The Daily Nap:
Theatre Territory, 4.05 Aintree, 3pts win, 11/1 Bet365
Ok, so it’s 30 runners over the big National fences, we must be crazy to max bet any runner !! Well, hopefully not so. This mare is a novice, which can work well in this race, and although yet to win over fences she has some stand out form. She has been beaten a length by Ms Parfois (now rated 146 after Cheltenham 2nd), and also just under 2 lengths by Mister Whitaker (Cheltenham winner now rated 145). That suggests a rating of 132 has plenty of scope and it looked that way when she was 3rd when we tipped her for a big 3 mile handicap at Kempton last time. That trip looked a fraction too far. Today’s 2m6f should be ideal. She loves to bowl along near the front, has jumped well to date and reportedly schooled superbly over this style of fence at home, and in Sam Waley-Cohen she has a useful 3lb allowance for a jockey with awesome stats over these fences.
The Rest of the Card:
Eamon An Cnoic, 1.45 Aintree, 0.75pts each way, 16/1 Coral
We were huge Who Dares Wins fans at Cheltenham and this step back down in trip should be in his favour and he should go close. However, a real eye-catcher at the Festival was Eamon An Cnoic. That was in the 3 mile handicap chase, when a bold mid race move had the whole field on the stretch before fading off the home bend. A drop in trip and a return to hurdles looks interesting and he could be capable of landing a classic Pipe gamble.
Vision Des Flos, 2.20 Aintree, 1pt win, 5/1 BetVictor
This horse hasn’t looked back since a recent wind operation, winning in stylish fashion at Exeter before moving up as well as Samcro at Cheltenham before fading up the hill. The drop back in trip should help and the stable and jockey remain in cracking form after a day 1 strike. Favourite Global Citizen looked almost too good to be true at Kempton, but looks short here given that even after a 19lb rating raise for that run it only puts him 2lbs in front of Vision Des Flos.
Black Corton, 2.50 Aintree, 0.5pts win, 15/2 generally available
This looks a tight race. Favourite Terrefort has stamina to prove and there is bags of that amongst his challengers. Elegant Escape led the UK RSA challenge at Cheltenham, whilst Ms Parfois get a useful mares allowance after a great second in the 4 mile race at the Festival. However both have lost recent verdicts to the busy Black Corton. This horse has been priced up as though his 5th at Cheltenham was the sign of a busy season taking it’s toll. That may be, but it may be worth forgiving that attempt to make all in the highest company. If regaining his form now back at a track that should suit and without the classy Irish challenge to try to burn off, then he looks overpriced given the rest of his season’s form.
Min, 3.25 Aintree, 1pt win, 11/8 generally available
Was an excellent second to Altior, not for the first time, at Cheltenham. Travels well, jumps well and has form at the trip. Balko Des Flos looks the big danger on his Ryanair win, but although this race is nominally a similar distance it tends to ride as more of a speed test which should suit Min.
Santini, 4.40 Aintree, 1pt win, 2/1 generally available
Finished behind today’s rival and stable companion Ok Corral when they were 2nd and 3rd in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham. That is always a gruelling race, but then most of these were in it. The distinct impression of Santini is of a pure class act for whom the mud last time was just too much to overcome. Conditions here remain soft, but they were finishing well enough on Thursday, and it should be decent enough for Santini to show his class.
Danny Kirwan, 5.15 Aintree, 1pt win, 13/8 generally available.
A huge athletic horse who looks destined for stardom. We were duly impressed with his maiden bumper win at Kempton where he travelled supremely well. This track should be just as suitable and he has been kept fresh for this. Would have warranted a bigger bet but the odds look tight enough given some decent opposition, but it will be a big disappointment if Danny doesn’t win and win well.
The Daily Yankee:
Min – Theatre Territory – Santini – Danny Kirwan
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