Matt Chapman’s Aintree Racing Tips
13:45 – Iroko
14:20 – Making Headway (each-way)
14:55 – Personal Ambition (each-way)
15:30 – Protektorat
16:05 – Life In The Park (each-way)
16:40 – Shanagh Bob
17:15 – Go Dante
*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 – Iroko
ITV is back Friday for Day 2 of the Grand National meeting starting with this Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase over three miles and a furlong. This has cut up badly. IROKO was never placed to challenge in the Turners at Cheltenham but with that race under his belt after a long lay off he might be able to pick up Chianti Classico who, of course, did this column a right turn at the Festival. Iron will enjoy this step up in trip for the Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero combination. Jonjo O’Neill Jr is on top.
14:20 – Making Headway (each-way)
Now a handicap hurdle over two and a half miles. MAKING HEADWAY looks like a horse crying out for further and gets a longer trip here again for the Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero team. Let’s hope it’s a big day for them. The Imperial Cup fourth goes well in mud and has point to point form over three miles. Terrific each-way chance.
14:55 – Personal Ambition (each-way)
This is the Grade 1 TrustATrader Top Novices’ Hurdle over an extended two miles. On paper PERSONAL AMBITION has little chance with a rating of 131 as he’s likely to be the outsider of the field. However, he goes in deep ground and will probably run from the front so he’s not one to totally dismiss. Ben Pauling has always loved this horse and while he has to do much more than at Kelso last time I suspect Kielan Woods will have a good spin. A few quid on each-way provided there are eight runners.
15:30 – Protektorat
The big one of the day in the Grade 1 My Pension Expert Melling Chase over two and a half miles. PROTEKTORAT was huge for this column at Cheltenham and I see no reason why he won’t go in again. The Ryanair winner is a huge runner for the brothers trainer Dan Skelton and jockey Harry and he should get a lovely lead from Pic D’Orhy. He stays this trip well in the mud and won the Manifesto here as a novice. He didn’t get home when beaten in the Bowl in 2022.
16:05 – Life In The Park (each-way)
Now the Randox Supports Race Against Dementia Topham Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs. Here we go over the National fences. LIFE IN THE PARK has to be proven over these fences but provided he doesn’t hate the place he has serious each-way claims for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore. The seven-year-old could still have loads of improvement after just fourteen races and kept on really well in the Plate at Cheltenham. This slightly longer trip is ideal and he has loads of form in big field handicap.
16:40 – Shanagh Bob
Back to Grade 1 company for the Cavani Sartorial Menswear Sefton Novices’ Hurdle over an extended three miles. I’ve always loved SHANAGH BOB and while there is a risk with any Nicky Henderson horse this week I’ll keep the faith. He’s a strong stayer who will go in the ground and looked really promising both at Plumpton in lesser class and a Grade 2 at Cheltenham in December. Obviously has been off a while.
17:15 – Go Dante
Finally a handicap hurdle over an extended two miles. GO DANTE is not a sexy selection but he’s still got some wiggle room on handicap marks after landing the Imperial Cup at Sandown last time. The selection is up 5lb for that but that is negated a little by conditional Dylan Johnston taking off 5lb. Every chance for Olly Murphy.
So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?
Matt Chapman’s Aintree Racing Tips
13:45 – Iroko
14:20 – Making Headway (each-way)
14:55 – Personal Ambition (each-way)
15:30 – Protektorat
16:05 – Life In The Park (each-way)
16:40 – Shanagh Bob
17:15 – Go Dante
*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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