Horse Racing Tips: Matt Chapman’s best Thursday bets at Aintree for ITV Racing

Matt is all over Thursday's Aintree action headed by the Aintree Hurdle at 15:30 where he fancies Luccia to do the business.

By / Horse Racing Tips / 3 weeks ago

Matt Chapman’s Aintree Racing Tips

13:45 Grey Dawning
14:20 Sir Gino
14:55 Shishkin
15:30 Luccia
15:05 Annamix
16:40 Heltenham (each-way)
17:15 Honky Tonk Highway

*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.

13:45 Grey Dawning

The Grand National meeting on ITV at Aintree gets under way here on Thursday with this Grade 1 Close Brothers Manifesto Novices’ Chase over two and a half miles. I was all over GREY DAWNING at Cheltenham in the Turners and I see no reason why he won’t go in again here. He stays well and goes in the mud for the brothers jockey Harry and trainer Dan Skelton.

14:20 Sir Gino

The Grand National meeting at Aintree gets underway on ITV Racing on Thursday with the Grade 1 Anniversary four-year-old Juvenile Hurdle over two miles and a furlong. The Grade 1s have cut up which means each-way betting has been hit hard. I’d have loved to give Nurburgring another go if there had been eight runners.

This is tough because it’s total guesswork if Nicky Henderson’s horses are going to fire, but if they do SIR GINO should be too strong for the talented Kargese. Sir Gino looked special when last seen at Cheltenham and proved he goes in heavy ground. Nico de Boinville with the big chance.

14:55 Shishkin

Here’s another Grade 1 on a great day in the Aintree Bowl over three miles and a furlong. Corbetts Cross is fascinating here but this is much harder than the National Hunt Chase he won at Cheltenham and it’s a huge step up in class.

Again there is the worry about the Nicky Henderson stable, but SHISHKIN really should run huge if showing his King George form and he goes well here as the defending champion of this race and winner of the Maghull as a novice. It’s Nico de Boinville again.

15:30 Luccia

The big race of the day for many in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle over two and a half miles. I suspect LUCCIA will love this step up in trip and while she missed the Betfair Hurdle because of soft ground I have no worries about her on the surface.

Of course, the Champion Hurdle was run on heavy and she kept on well enough in that, while she was a good third in the Top Novices’ Hurdle at this track. I suspect the pace of this race will suit her. I’d be happy for her to try and make all under James Bowen. Oddly Nico de Boinville is on Marie’s Rock.

15:05 Annamix

Now the Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase over two miles and five furlongs. I was a little bit disappointed with the defeat of Its On The Line at Cheltenham and he had a very hard race so I’ll take him on here. Not many of these are absolute mud lovers.

One who is, though, is the 2022 third ANNAMIX who goes for Patrick and Willie Mullins. Because of that he won’t be much of a price but everything is right for a bold bid and at the age of eleven he shouldn’t be too far past his best. Also helps he has been lightly raced with this just his 29th start.

16:40 Heltenham (each-way)

Finally the Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase over two miles. This is wide open. Unexpected Party did this column a right favour at Cheltenham but I’m not sure he has the speed of this and he’s up 8lb. The one I like is improving stable companion HELTENHAM who is on a hat-trick and I think will travel well off a strong gallop.

He goes in deep ground and while up 6lb I actually think he might get away with it. In many ways, this should be a step too far as he was beaten off 130 at Kempton three runs ago and is on 142 now. I think he has an each-way chance.

17:15 Honky Tonk Highway

Day 1 closes with the Grade 2 Goffs Nickel Coin Mares’ bumper over two miles and a furlong. I really liked HONKY TONK HIGHWAY when she scored at Sandown and I see no reason why she shouldn’t progress and run well here again for the brothers of jockey Harry and trainer Dan Skelton.

So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?

Matt Chapman’s Aintree Racing Tips

13:45 Grey Dawning
14:20 Sir Gino
14:55 Shishkin
15:30 Luccia
15:05 Annamix
16:40 Heltenham (each-way)
17:15 Honky Tonk Highway

*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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