Horse Racing Tips: Mick Fitzgerald’s picks for Day 1 at Aintree on Thursday

It's day one at Aintree and Mick reckons Shishkin (14:55) will bounce back to form for Nicky Henderson's yard.

By / Grand National, Horse Racing Tips / 9 months ago

Mick Fitzgerald’s Aintree Betting Tips

13:45 Grey Dawning
14:20 Sir Gino & Nurburgring (each-way)
14:55 Shishkin
15:30 Bob Olinger
16:05 It’s On The Line
16:40 Unexpected Party
17:15 Baby Kate

*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.

It has to stop raining surely! The conditions at Aintree are as testing as I have known for the opening day for some years. Stamina in abundance, plus the ability to handle very soft ground is a must.

13:45 Grey Dawning

GREY DAWNING did us a turn at Cheltenham when winning the Novices Chase. I can see no reason why, on his favoured ground conditions, Grey Dawning can’t do the same again. He stays well, which will be a must around this track in the ground.

14:20 Sir Gino & Nurburgring (each-way)

In normal circumstances, SIR GINO should win this based on his form to date. However, this is a pivotal moment for the Nicky Henderson camp with doubts over the team’s well-being lingering. He will have no problems with the ground and I’ll back him to win despite the concerns. His price should reflect that.

The Irish raider NURBURGING is a fascinating runner now fitted with cheekpieces. He may be the value bet here although with just six runners declared you will only get two places each-way. He got too far behind at Cheltenham but still finished fourth in the Triumph Hurdle and he’s better than he showed there.

 

 

14:55 Shishkin

We’ll have to be mindful of how Sir Gino runs in the earlier race before course and distance winner SHISKIN returns. The form of his win at Newbury has been franked by the third, fourth and fifth all winning since and he’ll handle the ground well. He’d be much shorter in the market if there were no doubts about the Henderson runners. I’ll take him to win as although Gerri Colombe ran a career-best in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and won well here last season, last month’s Gold Cup may have left a mark on him. This may be a theme for the Cheltenham winners and the testing ground will only add to that.

Another Festival winner, Corbetts Cross is fascinating. I worry that a race like this, at this track, will put too much pressure on his jumping.

15:30 Bob Olinger

BOB OLINGER hasn’t been seen since finishing second to State Man in the Irish Champion Hurdle in February as he dodged Cheltenham. He looked so good when winning over this trip at Cheltenham on heavy ground on January 1st though, so it’s hard to look past him.

16:05 It’s On The Line

IT’S ON THE LINE has me more hopeful than confident as he fell at Becher’s Brook last year. I’m hoping he can show his class on heavy ground this time. He was second at Cheltenham last time in the Hunter Chase on the final day.

16:40 Unexpected Party

UNEXPECTED PARTY is an unoriginal pick, but the manner of his Grand Annual victory at Cheltenham was impressive. A repeat performance would be good enough to follow up now.

17:15 Baby Kate

BABY KATE looked so good when winning at Cheltenham last November at the Paddy Power meeting, it’s interesting that Patrick Mullins has stuck with her and that is a vote of confidence in itself.

Mick Fitzgerald’s Aintree Betting Tips

13:45 Grey Dawning
14:20 Sir Gino & Nurburgring (each-way)
14:55 Shishkin
15:30 Bob Olinger
16:05 It’s On The Line
16:40 Unexpected Party
17:15 Baby Kate

*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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