Horse Racing Tips: Rory Delargy’s Aintree picks on Grand National day

Rory has studied Saturday's Aintree card and he's keeping Panda Boy on side in the Grand National.

By / Grand National, Horse Racing Tips / 3 weeks ago

Rory Delargy’s Aintree Racing Tips

13:20 – Johnsons Blue & Honor Grey
13:55 – Brighterdaysahead
14:30 – Forward Plan
15:05 – Crambo
16:00 – Panda Boy, Meetingofthewaters & Galia Des Liteaux
17:00 – Nickle Back

*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 – Johnsons Blue & Honor Grey

West Balboa isn’t thrown in but she’s well handicapped for the Skelton’s. You have to rate her chances but I’ll go with a couple of bigger-priced runners. First up is Johnsons Blue, who won at Doncaster last time out. He’s been harshly treated by the handicapper in going up 5lbs but he can show improvement and remain competitive.

The other is Honor Grey. He’s won four of his last five runs and strictly based of ratings, he needs to do more, but he’s a course and distance winner. He won at Ascot last time out after a long layoff and he can go well again.

 

13:55 – Brighterdaysahead

I’m a big fan of Brighterdaysahead. The fact that Gerri Colombe won on Thursday eased my concerns about the form of the Gordon Elliott yard. There is very little between her and Caldwell Potter on the ratings but Brighterdaysahead has enormous potential and we’re just scratching the surface. She’s far better than her Cheltenham run and hopefully she makes the running.

 

14:30 – Forward Plan

This is a tough race to call but Forward Plan could be the value pick for Anthony Honeyball and Ben Godfrey. He’s strong at the end of his races and he flew home at Kempton last time out. His running style is perfect for Aintree and I don’t think the handicapper has a hold of him yet.

15:05 – Crambo

I didn’t fancy Crambo at Cheltenham but he will shape better after that run. The Aintree track suits him well and while there are questions over whether he’s a Grade 1 horse, I’ll chance him. It’s a tentative selection though.

 

16:00 – Panda Boy, Meetingofthewaters & Galia Des Liteaux

Grand National

I’ve been sweet on Panda Boy for a while. He’s an eight-year-old who wasn’t far off the Irish National last year. Since then he finished second in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown and he finished fourth last time out. He’s got all the attributes to win the Grand National and Martin Brassil is a brilliant trainer. He ticks all the boxes.

Meetingofthewaters and Galia Des Liteaux make up my Grand National Tricast. The former is only a seven-year-old and you have to keep him on side after his impressive run at Cheltenham in the Ultima.

Galia Des Liteaux can also run a big race. She’s a Grade 1 mare and she’s off a decent looking mark. She ran well at Warwick a couple of runs ago and you can excuse her Exeter run last time. These Skelton’s know what they’re doing don’t they!

17:00 – Nickle Back

Nickle Back for Sarah Humphrey looks overpriced. He’s already bolted up in a Group 1 this season and he’s been laid out for this. When he gets into a rhythm, he’s incredibly hard to catch. Aintree and soft ground will suit him too.

Rory Delargy’s Aintree Racing Tips

13:20 – Johnsons Blue & Honor Grey
13:55 – Brighterdaysahead
14:30 – Forward Plan
15:05 – Crambo
16:00 – Panda Boy, Meetingofthewaters & Galia Des Liteaux
17:00 – Nickle Back

*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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