Horse Racing Tips: Paddy Power’s Cheat Sheet for Day 2 of Aintree’s Grand National Festival

Langer Dan got brought down at the second hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival for which he had been laid out for the year. He can get compensation now.

Politesse made a solid start to her career over fences when beating Premium Package last May but is reverting to hurdles again and runs off a mark of 132. Big claims each-way off that mark.

Langer Dan is still well handicapped and has freshness on his side. He can make amends for his misfortune at Cheltenham when a well-backed favourite who was brought down at the second hurdle.

Fils D’oudaires and Speech Bubble are two each-way against the field for me.

HIGHWAY ONE O TWO had been in pretty desperate shape until he bouced back to form with a win at Taunton two runs ago and he kept up the good work with a second in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton. Each-way claims.

First Street looks an absolute steal to me each-way. He was second in the County Hurdle and if there are any chinks in Jonbon’s armour he will expose them.

Jonbon is clearly the one to beat but Paul Townend feels El Fabiolo is his best chance of a winner at Aintree. Paul has tipped El Fabiolo, so I’m going to do the same!

Aucunrisque could spring a surprise at a big price if Jonbon feels the effects of his Cheltenham exertions.

It is difficult to oppose Jonbon on what he has done so far this season and his Supreme Hurdle third is a standout piece of form.

I’ll be very surprised if JONBON doesn’t hack up here for Aidan Coleman and Nicky Henderson. The expensive relation to Douvan was unbeaten until being smashed by Constitution Hill in the Supreme. Should be too good.

Aintree puts a real premium on good, fluent, jumping and L’Homme Presse does that so well. He can prove too strong for his market rivals.

I’m in the L’Homme Presse camp. His jumping is impeccable and he’s been rock solid all year. L’Homme Presse is a future Gold Cup horse in my eyes.

Ahoy Senor did plenty wrong at Cheltenham but the experience may have furnished his latent raw talent even further. Could be value against the other two market rivals.

A cracking race despite just four runners declared and Paul Nicholls can be rewarded for pulling  Bravemansgame out at Cheltenham when the ground turned heavy.

A small but select field. L’HOMME PRESSE scampered clear of Ahoy Senor in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham and can see off Bravemansgame. I loved the way he picked up once asked to go clear and he’s clearly very good indeed.

Fakir D’Oudairies won this contest last year and dodged Cheltenham to defend it. Hitman could surprise at a nice price.

Funambule Sivola ran a cracker in the Champion Chase but I’m not sure he stays 2m 4f. I’m siding with Fakir D’Oudairies. The rest of them are below his standard.

Funambule Sivola bumped into Shishkin when finishing an excellent second in the Grade 1 Maghull Novices Chase at the meeting last year and the forecast  rain is in his favour.

Fakir will be tough to beat but I think Saint Calvados is a fair each-way price and I’d be disappointed if he didn’t hit the frame at least.

SAINT CALVADOS was hopeless at Ascot last time but I’ll give him one more chance with a few quid on each-way for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden.

Spiritofthegames was placed in a handicap chase here last season and ran a blinder at Cheltenham last month when third to Coole Cody. Can hit the places at the very least.

I’ll side with a couple in Notebook and Annamix. They’re both good jumpers and solid travellers. I wouldn’t be surprised if either of them were involved at the finish.

Foxy Jacks ran an excellent race behind Birchdale at the Dublin Racing Festival and looks overpriced. His trainer Mouse Morris has an excellent record with horses running over the National fences.

Peter Bowen has a decent record in this race and he might enhance it with Mac Tottie who runs here off the same mark as when winning the Grand Sefton here last November.

SENIOR CITIZEN has been creeping up the handicap ratings but must have each-way chances for Adrian Heskin and Alan King. The Grand Sefton runner-up has since finished a fine third behind Paint the Dream at Newbury.

A tricky race where Martin Pipe Conditional Hurdle winner Bandbridge looks a solid option in a race that lacks any superstars.

I’m going to give Stag Horn another go. I don’t know what happened to him at Cheltenham. He got into a battle with Classic Getaway and they both ran each other into the ground.

Classy flat horse Duke of Bronte can take centre stage here having been given plenty of time to adjust to his new discipline. He won his Novices Hurdle very easily at Doncaster last month and can take another significant step forward.

This race looks wide open and I think Bowtogreatness can outrun his odds stepping up to three miles for the first time.

This is far from a vintage renewal on paper. CRYSTAL GLORY was no match for Hillcrest at Haydock last time and was defeated at Newcastle the time before that. However, he looks a strong stayer for Nicky Richards and that means he has fine each-way claims.

Richmond Lake’s run behind Jonbon at Haydock merits respect and looked booked for the places when falling at the last at Keslo in a decent contest. He makes his handicap debut off a mark of 132 and might be underestimated by the assessor.

I’ve no strong opinion but my mate Frank Hickey is all over Homme Public so I might have a little go each-way on him.

Irish challenger Mandarin Monarch looks to have more improvement in him over hurdles despite his relative age.  He comes here fresh with just the sole winning run to his name this year.

Toby Wynne is great value for his claim and Homme Public looks to have a solid each-way chance for the in-form Oliver Greenall stable.

SEVERANCE has had a wind operation since a fine third at Kelso and that might well allow him to get into the mix under Kevin Brogan who takes off 3lb for trainer Ben Pauling.