It’s the Grand National, the day when everyone believes they have a future as a professional punter. We’ll be back later with our bets for the big race but, in the meantime, we scour the rest of the day’s racing for the best bets.
The Aintree card, National aside, is a terrible one for punters. There are 3 impossible handicaps to solve and the other 3 races have long odds-on favourites in Douvan, Yorkhill and Thistlecrack, all of which cannot be opposed.
For this reason, we are bypassing the rest of the Aintree card and heading to the all-weather for our one and only non-Grand National bet.
2.35 Lingfield
A 13 runner Class 3 handicap over 7 furlongs and this looks a pretty open event. Unforgiving Minute is the current favourite and has the assistance of Adam Kirby but a rise in weights for a defeat coupled with the widest draw is enough to put us off at a shortish price. Exchequer is another rising in mark without a recent win and has just moved stables. His best win was off 10lb lower so we’d be looking for a bigger price to get involved with this one.
The one that catches our eyes is Mick Channon’s Arnold Lane. Silvestre De Sousa takes the ride and both trainer and jockey are in great nick at present. He is drawn well to attack, in stall 3, and is fit from a winter campaign on the sand. At his best, our selection raced off 108 and has won a conditions race when rated 105. Admittedly, he’s now a 7 year old and it appears that he retains plenty of ability and should be capable of landing this prize off just 89.
He has raced on the all-weather 7 times over the winter and has shown enough form, especially in the earlier races. Has won once and placed twice in those 7 starts, the win coming off 86 in a Class 2 and 2 places off 88 and today’s mark of 89. This race has a distinct lack of pace so it would not surprise us if Arnold Lane is gifted an easy lead. Last time out, our horse raced on all weather championships day and finished down the field in a race with some very talented horses. It was also over a furlong too far so it’s easy to dismiss that run.
He’s the class horse of the race on all known form and should go well at a double figure price if he gets out and is able to lead early.
Tip
Back Arnold Lane (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 13.00 Boylesports (1/4 odds 1-3 BOG)
Back it here:
