Aintree Grand National Meeting – Day Three

Slow and steady wins the race is the old adage we are so often told. Whether that proves to be correct or not is open to interpretation, but a solid and steady week thus far at Aintree has led us to the climax of the Saturday card. Let’s hope being slow and steady will win us some success on Saturday, as it has been solid pickings thus far. Gelino Bello helped fill the coffers today, with a grand win in the Sefton – and I can only hope we can have some similar fortunes this time around. 

The second race, which is the 2m4f Mersey Novices Hurdle at 2.25 is where the first selection of the day is coming from and for people that know me well, they will not be surprised to see me siding with Three Stripe Life in this contest. I am a massive fan of this horse and his form the last twice, when second to Sir Gerhard, have both been impressive runs. Last time out was when being stepped up to this intermediate trip for the first time, and he was an excellent second in the Ballymore, and if able to repeat that form tomorrow – he should take some stopping. There are some unexposed horses in this line up, who perhaps have a shade more unexposed nature to their profiles, but they do have to prove that they are up to this open Grade 1 standard. I am taking a small risk that Three Stripe Life has come out of his Cheltenham run well, but if he has – the 3/1 with Paddy Power, looks a big price. 

The 3.35 race is the final Grade 1 of the week from Aintree racecourse, but they are saving one of the best for last with the ultra competitive Liverpool Hurdle over 3 miles. This sees a rematch between plenty involved in the business end of the Stayers Hurdle, and it will see Flooring Porter trying to uphold the form with Thyme Hill and Champ. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I am going to be backing him to do just that, as I feel he is a better horse than some make out, and he may just have even more to come from him – while the two others have shown their hand. The key to Flooring Porter is the makeup of the race, and bar Molly Ollys Wishes, there does not seem to be much pace in this race, and therefore it may suit him once again to attack from the front. As proven at Cheltenham, Danny Mullins is absolutely mustard on these front runners, and I am hoping he will be dictating matters from the front yet again. If he gets into the same rhythm as he did in Cheltenham, he simply won’t be passed. 13/8 with Paddy Power is a short price for my standards, but I am willing to take it. 

The 4.15 at Aintree is always a brilliant appetizer for the main event of the National. This 3m Handicap Chase has thrown up some good winners in its time and I am hopeful that this year the renewal may well go to a classy horse again. I am siding with the same trainer and rider combination as the winner last year, and taking a plunge on top weight, Espoir De Romay. Having been a progressive novice last year, he fell two out when in the lead of the Grade 1 over 3 miles here last year. He has not been quite at his best this year, where he disappointed in the Colin Parker and he blew up at Kelso a month ago having been off the track for a while. He has been knocked back down to a mark of 155, and he now has race fitness on his side, so I can see the angle for him becoming clearer and clearer. I am hoping that this has been the plan, and he has the class edge on this field, especially if repeating his run from this time last year. At a price of 9/1 with Paddy Power, who are paying out 5 places – he should be backed each way. 

And that leaves us with the Grand National itself, with the showpiece event taking place at 5.15 and I have already gone through this race with a fine-tooth comb with my ante-post glasses on a few weeks ago, where I sided with both Enjoy D’Allen and Discorama. I am still happy enough with both those selections, and would not put anyone off having a few quid each way on them with the current prices. However, I have come around to the conclusion that I have to get Any Second Now into my bet slips for tomorrow’s race as well, with Ted Walsh a master at producing these types of horses for these races. He was a desperately unlucky third in the race last year, and the form this year is even more appetizing, with a good win in the Bobbyjo last time out. Mark Walsh retains the partnership, and this former Kim Muir winner surely has to have a huge chance, even off a big enough weight. The price has drifted out to one that I am comfortable with backing. At 10/1 with Paddy Power, who are paying out 6 places – I will be backing him each way also.