Thursday Thoughts at Aintree

With entries for the opening day of the Aintree Grand National meeting becoming a bit clearer I thought I'd visit day one of the festival and look over the races. Annoyingly my Ante-post fancy Annie Power has not been declared for the big hurdle on day 1, Willie Mullins deeming that she hadn't quite got over her Cheltenham exertions, but we still have some cracking action to look over.

2.00 - 2m 1f Juvenile Hurdle

Actival turns up here off the back of a Kempton romp and should take all the beating. Aintree is a similar track in nature and there were loud calls for Harry Fry's charge to turn up at Cheltenham for the triumph, which he dismissed after consultations with jockey Noel Fehily. However Actival is well fancied in places to reward his wise young trainers patience in the festival opener. There is plenty of Cheltenham form on show here, with Triumph hurdle winner Tiger Roll, unlucky horse Calipto (stirrup snapped and heavily interfered with during the race won by Tiger Roll), Broughton, Guitar Pete, Ivan Gronzy and Kentucky Hyden all running at the Fez. The way Tiger Roll won that triumph hurdle on just his third start was very taking and for a horse so inexperienced you would fancy he has more improvement to come. He is my selection here. While Actival may get put off by the big occasion Tiger Roll clearly can handle it and I think there is plenty more to come from this one both here and in the big races next season.

2.30 - 3m 1f Betfred Bowl

This race is already previewed in depth elsewhere on the blog but needless to say I still really fancy Dynaste to win this one. The trainer jockey combo remain in good form and he has all the talent to handle this step up in trip from what he won over at Cheltenham. First Lieutenant the biggest threat.

3.05 - 2m 4f Doom Bar Hurdle

As with the previous race this one has also been previewed elsewhere on the blog. Annie Power's absence has robben the race of a deal of intrigue and I think this leaves it open to likely odds-on favourite The New One to win this. Rock on Ruby was thrashed out of sight by TNO earlier in the season but it will be interesting to see how both he and Grandouet go returned to hurdles.

3.40 - 2m 5f Foxhunter Chase

Mossey Joe will be out here to try and justify the large price paid for him by owner Barry Connell who is certainly due an upturn in luck after Cheltenham. I cannot pretend to know much about these animals but jockey bookings are always worth checking out with the amature triders on board therefore Warne, the mount of Sam Waley-Cohen who is a very good jockey round here, must be respected especially given his previously shown aptitude for these unique fences.

4.00 2m Handicap Chase

This race will be run at some pace and I'm actually quite interested in Henry De Bromhead's Absolutelyfantastic. He has had plenty of runs on the flat so the pace of this race won't catch him out, which in turn should help his jumping come under slightly less pressure than those who will be going a touch too quick for their liking. Henry won't be sending him over here for the fun of it and although he has been off the track for a while could Henry have been protecting his mark? At a likely big price I think he is worth taking a punt on.

4.50 - 2m 4f Novice's Chase

This could be some race is all the big guns hold their ground with plenty of Cheltenham form represented. However one I like actually missed the festival and that is Nicky Richards' Eduard. Going over fences has been the making of this horse and he is unlucky not to be unbeaten over the larger obstacles, a blunder 3 out ruining all chance on his fencing debut. Since then he has gone from strength to strength and with many of the horses in opposition coming here off the back of very tough runs at Cheltenham I think Eduard could well reward an investment, especially as some of the names from bigger stables may help him go off a nice price.

I won't even start looking at the 5.25 until the entry list narrows down a bit but thanks for reading my thoughts on the opening day of the Merseyside meet!