HARRY SKELTON: Aintree Friday

We’ve only got the four runners on the second day of the Aintree Grand National Festival, but we’re happy with how our horses are going into it, writes HARRY SKELTON.

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET GRAND NATIONAL BETTING ⭐

BE AWARE & LISTENTOYOURHEART – 2.20pm Aintree

Be Aware travelled really well in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, I thought he’d go very close to winning but he just seemed to flatten out a bit on the run in. He kept on but didn’t pick up as I thought he would. He hadn’t run for a long time so I think maybe that run might have done him some good. He’s been going well at home and looks to still be well handicapped so I think he can be very competitive on ground that should suit him. We had big hopes for him ahead of Cheltenham but maybe he just needed that run from a racing perspective.

Listentoyourheart will be Harry Atkins’ mount. She had a nice run at Kelso last time out which will have done her a world of good after a long winter break. She had some nice form back in the autumn and carries a nice, light weight here with Harry taking a further seven pounds off which will be valuable. She ran well in the bumper at Aintree last year and is certainly not without a chance. She’s a tough mare and ticks a lot of boxes here.

ROYAL INFANTRY – 2.55pm Aintree

He’s had a wind operation since his last run at Haydock where he was disappointing. He’s a better horse than he showed there. The ground was very hard work which wouldn’t have helped him. He’s been training well since that but this is a Grade 1 and he’ll need to step up from that form. He was a very handy bumper horse and showed his class over hurdles when seen winning well at Haydock the time before, so we just need to put that last bad run behind him. He’s fresh for this race and we’d be delighted if he can pick up some money in this competitive contest.

PROTEKTORAT – 3.30pm Aintree

It’s a small four-runner field but it’s still very competitive. Jonbon just missed out at the Festival, making a mistake early on, but stayed on really well so he’s the one to beat here. Our lad is in very good form, but he does prefer it when the ground is a little bit slower. It’s been such a dry spring and I know the clerks of the course have been working tirelessly to get the ground perfect for jumping, but we could still do with a bit of rain. He’s very consistent and gives his all, I’m sure he’ll do the same here and put up a good performance.

---

STAR PROMOTIONS