Horse racing tips: Mick Fitzgerald’s top picks for Grand National Saturday at Aintree

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

1.45 – If The Cap Fits (each-way)

We kick off with a really competitive handicap hurdle over three miles and it’s hard to get away from course form here. IF THE CAP FITS trained by Harry Fry has to enter calculations he was a winner of a Grade 1 over this trip three years ago and was rated in the 150s. His comeback run this season was really good over two-and-a-half miles and I feel off his current rating he has to be a player here at an each-way price.

2.25 – Three Stripe Life

THREE STRIPE LIFE ran a really good race at Cheltenham finishing behind Sir Gerhard. You have to think that form is better than any of the others here have shown.

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3.00 – Edwardstone

EDWARDSTONE did us a favour at Cheltenham and I see no reason to desert him now. He’s a very smart performer. The interesting one taking him on is Gentleman De Mee. If the former underperforms I think he’s the horse that will take advantage.

3.35 – Thyme Hill

Ran a really good race at Cheltenham finishing second to Flooring Porter, who has been a model of consistency this season, but when he went to Punchestown after winning at Cheltenham last year he disappointed. That’s my only concern with him. THYME HILL also won this race last year. Obviously, he came here for that fresh having missed Cheltenham, but I’m hoping the form of the Philip Hobbs team is okay and this lad can get his day in the sun.

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4.15 – Cap Du Nord

Feels like a toss-up between this lad and Tea Clipper. Tom Lacy’s charge ran a smashing race at Cheltenham last year and then backed it up here with a really good run. He is the biggest danger to my selection and I am going to do the forecast for sure. CAP DU NORD beat his stablemate Kitty’s Light at Kempton, who then put in a brilliant second in the Scottish National. He is 8lbs higher for that win at Kempton but I feel he is still competitive.

5.15 – Fiddlerontheroof (NB: Any Second Now, Longhouse Poet, Delta Work)

I’ve put my idea of the first four home in the big one with FIDDLERONTHEROOF getting the nod.

I feel this lad ticks a lot of the right boxes for the National. He needs to travel and jump a little better than he did at Ascot where he finished second, but he is fairly weighted, ran a super race at Newbury in the Ladbrokes Trophy and the ground is fine for him.

ANY SECOND NOW was our fancy last year and he ran really well despite suffering interference on the way around, and still managed to finish a good third. He is a little higher in the ratings and that makes life more difficult for him this time.

LONGHOUSE POET has won a Thyestes chase he is trained by a man who knows what it takes to find the winner of the race in Martin Brassil – he trained Numbersixvalverde to win and he is another who has a nice racing weight.

DELTA WORK is a class act. He won the cross-country race at Cheltenham beating stablemate Tiger Roll. This is the same well-trodden path that connections used with Tiger roll before winning his Grand National.

Mick Fitzgerald’s Aintree tips

• 1.45 – If The Cap Fits (each way)
• 2.25 – Three Stripe Life
• 3.00 – Edwardstone
• 3.35 – Thyme Hill
• 4.15 – Cap Du Nord
• 5.15 – Fiddlerontheroof (NB: Any Second Now, Longhouse Poet, Delta Work)

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

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