. It was an awesome performance from the front and he travelled powerfully throughout, using his natural jumping ability to his advantage. If he was to line up in Aintree’s Grade 1 three-mile novice chase, the seven-year-old would surely be a very interesting contender. Connections will be keeping an eye on conditions, as he would need some give in the ground.
This horse clearly isn’t a two-miler and looked completely out of the race before arriving on the line to win the Arkle. A return to longer trips surely beckons now for Nicky Henderson’s novice chaser and the follow up is on. The Manifesto Novices’ Chase over 2m4f is surely his ideal target now and it would take a very smart one to beat him. Spring ground seems to suit him and there’s lots to like about his chances.
One thing we learnt from the Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle is that Puturhandstogether is much better than a 130-rated handicapper. Joseph O’Brien’s four-year-old travelled like a dream throughout and put the race to bed quickly, going on to score by six lengths. Surely a foray into graded company is on the cards now and the Grade 1 juvenile hurdle would be a better race with him in it.
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