Horse Racing Tips: Matt Chapman’s best Aintree bets on Grand National day

Matt reckons I Am Maximus, Noble Yeats, Meetingofthewaters & Vanillier are genuine contenders for Grand National honours (4pm).

By / Grand National, Horse Racing Tips / 8 months ago

Matt Chapman’s Aintree Racing Tips

13:20 Cuthbert Dibble (each-way)
13:55 Ile Antique
14:30 Cruz Control (each-way)
15:05 Crambo
16:00 I Am Maximus, Noble Yeats, Meetingofthewaters, Vanillier
17:00 Found A Fifty
17:35 Mister Meggit

*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.

13:20 Cuthbert Dibble (each-way)

It’s Grand National Day, and the coverage of the world’s most-watched horse race starts here with a handicap hurdle over an extended three miles. Monmiral was a revelation at Cheltenham. But I’m not sure about him repeating.

CUTHBERT DIBBLE was beaten over three lengths that day but he might be bang there again here as an improver for the Twiston-Davies team of father Nigel and son Sam. He’s up 1lb for that third place but stays all day and goes in mudding ground so should have an each-way chance at least.

13:55 Ile Atlantique

Top class action here with the Grade 1 Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle over two and a half miles. ILE ATLANTIQUE was behind the re-opposing Jimmy du Seuil when third to Ballyburn in the Baring Bingham at Cheltenham but can reverse the form here for Patrick Mullins and his dad Willie. Stable rider Paul Townend has chosen Jimmy but I suspect we didn’t see the best of Ile Antique on that occasion and this slightly shorter trip will be ideal.

14:30 Cruz Control (each-way)

Here’s a handicap chase over three miles and a furlong. CRUZ CONTROL stays well and goes in deep ground and is improving so must have an each-way chance for Tom Lacey and Stan Sheppard. The five-time winner won nicely at Newcastle when last seen and prior to that had performed perfectly capable over an extended four miles in the Eider so he will keep plodding away. An each-way chance.

15:05 Crambo

Top stayers here in the Grade 1 JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle over an extended three miles. This is up for grabs. There should be pace on, so I’ll give CRAMBO another chance although he was hopeless at Cheltenham and he needs to step up big time. Prior to that shocker he did really well to deny Paisley Park at Ascot in the Long Walk and he’d looked a progressive stayer. Goes for Fergal O’Brien who needs a change of luck and Jonathan Burke.

16:00 I Am Maximus, Noble Yeats, Meetingofthewaters, Vanillier

An early start time for the big one, the Randox Grand National Handicap Chase over an extended 4m 2f. Here is my 1-2-3-4.

1. I AM MAXIMUS. Lightly raced for colossus Willie Mullins, but has already finished in front of a Gold Cup winner (A Plus Tard) in his career and landed an Irish Grand National as a novice. Has always shown talent, making a winning debut at Cheltenham in 2020 when in the care of Nicky Henderson. Goes well in testing conditions and stays strongly. Some question his jumping but I’d argue it’s harder to leap around Fairyhouse than the fences here. Paul Townend on top.

2. NOBLE YEATS. It seems like he has been around for years having landed the National in 2023 and finished fourth last year. Those efforts were achieved off marks of 147 and 166 and he’s on 165 now, so it won’t be easy. However, he’s still only nine and has been in cracking form this term, landing the Cleeve Hurdle and finishing a fair seventh in the Stayers’ over the smaller obstacles. Not many of the opposition would have the pace to do that and he stays all day. Others might be better handicapped but he should give Harry Cobden a decent spin.

3. MEETINGOFTHEWATERS. Another Willie Mullins inmate who finished third behind Chianti Classico in the Ultima at Cheltenham where he kept on well. A relative youngster who surely has more to give and probably won’t ever get in the race again off a mark as low as 147. A former winner of the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown where he had re-opposing Panda Boy beaten off in second. Big ride for Danny Mullins.

4. VANILLIER. Gavin Cromwell’s grey hasn’t been at his best this season, yet for all that his handicap mark has only dropped 1lb and his jumping of ‘normal’ fences hasn’t always been fluent. That means on paper he has more to do than when chasing home Corach Rambler in 2023 now rated 4lb higher. However, he stayed on really well that day and I’m sure his whole campaign has been geared up for this day. A racing weight of 10st 12lb looks perfect and it would be no surprise if he’s bang there once again.

17:00 Found A Fifty

Back to Grade 1 company for the Maghull Novices’ Chase over two miles. FOUND A FIFTY chased home Gaelic Warrior in the Arkle and that form was given a huge boost by the impressive Il Etait Temps on Thursday. My selection stays this trip well and should be good enough to see these off for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy.

17:35 Mister Meggit

Aintree 2024 closes with a bumper over 2m 1f. MISTER MEGGIT is rumoured to have bled from time to time but he’s bolted up in two wins and looked special at Doncaster last time. If he has no issues here he might well be very hard to stop for Jonjo O’Neill and Jonjo Jnr.

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

Matt Chapman’s Aintree Racing Tips

13:20 Cuthbert Dibble (each-way)
13:55 Ile Antique
14:30 Cruz Control (each-way)
15:05 Crambo
16:00 I Am Maximus, Noble Yeats, Meetingofthewaters, Vanillier
17:00 Found A Fifty
17:35 Mister Meggit

*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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