Aintree 1.20 - Handicap Hurdle - Class 1 - 3 miles 1/2 furlong - Good

 

20 runners in here but the concensus between Sean and The Advisor is to focus on a couple of strong home and strong Irish contenders.

 

Act Of Authority may well be a factor if staying the trip and if Jeriko Du Raponet shows any signs of fatigue after a number of tough runs then the Henderson second string, Bo Zenith, could be a nice dark horse at double figure odds.

 

The 1-2-3-4 on Ratings and therefore in preference order are TIMMY TUESDAY from Ireland and Gordon Elliott whose yard suddenly seem to have come out of a really sticky March with a number of places turning in to winners finally yesterday at Wexford, this one had very strong claims and in narrowly preferred to CATCH HIM DERRY for the home team and the in form Skelton yard. Jeriko Du Reponet rates third on ratings but that slight niggle about him being over the top brings the second Irish hope RUSHMOUNT very much in to contention. A minnow taking on the big boys in terms of the Yard but one that fights above it's weight in Ireland with an excellent strike rate and usually when they pitch up with one in a big race it does very well. It could be one of those small yard National day fairytales coming about 3 hours before the main Event (TA + Sean)

 

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Aintree 4.00 Grand National - Handicap Chase - Class 1 - 4 miles 2 and 1/2 furlongs 34 run - Good (watered)

 

Judging by recent issues with Starting races this might not be off until the Final Whistles are going at football grounds arounf the UK, but it does have all of the ingredients to be an absolute cracker.

 

Sean and Robin came up with a final shortlist of 8 horses to really focus on and with conditions likely to suit the cream of the crop, just a few of those at bigger prices to mention.

 

Of those at the top end of the market that we left out both Stumptown and Minella Crooner have strong chances but have may be been over-bet in the past few days and it's purely a value call to oppose them. Iroko and last years winner I Am Maxxus are both feared and at bigger odds if there is to be a shock we'd point out the chances of Grangeclare West, Senior Chief and Hitman, all three of whom have been noted for this race in the TRACKER system for a considerable time, Hitman since last season.

 

If we focus lastly on the top 4 rated, the 5th-8th in preference order that some may like to have a small dabble on are INTENSE RAFFLES the Irish National winner last season, prepared for this race all season, only 7 years old still and very lightly raced. If he wins this he could be the type to run up a sequence and he just missed a top 4 rating. KANDOO KID is the second highest rated UK runner overall and Paul Nicholls who has struggled manfully to keep up with Skelton and Henderson all season could really cap off his most difficult season in years with this massive prize. Another horse targeted at this race!. The 7th rated is the slightly unsung MEETINGOFTHEWATERS who finished a tiring 7th in this last year but who led to the final fence. Danny Mullins rides for his Uncle and at odds of around 25/1 and with the knowledge from last year, this one really has slipped off the radar and looks prepared for the day. Finally 30 HYLAND @ 18/1 for the Hnederson team is another very progressive type, it might be a year too soon for this one but he has a big future ahead.

 

Our top 4 rated though

 

(1) HEWICK - returns after a bold bid in 2023 and it's easy really to still under rate just how good this horse is, he's still only a 10 year old, conditions have come perfectly right for him, the fact he is only the 5th highest rated in terms of weight and gets in off 11 stone 7 pounds has been overlooked we feel and in Gavin Sheeham, the most under-rated jockey on the Circuit. Of course the yard has been mired in controversy all season, and you know, this IS the National and redemption may come to the Yard.

 

(2) PECEVAL LEGALLOIS - arrives on the crest of a wave, improving all the time from the most upwardly mobile Yard of all. Gavin Cromwell can't split his 3 contenders, we prefer this one of the four and think he'll have 2 finishers in the top 6. I think they'll lay this one up, he has to prove stamina, but if he's within striking range at The Elbow , he'd be like having Mark Cavendish appearing at the top of a Hilly Climb in a Cycling race with 200 yards to go!

 

(3) BEAUPORT - the best of the home contingent on our Ratings. Nigel Twiston-Davies knows how to train a National horse and this is his best chance in ages. Midlands National winner last season, certainly has the stamina, as long as he's not taken off his feet eraly by the pace and is riddent to use his stamina and starts getting noted 3-4 fences out, he could be the first home winner in a decade and what wonderful scenes we would have for Sam and Nigel...

 

(4) VANILLIER - he spearheads the Cromwell Team and I simply cannot find any reason to think that he won't be uber competitive here. He finished strongly here in 2023, ran well in a quiet prep over the Cross Country fences at Cheltenham and should be spot on fitness wise.

 

Above all we hope, every horse and jockey comes hom safe and sound, there are no protesting idiots of any persuasion and that the Starter decides he's not the star of the Show and just does his job quietly and efficiently. May the best horse win!