Hometown Boy looks the real Deal April 9, 2021 WITH 22 runners set to go to post, finding the winner of the opening EFT Systems Handicap Hurdle (1.45pm) won’t be easy. Rachael Blackmore is an interesting jockey booking on Tea Clipper for Tom Lacey, who ran a good race when third in the Coral Cup last time. If you take out the runaway winner [...]
Saint can land National for the Mullins family April 9, 2021 PLENTY will be searching for the name of Tiger Roll when they look at the 40 runners for this year’s Randox Grand National (5.15pm), but sadly connections opted not to attempt a record-equalling third win with the 11-year-old who could be back in 12 months’ time. The Irish, who notably dominated the Cheltenham Festival and have won [...]
Coffey on the House if Hendo has a treble April 8, 2021 IT HASN’T been a golden year for six-time champion trainer Nicky Henderson, but Aintree’s Friday card looks a prime opportunity for the Seven Barrows trainer to have some spring success. DUSART, who can be backed at 9/4 to land the Top Novices’ Hurdle (2:20pm), could be a future star, and this isn’t the strongest of [...]
You’d be Well and truly Nuts to miss this one April 8, 2021 COURSE winner NUTS WELL looks a cracking bet in the Marsh Chase (3.25pm) on day two of Aintree’s Grand National meeting. This 10-year-old might have reached the veteran stage of his career but he seems to be getting better with age. He’s been in the form of his life this season. His Kelso defeat of [...]
Morning can brighten up the afternoon in Topham April 8, 2021 SATURDAY’S Randox Grand National is a race still missing from trainer Nicky Henderson’s CV, but he has a good record in the Randox Topham Handicap Chase (4.05pm) over the famous fences. The master of Seven Barrows saddles a trio of contenders in a bid to land the contest for a sixth time with all three [...]
Clondaw Castle looks the call in the Bowl April 7, 2021 PLENTY expected Tiger Roll to return to Aintree this week, but not many predicted it would be in the Betway Bowl (2.50pm) rather than an attempt at a history-equalling third Randox Grand National victory. The evergreen 11-year-old rolled back the years with an emphatic fifth success at the Cheltenham Festival last month when pulverising his [...]
Destrier looks ready to strike in Red Rum April 7, 2021 AINTREE handicaps, like at Cheltenham, are always devilishly difficult puzzles to unravel and that looks the case with the 18-runner Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (4.40pm). Paul Nicholls’ Getaway Trump will be well fancied after his impressive win at Doncaster last month, but he has the burden of top weight which may prove too [...]
Eileendover looks a McFabulous bet at Aintree April 7, 2021 THURSDAY’S feature is the Betway Aintree Hurdle (3.25pm) and given only 10 pounds separates 10 of the 11 contenders on official ratings, the majority of the field can argue they have solid claims of taking the Grade 1 contest. Abacadabras looks likely to go off favourite, but the seven-year-old has plenty of questions to answer [...]
It could be Third Time Lucki for Eclair De Beaufeu March 18, 2021 CHELTENHAM handicaps are always complex puzzles to unravel, but in the McCoy Contractors County Hurdle (1.55pm) punters might as well just back Dan Skelton or Willie Mullins’ runners. Incredibly it’s 3-3 between the two yards in the last six years with no-one else having a look in since Paul Nicholls won it with Lac Fontana [...]
Gabynako can cap great meeting for Cromwell March 18, 2021 THERE may only be the eight runners in the opening JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.20pm) but it promises to be one of the races of the meeting with exciting Irish juveniles Zanahiyr and Quilixios taking on recent Kempton winner Tritonic. The market suggests that Zanahiyr only has to turn up to win, but Fitzdares 6/5 favourite may [...]
