It is the middle day of the Aintree Festival on Friday and by the end of it we will be less than 24 hours away from the 34 runners going to post for the Grand National but before we get there we have another excellent card at the Liverpool venue.
The Topham Chase is the race over the National fences on Friday and after a winner over them on Thursday we are not passing up the opportunity to get involved there. There are two other bets we like on the race too.
2.20 Aintree
A cracking premier handicap hurdle over two & a half miles with a few coming here off the back of Cheltenham runs in either the Coral Cup or the Martin Pipe. I’m staying away from those having had a tough race there & instead fancy one that most recently ran, and disappointed, in the Morebattle at Kelso. Favour And Fortune got outpaced there over the minimum trip & was never really put in the race but, on better ground & up in trip which his trainer is adamant he needs, this progress type could be the one. He was 2nd in a Grade 1 novice hurdle here over Christmas in 2023 & won his first handicap hurdle last spring when landing the Scottish Champion Hurdle over a 1lb lower mark. He suffered a setback in the summer & has only raced three times this season. A belated reappearance at Ascot saw him travel well before the tank emptied on ground too soft where he looked in need of the race but then ran a cracker in the William Hill Hurdle at Sandown staying on to good effect for 4th. The trip could unlock loads of improvement, the ground will suit & it’s also worth highlighting his liking for a flat track. All that said, he should go close in a really competitive event.
Tips
Back Favour And Fortune (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 12.00 Paddy Power (⅕ odds 1-6)
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4.05 Aintree: Topham Chase
After yesterday’s success in the Foxhunters, we go again but this time in the Topham & I again like one at bigger odds in the shape of Lounge Lizard. He ran really well at this meeting 2 years ago & then did run badly over these fences when a distant 5th where the trip of three & a quarter miles caught him out. Back at 2 miles 5 furlongs will suit. After that run in the Becher, he was earmarked for this race last year but withdrew on the morning having been found to be lame. This, in effect, has been 2 years in the making. His form stacks up too, with 4 wins from 13 chase starts, & whilst he’s up 5lbs from his last run at Huntingdon, he’s shown he’s in form. Whilst he has form on soft ground, connections believe he’s better on better ground & his prominent race style & usually safe jumping should stand him in good stead. From a yard whose runners are performing very well recently, he looks a cracking each way bet in a race where you need a bit of luck on your side.
Tips
Back Lounge Lizard (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 19.00 Boylesports (⅕ odds 1-6)
Back it here:
5.15 Aintree
A race for conditional jockeys to close Day 2 & I’m siding with one who has arguably the best recent form on offer in the shape of Morebattle runner up Alnilam. Anyone who watched that will know there was a solid pace on & the selection went for home too early only to be collared late on after a sustained battle with the runner up. He’s a strong traveller who likes to go from the front & it would not surprise me to see him try to make all & kick the finish out of these in the straight. Form of 2-2-1-2 this term is as solid as it gets & whilst that has seen his mark go up, the 5lb claim for a very capable apprentice puts him on, effectively, 2lbs better terms than his Kelso 2nd & just 2lbs higher than his win at Southwell the time before. Yard is firing in the winners & rarely fails to strike at this meeting, whilst this better ground should also bring out the best in him. A tough race to end the card but one where I feel our selection will come out on top.
Tips
Back Alnilam (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 13.00 Ladbrokes (⅕ odds 1-5)
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