Day 1 at Aintree and there are a right few races, some good Grade 1 action albeit not the most friendly e/w punting card. A lot of the races, well the first 4 anyway, are small fields. Indeed, with the Foxhunters coming in at 29 runners it has more runners than the first 4 races combined! But I've got a few selections and I'll detail those here, hopefully we can find some form ahead of the Grand National
Manifesto Novice's Chase
A 6 runner field to start us off, with a hot favourite in Top Notch, last seen chasing home Yorkhill in the JLT at Cheltenham. And you could argue if Yorkhill had turned up here he would be 3's on, therefore Top Notch is value. I think for sure he is the most likely winner, but at 6/5 I've my doubts about taking such a price, notably his long season. I'll look for something a bit fresher to take him on and will go for Flying Angel e/w, who was fairly fancied for the JLT himself but was pretty unlucky in running with fallers in front of him at vital times - watch it back he was basically brought to a standstill. Nigel Twiston-Davies is in better form than the rancid run he'd had prior to Cheltenham, having notched a few winners in recent times, and good ground will be fine. Could easily get us a little place here, or just bet him smaller stakes win only as an interest.
Juvenile Hurdle
This race does have a better e/w shape to it, but you are probably playing for 2nd and 3rd place behind hot fav, and supremely impressive Cheltenham winner Defi Du Seuil. Forth Bridge is the e/w selection here at around 16/1. He skipped Cheltenham so comes here fresh, has won his last 2 races including beating Project Bluebook (ran well in the Fred Winter) and will love this track and ground looking back at his form. With bookies paying 1/5 the odds first 3 you are getting 16/5 about Forth Bridge getting a place and that is more than fair given Divin Bear and Flying Tiger are his only real opposition for those places and they both come here off the back of a tough race in the Fred Winter.
The Bowl
Oh dear. This race is vile. 7 runners, 2 places e/w, the head of the market dominated by Cue Card (fell when beaten at Cheltenham) and Empire of Dirt (bit worried by the Gordon Elliott stable form given his price). But with only 2 places to aim at I'm really not keen on betting e/w. So I'll just put up 2 win only bets. 1 is the aforementioned Empire of Dirt who will definitely appreciate the step up back in trip, should be fine with the ground and the form of his Irish Gold Cup 2nd doesn't look too bad now with the winner since winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup. I'm held back from making him the only bet because Elliott seems to have hit a bit of a lull with his winners since Cheltenham though, so I'll throw another dart with Tea for Two, who Lizzie Kelly fell off early on in the Gold Cup thus avoiding any kind of hard race. I'd much rather this race be right handed when tipping this horse, but he is talented, a bit more of an up and comer as opposed to veterans Cue Card and Sinviniaco Conti, ground and trip fine, Williams in decent form and looks a large price at 16/1. Small stakes, 2 runners against the field rather than 1 e/w bet.
Aintree Hurdle
Again, dominated by Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D'Air so we look at an e/w angle. And again, there are only 6 runners so we only get 2 places. For me I'd just take My Tent or Yours without the favourite. The Tent comes here off a cracking run at Cheltenham, seems to be settling better this year which will give him more of a chance of staying this extended trip, is a course winner and was 2nd in this race to Annie Power last year. The New One should run his race, and is the main danger to my selection but we did beat him nicely at Cheltenham. I can't have Identity Thief, his confidence must be shot to pieces after his runs over fences this year, and the other 2 are not of the Tent's class. If Coleman can give this another good ride I think he can make it a JP 1-2 in the race.
Foxhunters
Not a race I know a huge amount about I confess. But Black Thunder would be a tentative e/w bet here under a very good jockey over these fences in Sam Waley-Cohen. He was pulled up at Cheltenham but I would hope a return to Aintree, he has run OK here before, could spark some improvement and he could be an e/w bet in a 29 runner field.
Red Rum Handicap
The last race I have a selection in, and it is my bet of the day at Aintree. Annoyingly the race only has 15 runners, but some bookies are paying 4 places still, so I put up Double W's here. it was quietly fancied before Cheltenham and was leading round the home turn but got found out by the 2 mile 4 trip and Cheltenham hill. Back down to 2 miles, on an easier track, can't see it out the first 4 and if you do bet with a bookie who pays 4 places looks a knocking e/w bet.
Day 1 Aintree
1.45 Flying Angel e/w
2.20 Forth Bridge e/w
2.50 Empire of Dirt and Tea for Two win only, split stakes
3.25 My Tent or Yours without the fav
4.00 Black Thunder e/w
4.40 Double W's e/w
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