Horse Racing Tips: Paddy Power’s Aintree Cheat Sheet for EVERY Saturday race

This is JONBON’s to win. He needs to jump better than he did at Cheltenham but, barring accident, he should win.

This looks an ideal opportunity for JONBON to resume winning ways after a gallant run in defeat in the Arkle Chase. He’ll be pleased to not meet El Fabiolo again this afternoon!

JONBON did not jump as well as he can when finishing second in the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival but this looks very straightforward, especially with Banbridge a non-runner

Very easy to think JONBON is an absolute good thing here for Nicky Henderson and Aidan Coleman. I’m surprised he hasn’t been stepped up in trip this week but the Arkle runner-up should be far too good for this lot.

JONBON gets the vote in race made weaker by the defection of Banbridge. Main danger on form is Turners’ runner-up Notlongtillmay but the form of that race has taken a knock.

I’m going to go for GATSBY GREY each way. I thought he ran a really good race in the 3m handicap hurdle at Leopardstown, dropped down to 2m2f and back up to 3m again here.

Lightly raced and open to any amount of progression, I like the look of WEST BALBOA in this for the Skeltons. Impressive in the Lanzarote at Kempton, this mare should be very dangerous off her mark of 135.

PARTY BUSINESS (each way) was a winner at the track last year and is not much higher in the ratings – that has to give him a strong chance in this.

MILL GREEN really should have a great eachway chance for Nico de Boinville and Nicky Henderson. Up 1lb for his third behind re-opposing Good Time Jonny at Cheltenham, my hope should be better suited to this tighter track.

WEST BALBOA has the stamina for this trip, but she was one of all four to complete in a gruelling Lanzarote Hurdle over 2m5f at Kempton in February and I would be surprised if she lacked the staying power required based on that.

The horse I am drawn to is IRISH POINT. I wasn’t sure about the Royal Bond form but you look at it now and it looks rock solid. He skipped Cheltenham but comes here a fresher horse than the opposition.

Unlike most of his opposition, DARK RAVEN hasn’t had a busy season and is given the nod to build on his encouraging run in the Supreme. Up in trip he could shine on better conditions this afternoon.

IRISH POINT missed Cheltenham and that could be the key here as all the horses ahead of him in the market went to the Festival. Was second in a Naas Grade 1 novice hurdle over this trip and any rain will help.

Hermes Allen needs to bounce back so I’ll chance SPRINGWELL BAY for Jonjo O’Neill Snr and Jnr. The six-year-old has always shown promise and come into this on the back of two decent victories at Ascot and Wetherby.

KATIERA suffered her only defeat to date when given too much to do in the Nickel Coin Mares’ Bumper here last year, and she has won with great authority on her last two starts over hurdles, at Huntingdon and Market Rasen.

I think this will be a strongly-run race that will suit a dour stayer and HOME BY THE LEE might get his turn on Saturday. He made a couple of mistakes at Cheltenham and that cost him dearly.

MARIE’S ROCK could be the one to beat the boys here considering how much class she has shown over shorter trips and yet seems to stay extremely well.

SIRE DU BERLAIS had a great win in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham. This is a horse who can back it up here.

FLOORING PORTER really should get an uncontested lead and I’ll be surprised if anyone can pick him up under Danny Mullins. My selection ran a cracker at Cheltenham and I expect him to see off Dashel Drasher.

Given Shishkin was able to bounce back to his best in the Aintree Bowl on Thursday, I’d be hopeful that stablemate MARIE’S ROCK can also get
back to the form she was showing before the Festival.

An each way shout, I think he’ll be a big enough price, it’s COCONUT SPLASH for Adam Wedge and Evan Williams. Trip and track, there’s lots of things to suit him and he’s a good price in a wide-open race.

Ben Pauling’s SHAKEM UP’ARRY ran a terrific race to be third in the Plate at Cheltenham and can run another big race here off just 1lb higher mark. He jumps, stays and ran well at the track last year over two miles.

SHAKEM UP’ARRY ran a blinder at the Cheltenham Festival, finishing a good third. Has form at this track when finishing third in the handicap over 2 miles last year and this horse is definitely one to have on side.

NASSALAM might have a chance here for Gary Moore and son Jamie. He’s down 1lb to 143 after a decent enough effort at Cheltenham last time when 10th behind Corach Rambler.

It’s not easy to be confident about BEAUPORT’s chances here given his recent form figures, but he has been shaping up pretty well and the handicapper has given him a chance.

We know what kind of race the Grand National is and I think that there’ll be good value to be had. I’d prefer to have something small on two or three of them to tell you the truth, rather than sticking my neck out for one.

I think LE MILOS has a good chance and he’ll be placed.

I do think ANY SECOND NOW will run well despite being in the grasp of the handicapper.

I think VELVET ELVIS will go well, too. All three can place.

Ever since crossing the line in sixth position last year, I have fancied LONGHOUSE POET to improve that position under a more conservative ride. Perhaps the occasion combined with a positive ride lit him up last year but I suspect the horse and his team will have learned some valuable lessons from that experience.

I also like the prospects of CAPODANNO each way who was strongly considered for the Gold Cup and has strong Grade 1 form for the Irish Grand National winning combination Willie Mullins and J P McManus.

The National is a puzzle! I love ANY SECOND NOW but I feel carrying that kind of weight just leaves him at the mercy of a lot of others in the race. For that reason he’s an each-way shout but I do think he will be in the shake up.

To win I have gone for CORACH RAMBLER for the team that won the race with One For Arthur in 2017. He was so good at Cheltenham and, if the handicapper had to allot him a rating now, he would be racing off 10lbs higher. The only concern is if he gets too far behind the leaders, but he is a stronger horse this year and I think that will help him.

DELTA WORK was third in 2022 behind Noble Yeats and now rated 1lb lower in 159. Similar type to Tiger Roll and a gutsy and brilliant winner at Cheltenham last time.

I had LONGHOUSE POET to do well last year and weakened into sixth behind Noble Yeats. Was back in great form last time at Down Royal and this year’s renewal might not be quite as good as 2022.

THE BIG DOG is a giant of a chaser who stays very well. Fell when last seen at Leopardstown in Grade 1 company but is usually a good jumper and is a Troytown winner in Ireland. Eachway chance.

NOBLE YEATS is up 19lb from when landing the great prize last year as a 50-1 no-hoper. He’s since proved that was no fluke landing a Grade 2 Many Clouds Chase here and finishing a staying on strongly fourth in the Gold Cup.

CAPODANNO is taken to confirm the trend towards younger horses in the Grand National after the victory of 7-y-o Noble Yeats last year. He would have been on the Gold Cup trail this year but for a setback.

MR INCREDIBLE has been called a few names, and perhaps justifiably so, but he’s got back on track with placed efforts in the Classic Chase and Kim Muir.

OUR POWER impressed at Kempton in February, and will relish a thorough test of jumping/stamina on that evidence.

I was impressed but the strong finishing performance produced by POUR LES FILLES at Leopardstown in December and hope he can progress from that to make a good impression here under Davy Russell.

ESPRIT DU POTIER has looked promising in two Ayr victories and while only time will tell if he’s good enough the grey is the big hope for me for Lucinda Russell and Derek Fox.