The Aintree meeting has been quite successful so far for the horses on our list to follow with 5 winners. For the record so far Tidal Bay, Mighty Man, Monet’s Garden, Aces Four and Reveillez have won.
I will be dealing with the Grand National separately but here goes with the rest of Saturday’s racing.
Pepperoni Pete and The Duke’s Speech represent our list to follow in the opener at 1.45. Pepperoni Pete has underachieved somewhat this season although he did win a small race at Newton Abbot on his last start. He should handle the ground but it seems to me that the Nicholls runners have not been at their best this week. He seems to be the Nicholls second string anyway. The Duke’s Speech has failed to build on his promise of last season and there would not seem to be any real reason to support him in this.
The 2.15 should be worth watching as Lennon and Fair Along are likely to set a breakneck pace. Don’t Push It was going well at Cheltenham when he fell and he will no doubt be held up at the back by AP McCoy. If he jumps well he is in with a chance but the track might favour the front runners. I will take my chance with Don’t Push It though.
Detroit City is on a retrieval mission after his poor showing in the Champion Hurdle and he will be looking to put that defeat behind him in the 2.50. He is stepping up in trip in this race as is Champion Hurdle 3rd Afsoun who I thought ran particularly well at Cheltenham. The 3rd runner from our list to follow is Irish challenger Strangely Brown. He was 6th in the World Hurdle and will benefit from this drop down in trip.
Detroit was so flat at Cheltenham that I am nervous about supporting him here so will opt for Afsoun. Both Asian Maze and Jazz Messenger would be obvious dangers.
Opera de Coeur had been enduring a miserable season until his improved run last time at Uttoxeter. In a very open looking hurdle at 3.25 he gets my tentative each way vote.
In the 5.00 I am hoping for a good run from Bougoure who has been a shade unlucky not to get his head in front recently. Ferdy Murphy has his string in great form and his L’Antartique warrants respect. Venetia Williams has a good record in the race and she saddles Chief Yeoman, while another worth a second look is Bob Hall.
The card closes with the bumper at 5.35 where Noel Chance will be hoping that Aux Le Bahnn can maintain his 100% record. He will not want the ground to be riding too fast though. Whatever happens in this race Aux Le Bahnn looks a real hurdling prospect for next season.
On a personal note I will be hoping that Elite Racing Club’s Inherent can land the 5.25 at Chepstow. Her win last time at the stiff Towcester track suggested that the longer trip here should be in her favour.
Another Elite runner tomorrow is Eisteddfod in the 2.10 at Lingfield. He didn’t win last term but was a comfortable winner on the All weather at Kempton two weeks ago. That was his first effort on sand and hopefully he can build on that success at Lingfield.
My main hope at Newcastle is Balliasta from the in form Bary Hills yard. He was 5th on his only start at Newbury lasts season and went into the notebook for future reference.
If you would like a really silly, but literary wager, you could try Anne Bronte (Newcastle 4.30) and Wildfell Hall (Lingfield 3.15). For the non literary Anne Bronte wrote the novel the Tennant of Wildfell Hall.
That is more that enough for one evening. I will be back tomorrow with my thoughts on the National amongst other things.
ahorse 