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13:08 Aintree
The opening race on ITV from Aintree is a stayers handicap hurdle where some very classy horses go to post. The Worlds End won the Long Walk Hurdle back in 2019 but has most recently been seen Hunter Chasing and it remains to be seen if he retains his hurdling ability. If he does, he has certainly been given every chance by the handicapper as he is a course and distance winner but he would probably like the ground a bit softer.
The likely favourite for the race is Pileon who is one of two runners for Philip Hobbs. He hasn’t really showed a lot of form since finishing second to Indefatigable at Cheltenham nearly eighteen months ago and though he is becoming nicely handicapped, and this new distance may suit, he is passed over at short odds until he shows a glimpse of a revival.
Remastered is an interesting contender after showing great form chasing last season. If he can translate that over to hurdles, he could be thrown in on his lower mark. David Pipe hasn’t saddled a winner for almost a month which would be a concern, but I am willing to select him each way to turn their fortunes around.
REMASTERED (E/W)
written by Tom Bates
13:25 Doncaster
Tomfre is two from three at this course and he landed this race last season off just a one-pound higher mark. So far this term, Ralph Beckett's four-year-old has been rather frustrating, with three seconds from just six starts, however, any one of those seconds would give him every chance of landing this and a big run looks on the cards.
Fresh has no issues with the ground and has proven himself to be very useful in this sphere, his third here last time was another solid effort and the handicapper has taken something of a chance by dropping him a pound subsequently. Drawn in seven, one suspects he could have this run to suit although he has yet conclusively prove he wants this far and his price offers little in the way of value.
Boardman will relish the ground and he ran a cracker when rattling home for a never-nearer fifth at York last time. His form so far this season strongly suggests he has ever chance of winning this and further rain would seriously enhance his claims.
Orbaan has twice run with credit here, firstly when a fine fifth in the Lincoln and most lately when a fairly eye-catching second last time out. For such a clearly talented horse, his record of one win from fourteen attempts for this yard is rather off-putting but he has Spencer on and his mark is now six pounds below the mark he won off last year at York.
Hafeet Again, Bernado O'Reilly and Quizical have claims at their best but we shall split our vote between Boardman and Orbaan and hope Tomfre has a rare off day in what has been a frustrating season for him.
BOARDMAN (WIN)
ORBAAN (E/W)
written by Chris Connolly
13:50 Wincanton
This race lost a lot of its excitement when Bravemansgame was declared a Non-Runner due to going concerns. His trainer Paul Nicholls has won this race eight times since 2006 and he also runs Mick Pastor here.
Mick Pastor is looking for a five timer over fences, he already has seven runs over fences and has won four of them. He lacks some of the potential of his missing stablemate but can add another win here. His last run was an easy twenty lengths win in a two-runner handicap with his rival making his chase debut over a trip short of his best. In fact, in his four wins, he has beaten a total of seven horses but faces another small field here. He has shown a tendency to pull quite hard but has shown touches of class and indeed on official ratings was just two pounds behind Bravemansgame.
The other one with a major chance here is Falvoir for the Skelton team. Falvoir jumped well on his chase debut at Uttoxeter beating Annual Invictus he then didn’t jump as well when that form was reversed at Cheltenham. You can always forgive a novice for jumping poorly at Cheltenham, and he would have a big chance here.
Captain Top Cat was winning chases in the summer, but his form has tailed off somewhat as the better-quality horses have appeared and I would expect that to be the case again today.
Paul Nicholls has an outstanding record in this race and would have enhanced that with Bravemansgame. However, he still has Mick Pastor who is chasing a five timer over fences, the race should be between him and Falvoir. Mick Pastor hasn’t beaten many horses but has shown some class and you can only beat what is in front of you. He would have been the selection to come second to his missing stablemate so now that he’s out I fancy him to win.
MICK PASTOR (WIN)
written by Steve Marriott
14:05 Doncaster
The biggest race on the card here at Doncaster has to be this very open looking listed sprint contest that's set to take place over six furlongs.
When it comes to Doncaster I'm often swayed by runners with previous course form as it seems to account for a lot here at the Yorkshire based venue. As such with five of the fifteen that are set to go to post holding former victories here I have to side with one of them.
Current market principle Kings Lynn holds a fantastic record here at "Donny" having never finished outside of the top two in three course starts. The current 9/2 price on offer looks tasty indeed and if some brave bookmaker dared to go 5/1 or bigger I'd be urging punters to back him as an each way bet to nothing. I simply can't see him out of the top three but my loyalties are going to lie elswehere.
Fellow course victor Dakota Gold has been knocking on the door of success all season with a handful of placed efforts throughout the year. He won this race last season and aims to retain his crown. In all honesty it looks a tougher renewal compared to the race he won but he's unbeaten over course and distance and despite going close here last time out he should appreciate the return to six furlongs. As another horse with a great course record he might be worth siding with at an each way price.
Going against my previous mantra of siding with horses with good course records I find myself being tempted by a runner who's only previous Doncaster performance ended with him finishing second to last in an eight runner field. It seems that Volatile Analyst has improved markedly since then and I'm hoping he can therefore be forgiven that previous course effort. The way he won at York last time out was so taking and it seemed as if he had more up his sleeve. He's not the most consistent type and now up to listed company surely has to improve but a repeat of his last showing may be enough to see him do better than expected.
DAKOTA GOLD (E/W)
VOLATILE ANALYST (E/W)
written by Rory Paddock
14:15 Aintree
The Grand Sefton gives us our first taste of the Grand National fences, with the jumps season in full swing. The saying “horses for courses” tends to ring true more often than not around Aintree, so it’s always worth considering familiar favourites like Hogan’s Height who took this contest in 2019. He’s been quite lightly raced since that victory, races off just four pounds higher and had a nice pipe-opener over hurdles recently, all of which give him leading claims.
The lightly-raced Time To Get Up, showed smart form in a brief career in Ireland including when chasing home Monkfish. Since arriving on British soil, he’s progressed nicely culminating in a snug victory in the Midlands National, when last seen in action. He’s clearly a smart sort but he may find things happening too quickly back down in trip.
Cat Tiger is an interesting contender and comes into this with course form after finishing a close 3rd in the Foxhunters here in April. David Maxwell is one of the most enthusiastic jockeys/owners you’ll meet and I for one will be cheering him on abroad the eight-time winner. Of the lightweight runners, Thomas Macdonagh is unexposed over fences and there could be more to come following a wind-op two starts back.
HOGAN’S HEIGHT (E/W)
written by Peter Keogh
14:25 Wincanton
The Richard Barber Memorial Mares Hurdle will be a race that Paul Nicholls would no doubt like to be competitive in due to the family's connections. Although the likely favourite will be Une De La Seniere for the inform O’Brien-McPherson team, coming here off the back of a win at Ludlow she is up 6lb but one of only two with a recent run so is deserving of favouritism. Alan King has made a bright start to the campaign and his Wynn House who won on her debut and also won on seasonal debut last year clearly goes well fresh.
Paul Nicholls as previously mentioned will have perhaps targeted this race and has two runners, Eglantine Du Seuil who jumped right last time and may benefit from a return to a right-handed track but she finished lame that day and would leave a doubt about her. Cut The Mustard is the other Nicholls runner and ridden by the stable’s first choice jockey Harry Cobden she has had a wind op since her last run in April. This will also be her first run over hurdles for connections after some less than exemplary jumping over fences, she may just benefit from the wind op and the return to the smaller obstacles.
CUT THE MUSTARD (E/W)
written by Michael Taylor
14:40 Doncaster
First Light is the charge of John and Thady Gosden, who have a decent record in this race. He’s won at this class and distance. He has a very nice weight and prefers the soft ground. He might not have seen out the extra two furlongs at Ascot last time out and this looks to be a demanding one mile and four furlongs. Traditionally, the favourite doesn’t tend to do well and added to connection’s recent below par form, he might be opposable.
Prince Alex hasn’t really had a brilliant year, though he did win his first race for Michael Bell, over a mile and six furlongs at Goodwood. Saying that, he has improved up the ratings since the beginning of the year. Additionally, Amo Racing’s retained jockey, Rossa Ryan, is going from strength to strength. Most interestingly, he’s never been beaten over a mile and four furlongs and he’s five from six on soft ground. At his current price, he could be worth an each way shout.
Flyin’ Solo has not been seen on track since July, when he wasn’t beaten far at Newbury. Since then, he has been gelded. He will not have a problem with the distance, judging from when he easily scored over a mile and four furlongs at York. He seems to prefer softer ground and should be in tip-top condition after his break. David Menuisier is in good form and would not have placed him in this race if he didn’t think he had a chance. Moreover, the jockey booking of Silvestre de Sousa, who has a very good record around Doncaster, is eye-catching. He could prove good value for money.
FLYIN’ SOLO (WIN)
PRINCE ALEX (E/W)
written by Kieran McHugh
15:00 Wincanton
The Badger Beer at Wincanton is always a competitive staying event, and it looks no different in this year’s renewal.
Cap Du Nord is one of the likely market leaders. He made a fine start to his campaign last season but his form tailed off a little.
His seasonal debut at Chepstow recently didn’t suggest a return to the winners enclosure. However because of this and last season’s late underachieving he is now only two pound higher than finishing second to Royale Pagaille at Kempton. A reproduction of that form would see him go close, but at the current price, he’s worth opposing.
Hurricane Harvey is an interesting runner. Still only seven, relatively unexposed and another wind op, he had a bit in his favour.
Add that to the fact this horse has been campaigned at a higher level and his yard are in red hot form, he’s definitely a player.
It may be worth taking a chance here with Innisfree Lad getting a share of the spoils.
It’s possible the set up of this event could suit this horse well. Most of his best form has come on flat, quick courses. Also his preference for good ground should also be in his favour.
This track is favoured by horse who like to race prominently, and this horse ticks enough boxes to suggest he might run better than his odds suggest (at time of writing) and hopefully get in the frame.
INNISFREE LAD (E/W)
written by Matt Polley
15:20 Aintree
A small but competitive field with runners here winning some big races in their careers so far. 2020 Shock Stayers Hurdle winner Lisnagar Oscar didnt manage to replicate the 2020 form last season and all Lisnager Oscar best form is 3 Miles which would make you hard to be confident.
If The Cap Fits a course and distance winner around here went chasing last season and I don't think it went to plan although did run some respectful finishes in what If The Cap Fits came up against. Though went back Hurdling and didn't do much in his last 2 races.
Wilde About Oscar had a good novice campaign last season picking up a quite a few wins last season and is a contender here for sure. It will be whether Dan Skelton has targeted this race at this early stage of the season.
Summerville Boy won this renewal last year and has obvious chances though the form of Tom Geoge worries me with no winners in his last 20 runners' yard hasn't got going yet this early stage of the season. Maybe suggests a lot of his horses have needed the run.
Martello Sky will need one of her career best runs today to win but she does get weight all round which will help but also has the benefit of a winning run behind her winning at Market Rasen last time out wheras all her competitiors are out first time out from long breaks.
Brewin'upastorm has a 6-pound penalty to contend with after winning at Fontwell in a grade 2 and although has the weight to contend with he would be my selection. 3 times he has won from a 200 day plus break and has had a wind op over the summer which may bring out more improvement.
Brewin'upastorm is Olly Murphy or one of his best horses he has had in his relatively short career. Olly Murphy has started the season well and operating a 36% strike rate winning 10 of his last 28 runners.
I do worry about the penalty but this would be my selection
BREWIN'UPASTORM (WIN)
written by Luke Tucker
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