Mick Fitz: My Day One picks for the Aintree Festival

13.45

I’m going for Modus in this opening race as Cyrname looked like he needed to go right handed when he ran at Newbury.

I was keen on Terrefort, however he wasn’t declared so Modus it is for me here and I’ll be having a flutter on him.

14.20

The ground I believe will hold the key here. The softer it is the more it will help Apple’s Shakira to victory.

Her full sister, Apple’s Jade, was beaten in the Triumph Hurdle, but came to Aintree and won by 26 lengths, so there’s nothing to say she could perform better after a hard race as well.

Apple’s Shakira was really keen at Cheltenham and that cost her any chance of winning. I think they will drop her right in here to get her to relax and that will help. If the ground dries, Nicky Henderson’s other horse We Have A Dream will love it. I’m sticking with Apples Shakira, but this one is probably the safer bet of the two having missed Cheltenham altogether. Beau Gosse is not one to be missed as an each way, his form in France is strong and he is a real stayer.

14.50

I was doing some work on The Times yesterday and I thought Might Bite looked a little jaded when he ran here last year after his exertions in the RSA Chase had taken their toll. He did a like-for-like time with Tea For Two that was two seconds faster from the first fence last year, so it wasn’t as bad a performance as it looked!

I fully expect him to win and back up his rating. Double Shuffle could be the one to outrun his price as an each-way bet.

15.25

There is no doubt that Supasundae is the one to be on here with no Buveur D’air. He was a good winner of the Irish Champion Hurdle beating Faugheen in the process. His form here in the Stayers Hurdle is strong behind Yanworth and he is young enough to be still on the up. I am sticking with L’ami Serge as the each-way selection. He will travel into the race and hopefully nick at least a place, but Supasundae all the way for me to take the victory here.

16.05

Eddies Miracle is a real outsider, but back him each-way as he will shorten. Balnaslow looked like he would improve for the run at Cheltenham and the fact he was a good second last year makes him top of the list for me.

16.40

Theinval is a worthy favourite as he is 3lbs lower than when he was runner up last year, but Bun Doran gets the nod here over him here for me. He was third last year and there was very little between them then. He has every chance of finishing in front of Theinval at juicy odds.