STAR RACING PREVIEW: Aintree Thursday

A joyful three days awaits jump racing fans in one of the great cities of the world, writes WILLIAM KEDJANYI..

The Grand National Festival is here, and we have four Grade 1 contests to get stuck into, along with the first sight of the National fences this week to boot, so let’s get stuck in.

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1:45 – EBC Group Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) 2m4f (2m3f200y) (Mildmay)

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The weight of money has been for Impaire Et Passe, last year’s Aintree Hurdle winner who evidently didn’t show his best when third (five and a half lengths behind Croke Park, who also runs here) in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival. If he is back to his best form, then he will have a major chance here, but there was no obvious excuse for a below par run there and he will need the first-time cheekpieces to find a spark in him.

Croke Park makes more appeal at the prices than his Irish compatriot and ought to run a massive race, but the most appealing horse here is Jango Baie, who took the Arkle thanks to a rattling late burst and the mistakes of hot favourite Majborugh. A pace meltdown was essential to his victory at Cheltenham but he’s shown a high level of form in two starts over this trip, winning by six and a half lengths on his chasing debut at Cheltenham and then being short headed in the Scilly isles by Handstands on heavy ground when perhaps a sounder surface may have made the difference. Assuming he backs up that form then the Mildmay course ought to suit him to a tee and his form stands up well here.

Gidleigh Park was an impressive winner in a four runner Grade 2 at Windsor in January when Caldwell Potter (since Cheltenham Festival winner in impressive fashion) and should relish this step up in trip, although Caldwell Potter wouldn’t have been at his best that day (had foot problems, happier up in trip). Still, he has to be respected along with Rubaud, who had to pull out all the stops to beat Boombawn & Mark of Gold in the Pendil last time (5lbs worse off) although he could well improve for that (just fourth run over fences). On a line through Mark of Gold, he will need to, however. The Kalooki Kid was impressive at Doncaster and Musselburgh the last twice and surely has more to give, although he’ll need to have another stone in hand on ratings. Fascile Mode beat subsequent Grade 2 winner Touch Me Not on chase debut at Punchestown (2m, good) in October but things have gone wrong since.

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2:20 – Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo) 2m1f (2m209y)

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The absence of Lulamba, Lady Vega Allen and Hello Neighbour has thrown this race wide open. Puturhandstogether was an impressive winner of the Fred Winer (Wendrock sixth, Murcia eighth) when his style of victory owed as much to Mark Walsh’s tactical ride (held up off very strong pace) as it did a very fair handicap mark. He’s capable of making the step up but he’s been well found in the market and this race may also suit his opponents from the Fred Winter more. Naturally Nimble beat Willy De Houelle in what turned into a sprint at Fairyhouse in December before a fair fourth in the Grade 2 juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting (form boosted by front two since) and could perhaps be the answer here with the ground to suit as well.

Gibbs Island didn’t settle in the Triumph but a hood should help him here and perhaps this track may suit more too, so he could be each/way value here. Mambonumberfive took the Adonis when Mondo Man disappointed but shouldn’t be underestimated here, and Filibustering impressed on debut and is worth his chance for Harry Derham, who also runs Aviemore.

Poniros took the Triumph Hurdle on his first jumping start and Coconut Fry and Terrorise are trying to do the same here, although neither has his level of form – nor his experience.

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2:55 – Brooklands Golden Miller Chronograph Bowl Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+)3m1f (3m210y) (Mildmay)

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A fascinating race here and one that’s perhaps up for grabs with the Gold Cup 1-2 both elsewhere. Grey Dawning’s season has turned to this point after a no-show in the King George, when a bad mistake at the second ended his chance. He had a gruelling race in the Betfair Chase, which some blamed for his King George effort, but he seemed fine when dispatching the Grand National contender Iroko with ease at Kelso, and Aintree ought to suit.

Spillane’s Tower was a disappointment in the King George when not showing the same form that saw him finish a close second in the in a cracking John Durkan at Punchestown (2m3f) where he split the Willie Mullins-trained stars Fact To File and Galopin Des Champs. That bare form is the best in the race – and whilst those horses were only starting their seasons, the same comments apply to Spillane’s Tower, who ate up the ground late that day.

He was out of his ground early at Kempton in a race that was decided on the front end, but if he can get a better tactical position this time then he is worth giving another chance. And it’s notable that connections have travelled him again here too (reportedly didn’t go over on the boar wekk to Kempton).

Ahoy Senor’s Aintree form at this meeting reads 1122, and if he shows up in that form then he’s arguably the value of the field – the key question is if he’s trustworthy here but he has to be respected.

Willie Mullins runs two, with Patrick Mullins on Gaelic Warrior and Paul Townend on Embassy Gardens. Both are interesting contenders – at his best, Gaelic Warrior is more than talented enough to take a major hand here and Embassy Gardens’ sixth in the irish Gold Cup reads well at this level – but Gaelic Warrior was disappointing at the Dublin Racing Festival, and Embassy Gardens’ Grade 1 form figures read P6P6.

Stage Star was back to his best when chasing home L’Homme Presse in the Cotswolds Chase (gave 4lbs) and is unexposed at the trip here, although Harry Cobden will have some competition for the lead with Derek Fox on Ahoy Senor, and Brian Hughes with The Real Whacker. Djelo could benefit from this step up in trip here.

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3:30 – William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) 2m4f

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A fascinating and much-anticipated rematch between Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth, with little in the market separating them. Constitution Hill won this in 2023 on the bridle and has shown that he retains a great deal of his ability with his defat of Lossiemouth in the Christmas Hurdle, when Willie Mullins’ mare wasn’t at her best and didn’t travel as she usually does.

Lossiemouth ended up missing a golden opportunity in the Champion Hurdle – in hindsight – but was an impressive winner of the Mares, setting her up nicely for this. This trip and track should be perfect for her as a combination and with no ill effects from her fall in the Irish Champion Hurdle, we should hopefully see the best of her today. A case can be made for either of the big two and this is one to watch and enjoy.

Wodhooh made it 7-7 over hurdles when a hugely impressive winner of the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival and she probably hasn’t stopped improving either – that said, she has 8lbs to find to reach Lossiemouth on ratings and on a line through Joyeuse earlier in the season that gap is probably bigger.

Take No Chances were a very good third in the Mares’ Hurdle and can run well again – Tellherthename and Break My Soul look outclassed here.

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4:05 – Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase (Class 2) (6yo+) 2m5f (2m5f19y) (Grand National)

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30 go over the national fences here and few of them can be safely ruled out. The approach is to take two from the top of the market in the shape of Lifetime Ambition and My Drogo, both of whom have plenty of class left over from their rules days, both of whom jump and travel well, and and come here after impressive successes last time out.

The form of My Drogo’s Haydock win over Gracchus De Balme and Jet Plane stands up well on paper whilst Lifetime Ambition’s form since going pointing reads 22211, with one of those defeats coming to Its On The Line in the Punchestown Hunter Chase last season. Both should give a bold sight.

Those looking for bigger prices should take a look at Presentandcounting (Derek O’Connor’s mount) and Bennys King (second in last two editions of this race).

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4:40 – Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) 2m (1m7f176y) (Mildmay)

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Plenty in with a shout here and The Folkes Tiara makes most appeal. The winner of a well contested Listed handicap chase at Fairyhouse in November, he was just touched off at Leopardstown over Christmas when beaten by subsequent winner An Peann Dearg with The King of Prs (also a next time out winner) just behind in a close finish. A 7lbs rise for that is fair considering what both have done next time out, the yard has won two of the last five runnings, and the ground has come right for him so there’s lots to like.

My Mate Mozzie won’t be far awas as ever although winning has become hard, Primoz lost his chance at the start of the Grand Annual and remains well handicapped, whilst similar comments apply to Petit Tonnerre also.

Sans Bruit is well handicapped on last year’s win here, although he comes with something to prove here. Rath Gaul Hill, who made a winning return after several months off at Newbury, and General Medrano, who didn’t appear to relish the hill in the Grand Annual, are others in with chances.

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5:15 – Goffs Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4-6yo) 2m1f (2m209y)

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Wide open with any amount of horses having a realistic chance. It’s hard to get away from Seo Linn and Charisma Cat, both of whom were listed winners last time in contrasting style. Seo Linn’s form through Siog Gael is maybe the strongest in the race but Charisma Cat was unlucky not to win at Market Rasen before making amends at Sandown.

Jackie Hobbs and Blue Bettey have impressed visually last time out and are one of many contenders.

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RECOMMENDED BETS
BACK Jango Baie to win the 1.45 at Aintree 2pts at 5/2 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Spillane’s Tower to win the 2.55 at Aintree 1pt win at 11/4 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK My Drogo to win the 4.05 at Aintree 1pt win at 6/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Lifetime Ambition to win the 4.05 at Aintree 1pt win at 4/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK The Folkes Tiara to win the 4.40 at Aintree 1pt win at 7/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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PROFIT/LOSS (APR 2024): 2.30 POINTS

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