1.45 – I managed to catch some 8/1 about CHIANTI CLASSICO before decs were made and that looks a shrewd bet now. He and current favourite Inothewayurthinkin both won handicaps at the Cheltenham Festival but both did it in the manner of very good horses. Both are graded performers for sure but I was more impressed with the selection’s performance in the Ultima where he beat a strong field in dominant fashion. A step up to this grade looks warranted and I think he can make his presence felt.
2.20 – I have been raving about KATEIRA’s chance in this race for a good few weeks now but the prospect of softer ground does make me think twice. I’m going to stick with her though but may lessen my stakes to accommodate that slight doubt. It’s worth remembering she finished second in the Grade 1 novice here last season and prior to this season, she looked a mare on the up. For numerous reasons her first couple of runs this season didn’t go to plan but she looked back to somewhere near her best last time out when given a considerate ride at Kempton. At 10/1 she looks a good bet here. I am going to have a saver on her stablemate WEST TO THE BRIDGE who looks to have also been targeted at a big pot before the season is out. He relishes softer ground and ran a good race in this race last year so holds solid claims at juicy prices.
2.55 – This looks a really good race even without Supreme victor, Slade Steel. Runner up Mystical Power is a worthy and obvious favourite but at 15/8 he looks too skinny to chance given the fact he had a hard race at Cheltenham and is still relatively inexperienced. FIREFOX is a bigger price and did finish with running left at Cheltenham after being cut up at a crucial time so he rates the selection. The long straight at Aintree should play to his strengths and I anticipate him to go close in a hot race.
3.30 – This doesn’t look an overly deep renewal of this race and it therefore looks at the mercy of JONBON who is a decent price at 5/2 presently. The step up in trip is the obvious concern but he certainly shapes like a horse who can go up in trip and prove equally as effective especially around a track like Aintree. Protektorat, Pic D’orhy and Envoi Allen are his main rivals but all appear to be just shy of Grade 1 level, a level which the selection has proven himself at.
4.05 – A wide open race as expected which I think could fall the way of FRERO BANBOU. A difficult horse to win with, Venetia Williams would have been encouraged by his performance over this course and distance in November in similar conditions. He proved himself adept over the fences which would have left connections working their way back from this race consequently. Given he has no doubts about track and trip I think he is a big price at 20/1.
4.40 – I’m going to take a chance on KYNTARA here with the ground in his favour. Mel Rowley’s horse has plenty to find on ratings but I’m not convinced by most of these young horses and the battle hardened selection will be hard to peg back from the front. A heartbreaking defeat in the Pertemps would have left connections still dreaming of their big day in the Sun but he showed that day he certainly has the ability to win a big pot.
5.15 – Dan Skelton has plotted his Championship bid for some time and you can tell by the amount of horses he has lined up for big handicaps throughout this week that he is desperate to win. With that in mind it is interesting that he has PIKAR in this after a long break which suggests connections think he is well handicapped. This is going to be ran at a frenetic pace and I think the selection will appreciate coming off that strong pace and finishing well. He has always promised to be a bit better than a handicapper and certainly a lot better than a mark of 127.
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