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SATURDAY
It's Grand National day and not only do we give our rating for every runner of the big race but we also preview all the action from Aintree.
13:20
Last years race winner West Balboa aims to repeat the feat here but with a sizable hike in weight since then she may find a few too good but would be foolish to rule out.
Fellow course and distance winner Honor Grey looks to be a horse on the up and having won 4 of his last five starts is in blistering form. This represents a marked step up in grade however and it'll be tougher now against this level of opposition. If he can show further progression he'll have plenty to say.
Although neither are the most prolific both Bold Endeavour and Black Bamboo produced encouraging efforts in top handicaps at the Cheltenham Festival. A repeat of those performances should be enough to see them make the frame again and look to hold serious each way claims.
13:55
A fascinating contest even with the absence of Caldwell Potter. Jimmy Du Seuil was second in the Gallagher at Cheltenham but needs to back that up. Staffordshire Knott has some good form and looks a nice prospect but he has jumping issues to sort out. Ile Atlantique has never been off the podium in his career and possibly should’ve done better in the Gallagher, if not for a bad jump at the last. However, he backed up his narrow defeat at Naas and he’s probably the choice of the Mullins’ duo. It’s hard to go against Brighterdaysahead for the victory though. She threw away the Dawn Run due to her keenness but if that’s resolved, she’ll be hard to beat. The weight swing in her advantage only adds to her case to right her Cheltenham wrongs.
14:30
Crebilly and Twig both ran great races for second in their respective races at Cheltenham last month however 3lbs and 4lbs rises won’t make things any easier so while they are in good form and respected preference is for Dan Skelton’s runner The King Of Ryhope who ran better than the 4th place suggests in the Grade 2 Reynoldstown when last seen, travelling strongly before making a bad mistake at the last. The trainer/jockey combination won this race last season with Midnight River and I think that compensation awaits for their runner here today.
15:05
An open looking stayers hurdle race at Aintree Flooring Porter ran with credit at Cheltenham last time out finish second. No match for the winner. But my worry with him is he is usually best fresh.
Sire Du Berlais the old boy is still going strong at twelve. wasn't a bad run at the festival. Won this last year but he's currently second favourite. He just seems a bit short given his age and the grade of this race.
Hewick has opted for this race. rather than other option he had to race Thursday. the ground would be a concern.
The one i keep looking back to at a double figure price is Monkfish. once a favourite Gold Cup contender. I wish they ran him in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. Rather than opting for the gold cup. I would say he is the classiest horse here in the field. Pulled up so hopefully the race wasn't to hard for him. Given he is fragile slightly.
On his day he is a really good horse i think he is overpriced for this race.
16:00 - GRAND NATIONAL
Our Top Tips
Runner Ratings
17:00
A strong gallop looks assured here with Nickle Back and Matata likely to go forward. This track does suit front running tactics, if allowed to get in a rhythm, however these two could set it up for a rival.
Djelo is a course winner, and Hercule Du Seuil is open to more improvement, but the form of Found A Fifty looks rock solid.
His seconds to Gaelic Warrior and Il Etait Temps looks standout, and if he’s recovered from Cheltenham, he looks an obvious choice.
17:35
Unlike the majority of the races in Liverpool this week the final contest of the three-day meeting sees just the one Irish raider and although he's stil a maiden Step Out could be markedly overpriced. A second last time out looks better form than most having finished behind the unbeaten Kingston James. Prior to that performances he was 4th behind two subsequent winners including this years Champion Bumper second Romer Coolio.
Trainer Ben Pauling has a good record in races of this nature and his unbeaten No Questions Asked demands upmost respect. A solid victor on rules debut looks fair form and although further improvement is needed he's got a great chance of making the frame.
