*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 Friday – Rockadenn
If the ground turned genuinely soft then last year’s sixth home, Solwara One, would definitely be on my radar. Despite a mixed round of jumping she made stealthy headway from the rear from a huge field 12 months ago to have every chance at the second last only to be outpaced. Give in the ground is essential to him. He may well be worth a saver at a massive price, but whatever the ground, I am happy to throw a few bucks each-way on another huge priced horse.
Alastair Ralph’s charge, ROCKADENN, has long looked as though a step up to this trip would bring out more improvement in him both over hurdles and fences this season. He has been given some stiff tasks this season, twice behind Tommy’s Oscar, but his third of 11 behind Garry Clermont off 136 (races off 132 here) when with Paul Nicholls 11 months ago looks a stand out piece of form. Of the market leaders, Lanzarote runner-up Highway One O Two is just preferred to the mare Speech Bubble.
16:05 Friday – Cobolobo
The Topham Trophy is normally run at a rapid pace and this year’s entry suggests that pattern will continue here with no less than three confirmed front runners and at least nine pressers in the entry of 30. The strong travelling Batcio looks as though he has been campaigned with this race in mind all season, but will he find under pressure on the long run-in? I actually think that this year’s renewal isn’t very good and although Mac Tottie won the Grand Sefton in good style over the course and distance that was a horrible renewal of that race.
COBOLOBO has been running well all season and is just about soundest jumper you will find in the field. A winner on soft ground over three miles in the not so distant past he has run two solid races in better races behind Cat Tiger and in particular Fortiscue in a Listed chase at Ascot. His chance despite being 2lbs out of the handicap is clear to see at a very big price.
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13:45 Saturday – Dans Le Vent/Remastered
Beauport continued his upward rise through the ranks with a strong staying performance at Uttoxeter. He could well find a career best again here, but has had a hard season and may not not be able to give the weight away to my two selections. I couldn’t split DANS LE VENT and REMASTERED, but the prices afford us to have two win bets on both here.
The former has performed with credit all season, but the key to his chance is the return to a flat track, hugely impressive when winning the Betfair Exchange Stayers Hurdle off 130 in November. He is hardly chucked in off an 8lbs higher mark, but I think we can expect a better run than the one in the Coral Cup which favoured those racing up top and this is his first run back at three miles since that Haydock win.
Remastered was the eye catcher before falling in the Ladbroke Trophy, but ran well on his seasonal debut over the course and distance behind Koshari last back end. Set to race off exactly the same mark here, I think he has a massive chance here.
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16:15 Saturday – Tea Clipper
On the Mildmay Chase track this three mile handicap is normally run at one hell of a pace and that is sure to help the Tom Lacey charge, TEA CLIPPER. A 141 rated hurdler, he has run really well on all four starts over fences this season, but something was seemingly still holding him back earlier in the season. So following a distant last of four in the Kauto Star Novices Chase behind Bravesmansgame (only went off at 10/1) he had a breathing op and the benefit of that was clearly seen in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
He raced fairly close up to a hot pace and had every chance turning for home before getting in too close to the second last. That saw him lose momentum when several of those around him were charging home and in the circumstances he did well to finish an 11 length fourth. A second run after a win procedure is normally the time to catch them as they seemingly are able to go through the pain barrier knowing they when feel that lack of oxygen sensation. He is really interesting ahead of the front running Commodore and bottom weight Didero Vallis.
17:15 Saturday – Grand National
1 – Mount Ida
She very much reminds me of the 2019 runner-up and fellow mare Magic of Light (would have beaten Tiger Roll without four big mistakes) in that she is also not the cleanest of jumpers but has seemingly bottomless stamina. I think MOUNT IDA will either pull up before Becher’s Brook first time around or else go very close to winning – yes she is that good. Her main problem is getting outpaced through the first mile and therefore forced into mistakes. But if she gets into a rhythm the boys had better beware.
2 – Death Duty
A one paced sixth of 24 in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, this lightly raced 11-year-old (24 runs under rules, 13 over fences) looks the best handicapped of the Gordon Elliot battalion. Previously a strong staying winner of the Grand National Trial over three and a half miles at Punchestown, DEATH DUTY looks made for a test such as this and a clear round will see him go very close off his light weight.
3 – Discorama
I was tempted to put in Fortescue as my last big priced play as I think he will relish this trip, but I am worried the ground will have dried up too much by the time of the race and so last year’s seventh is preferred. Following on from a horrendous prep last year, DISCORAMA was going as well as anything after the third last and only running down to the penultimate fence did the petrol gauge begin to empty. This year he has had the perfect prep and his second to Full Time Score on his last run at Fairyhouse looked the perfect warm-up. Like Fortescue, he wouldn’t want the ground to dry up too much, but to my eyes he is on a winning mark and is tried and tested around the famous course.
Paul Jacobs’ value Aintree picks:
13:45 Friday – Rockadenn
16:05 Friday – Cobolobo
13:45 Saturday – Dans Le Vent/Remastered
16:15 Saturday – Tea Clipper
17:15 Saturday – Mount Ida – Death Duty – Discorama
*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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