Racing Ahead tipster Ben Morgan offers his thoughts on the final day of the Grand National at Aintree.
Check out Betway’s latest Grand National betting markets for all the races across this week
Johnny to leave it late
1.20 – I am really interested in Navajo Indy here but the step up from 2m to 3m is quite a jump and I’m playing it slightly safer with KAMSINAS who is certainly in last chance saloon time with me now.
I’m sure there is a nice handicap in him and thought last time was the ideal race to get his head in front, which he did, but idled late on and got mugged in a tactical race.
A big field like this should suit him and allow Johnny Burke to play his hand late rather than commit too early like he did last time.
Lulamba to relish extra half a mile
1.55 – This is a better race than I thought it might be at the 5 day stage but I’d still be amazed if any of them are good enough to give LULAMBA 10lbs. Nicky Henderson’s impressive juvenile looked in desperate need of more turf last time out in the Triumph Hurdle but ran out of time as he got chinned on the line. With his size and scope you would certainly say this is within his range and I’m not too worried that he is only four because he isn’t a normal four year old. He is a shorty at the moment but I think he might just be a goody.
Veteran Milos to help Skelton put the boot in
2.30 – Despite being 10 now, former Ladbroke Trophy winner, LE MILOS still shows signs of plenty of ability and I think he could help his trainer and extend his lead at the top of the of Trainers table by winning the Freebooter Handicap Chase. Having been running over shorter trips recently in lesser company his handicap mark has been quietly sliding over the last year or two but his performances suggest he still retains some of the ability he used to possess. This looks an open race away from the favourite and 11/1 with Betway looks fair.
The Wall to run them off the Park
3.05 – I was expecting THE WALLPARK to finish a little closer in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham given his seemingly endless reserves of stamina but the way the race developed it was more of a sprint up the straight with the two horses who possess more natural speed coming to the fore. It threatens to be a similar case on Saturday with Aintree being a sharp track but I think with there being more hurdles up the straight the selection can at least finish a little closer to Teahupoo this time. At 7/1 he looks a solid each way play.
Mullins and Maximus to double up in the National
4.00 – With the National not being the test it once was you are seeing classier animals now winning the race and I think that trend can continue here as I fancy I AM MAXIMUS to retain his National crown. The way he travelled through last year’s renewal and then ultimately the way he put the race to bed suggested to me he wouldn’t have been out of place in a Gold Cup field and with the amount of class I think the burden of top weight won’t matter too much. Given Willie Mullins‘ strong hand here too, it’s telling that Paul Townend keeps the faith despite a couple of poor runs this year which suggests that this race has been the plan all along. Likely to be a warm favourite after Mullins’ dominated the opening day, he could give the Aintree crowd something to cheer about come 4.10 on Saturday afternoon.
Fresh Kalif could capitalise
5.00 – It’s risky given I have been with Leau Du Sud all season to now desert him in what looks his easiest assignment to date but I do fear he has had a long season and is coming close to being over the top. He finished tired in a stamina sapping Arkle and to run here just 3 weeks later would be questionable and at 6/4 with Betway he certainly isn’t a betting opportunity for me. His owners however are double handed here as KALIF DU BERLAIS comes here a fresh horse after Paul Nicholls elected to skip Cheltenham in favour of this. His profile is one that Nicholls tends to excel with especially here at Aintree and the Spring ground he encounters here will be much more to his liking compared to what he ran on at Sandown last time. Nicholls is a master of getting them right for this time of year and I hope the selection can be another example of that here.
Mossy Fen could put Derham on Road to stardom
5.35 – The closing race of the Aintree Grand National meeting probably isn’t the strongest renewal of the race and I am surprised to see so few Cheltenham Bumper runners here. As a result I think this leaves the door half open to a horse like MOSSY FEN ROAD to capitalise. I was super impressed with his Wetherby win as he beat a decent field with the minimum of fuss. Connections selected this race immediately after that and I think he could prove to be an outstanding bet at 6/1 with Betway.
