I thought about tipping Trip the Light in my bulletin last night but wasn’t sure that the ground would be right for him. He duly won at 12/1. He is quite cleverly named being but Fantastic Light out of a Fairy King mare.
Tomorrow sees the start of the Grand National meeting at Aintree. The first race at 2.00 should be straightforward enough for the World Hurdle winner Big Bucks and he will start an odds on favourite. He won this race last season and it is hard to see him getting beaten. Tidal Bay has a good record at Aintree but is rather in and out these days and Bouggler could be the one to profit should the favourite fail for some reason.
Cheltenham Festival form doesn’t always work out at this meeting as horses that win at Cheltenham sometimes have insufficient time to recover before Aintree, added to the fact that the two tracks are quite different. Paul Nicholls saddles another impressive Cheltenham winner in the 2.35 in the shape of Sanctuaire. The favourite has won this race for the last 5 years and Sanctuaire should continue that sequence.
Imperial Commander rather spoiled the party in the Gold Cup stealing the show from Denman and Kauto Star. He lines up in the 3.10 and is sure to be a warm order. He is something of a Cheltenham specialist and it might be worth opposing him here with What a Friend or Nacarat.
My short list for the 4.20 consists of Doctor David, Consigliere, Chapoturgeon and Pepsyrock. At the odds Pepsyrock look each way value, especially if the ground continues to dry out.
Somersby was a good second in the Arkle at Cheltenham and I fancy him to go one better in the 4.55. The handicap hurdle which loses the day’s action at 5.30 looks difficult to solve. I will go with Wishfull Thinking who was going well when falling at Cheltenham while locally trained Tara Royal could run well at a big price.
I have a couple of selections at the other meetings tomorrow. Rigidity in the Leicester 3.35 and King’s Legacy at Taunton in the 3.00.
Thanks to Sarah Clegg for today’s picture.
ahorse 