Racing Chat - Friday 12th Aintree

[The Brigadier]

Aintree 1.45

Day two of a rain sodden Aintree Grand National meeting kicks off with the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase run over 3M 1F. Gavin Cromwell’s Inotherwayurthinkin is one of six runners declared and he made an absolute mockery of his handicap mark at the Cheltenham Festival 29 days ago when ridden with upmost confidence by Derek O’Connor in sauntering to a eight length victory in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase and although this is a step up in grade is the highest rated in the field by 4lb. He can take this with both trip and ground conditions to suit from anther Cheltenham Festival winner in the Kim Bailey trained Chianti Classico who took the Ultima Handicap in good style. Both Iroko and Heart Wood have stamina to prove whilst the first time cheek pieced Broadway Boy also has claims.

 

INOTHEWAYUTHINKIN 1 point win @ 11-4 William Hill

 

Aintree 2.20

A maximum sized field of twenty two face the starter for this William Hill sponsored Premier Handicap Hurdle run over a trip of 2M 4F. It has a wide open look about with Dan Skelton throwing five into the race so with stable jockey Harry Skelton apparently choosing Kateira, she should be on anyone’s short list. One who catches my eye is the bottom weight Making Headway, trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero. A lightly raced 3M Irish point to point winner he should relish stepping up to 2M 4F for the first time and with his two victories at Carlisle and Newbury both coming in heavy ground today’s boggy terrain will be of no concern to his connections. His fourth to Go Dante at Sandown in a similar handicap last time was decent form especially as he was staying on up the run in looking to all that a step up in trip will suit. He sports first time cheek pieces as well and looks a good each way bet.

 

MAKING HEADWAY 1 point each way @ 8/1 bet365 1/5th 123456

 

Aintree 2.55

A field of eight line up for this Grade 1 Trustatrader Top Novices’ Hurdle run over 2M 103 yards. A strong fancy is the Willie Mullins trained, J P McManus owned Mystical Power who had both Firefox and stable mate Mistergif 3 1/2L and 6L respectively behind in the Supreme Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham and there seems no real reason why either should turn the tables on the pick. I worry about the very testing ground for Fergal O’Brien’s smart mare Dysart Enos, who missed Cheltenham through injury and a bigger danger may well be Jeremy Scott’s mare Golden Ace who took the mares novice hurdle at Cheltenham four weeks ago. This looks one for Mullins and J P McManus though with Mystical Power.

 

MYSTICAL POWER 2 points win @ 2/1 William Hill

 

Aintree 3.30

A small but select field of seven go to post for the 2M 4F My Pension Expert Melling Chase. The highest rated is the Nicky Henderson trained Jonbon who will be the pick but only if there are signs on day one that all is well with his stable following his nightmare Cheltenham. Henderson has run nothing of real note since and with Jonbon missing Cheltenham will hopefully come here a fresh horse. He’s stepping up to 2M 4F for the first time but was a 15L Irish point to point winner over 3M so I don’t really see that as being an excuse. He will also have to jump better than he did when last seen at Cheltenham but he is a class performer who’s won 12 of his 15 starts having been runner up in his three defeats. Ryanair one - two Protektorat and Envoi Allen will have their supporters along with last years winner Pic D’Orhy but a fit and healthy Jonbon can score and put a smile back on the master of Seven Barrows.

 

JONBON 1 point win @ 5/2 bet365

 

Aintree 4.05

The day’s race over the Grand National fences is the 2M 5F Topham Handicap Chase in which we have a strong field of twenty five lining up. Last year’s winner Bill Baxter, from the in form (a double on Tuesday) stable of Warren Greatrex can run well although he’s shown very little this season, including last time when well backed on his favoured ground and is scant value at around the 9-2 mark. Harry Redknapp’s Shakem Up’arry won the Plate at Cheltenham and even with a 6lb rise can also be competitive for Ben Pauling and Ben Jones. Buckinghamshire trainer Stuart Edmunds has had his string in excellent form for a while now and his runner here Arizona Cardinal is an interesting runner. An easy winner at Leicester and Ludlow on soft ground this year (rising 14lb) this race was mooted after the victory at the latter track by his owners and he could be some each way value in a wide open contest.

 

ARIZONA CARDINAL 1 point each way @ 12-1 William Hill 1/5th 123456

 

Aintree 4.40

Nine staying novice hurdlers face the judge for this Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle. The best form is brought to the table by Ben Pauling’s The Jukebox Man who ran a stormer in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham when runner up, having been run down on the run in, by the 33/1 outsider Stellar Story. He had the Willie Mullins pair Dancing City 7L behind in third and the favourite Reading Tommy Wrong (pulled up) behind that day and can confirm that form under Kielan Woods. The interesting runner, especially if Nicky Henderson’s runners have run well coming into the race, is the Mrs J Donnelly owned Shanagh Bob who we haven’t seen since he won a Grade 2 at Cheltenham over today’s distance back in December. He missed, like all of Henderson’s stars, the Cheltenham Festival and will come here a fresh unbeaten stayer who’s won twice on soft ground. He’s worth a saver.

 

THE JUKEBOX MAN 1 point win @ 7/2 Betfred

SHANAGH BOB 1 point win @ 9/2 Betfred

 

Aintree 5.15

Day two of the Grand National concludes with a nineteen runner 2M 103 yard conditional jockeys’ and amateur riders’ handicap hurdle. Plenty can be given a chance including Olly Murphy’s Go Dante who will love the heavy ground although he will have to overcome a career high handicap mark of 134. The horse which attracts me is the Ben Pauling trained Densworth who appeared to show much improved form for a wind operation when running away with a handicap hurdle on heavy ground at Doncaster on his re-appearance. It was a race where only four hurdles were actually jumped but you couldn’t be anything but impressed by his 16L victory especially as the horse back in second, his stable mate Getaway Drumlee, ran out a easy 17L winner himself later in the month at Fontwell. Densworth ran in this race last year as a 20-1 chance when pulling up, coming back with a dirty trachea wash according to his handler in a recent Aintree preview. A 10lb rise may not be enough to stop him from running well each way in a highly competitive handicap especially as his jockey Beau Morgan takes off 5lb thus halving the additional weight. Charlie Byrnes is a trainer to be feared and his runner here Maidenstreetprince was alongside, although not going as well, as Sir Gerhard when falling two out at Cork 12 days ago and when you consider that one is rated 155 it is possible that he could be very well treated off of just 128 today. He is worth saving on.

 

DENSWORTH 1 point each way @ 10-1 bet365 1/5th 12345

MAIDENSTREETPRINCE 1/2 point each way @ 6-1 William HIll 1/5th 12345

 

 

[black rabbit]

Fantastic Lady                                                    4 05 Ain/                          1/40th of a pt ew       38/1              -6th

Frero Banbou                                                     4 05 Ain/                          1/40th of a pt ew       20/1

Zeeband                                                              5 15 Aim/                         1/40th of a pt ew       18/1

Pikar                                                                     5 15 Ain/                          1/40th of a pt ew       25/1

Jango Baie                                                           2 20 Ain/                           1/40th of a pt ew      14/1             - 2nd

 

Edited April 12 by black rabbit

[richard-westwood]

220 ain't 

Might I  8.9 20/1 

Theatre man. 8.7 11/1 

Kateira. 8.4  8/1 

Spring Well bay. 8.0 

Icare Allen. 8.0 

Very difficult race ....kateira is fav and sets the standard so as you can see in comparison the top 2 look very good value bets. . .I'll try 5pt Ew both 😁 

Edited April 11 by richard-westwood

[richard-westwood]

Aint 405 

Kandoo kid  9.0 16/1 

The Edgar Wallace 8.8 36.0 

Fantastic lady 8.7 34.0 Betfair 

Incredibly hard race ....5pt Ew kandoo ...5pt wins other two Betfair 

[Henry Brown]

13:45 Aintree Giovinco 0.5pts E/W @9/1 (2 places) This is such an average race with lots of these making the switch from handicaps which can be a struggle. Giovinco is an interesting angle and might just be the key too this race from so far down in the market. Unlike the rest this horse hasnt been running just in handicaps and are proved in grade 1 races after running an absolute blinder at Cheltenham. This was on similar ground and this course is less testing on the stamina which should help them as well. Iroko is the main danger i feel after their chase debut was so impressive however im not sure how they will be turned out after a poor run last time out!

14:20 Aintree Making Headway 0.5pts E/W @13/2 (6 places) Making Headway made late headway last time out on their handicap debut. They are 1lb lower than that day and this longer trip looks like it should suit them nicely. Their jumping wasnt always brilliant last time out so if they have tidied that up then they can have a real good go here. The ground is not an issue and if taking to this new trip they should be in the picture with alot of extra places being offered here.

14:20 Aintree Champagne Twist 0.5pts E/W @9/1 (6 places) Another one in the second race i like and will most likely be playing is Champagne Twist. This horse loved the longer trip when scoring well last time out and a 7lb raise might not stop them. This yard has been in the form of their life as of late and this horse has been improving with every run. If they can continue this trend they should be somewhere near the front when it gets to the business end of proceedings.

16:05 Aintree Shakem Up'arry 0.5pts E/W @13/2 (6 places) This horse won for me at the festival and i thunk a 6lb rise might end up being a little on the light side. They won well and only came back to the field when they were left alone at the front and started idling a little. This course is a little less demanding on the stamina which might be good for them from a rising mark. This is a wide open race however with the extra places on offer here i think they are going to make a cracking attempt at the hattrick.

[calva decoy]

4.30 Dundalk - CAPTAIN GALLAGHER 9/2 bet365 . backed in to 13/8 favourite but finished 7th of 9 👎

Another of SERGEI PROKOFIEV'S 1st season sire progeny , he's 3 from 3 so far ( I think ) & this one trained by D.O'Brien .

Edited April 12 by calva decoy

[Antonio Margarettii]

4.05 Aintree - empire steel 25/1 ew 

[MCLARKE]

AW selection

Dundalk 7.15

ALTO SAX 

[richard-westwood]

On 4/11/2024 at 11:29 AM, richard-westwood said:

220 ain't 

Might I  8.9 20/1 

Theatre man. 8.7 11/1 

Kateira. 8.4  8/1 

Spring Well bay. 8.0 

Icare Allen. 8.0 

Very difficult race ....kateira is fav and sets the standard so as you can see in comparison the top 2 look very good value bets. . .I'll try 5pt Ew both 😁 

Ew 6th might ....+5.00

Edited April 12 by richard-westwood

[Hotspur88]

7 minutes ago, richard-westwood said:

Ew 6th might ....+5.00

I had e/w 1-5 🤣

You couldn't make it up 

[azzybear]

dysart enos 2.55

[Hotspur88]

Just now, azzybear said:

dysart enos 2.55

NR mate, been out for a few hrs now

[azzybear]

change it to .pic d.orhy .3.30 

[azzybear]

9 minutes ago, Hotspur88 said:

NR mate, been out for a few hrs now

changed the bet now to 3.30 mate cheers

[azzybear]

frero banbou 4.05

[azzybear]

dancing city 4.40

[calva decoy]

On 4/11/2024 at 8:04 AM, The Brigadier said:

Aintree 1.45

Day two of a rain sodden Aintree Grand National meeting kicks off with the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase run over 3M 1F. Gavin Cromwell’s Inotherwayurthinkin is one of six runners declared and he made an absolute mockery of his handicap mark at the Cheltenham Festival 29 days ago when ridden with upmost confidence by Derek O’Connor in sauntering to a eight length victory in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase and although this is a step up in grade is the highest rated in the field by 4lb. He can take this with both trip and ground conditions to suit from anther Cheltenham Festival winner in the Kim Bailey trained Chianti Classico who took the Ultima Handicap in good style. Both Iroko and Heart Wood have stamina to prove whilst the first time cheek pieced Broadway Boy also has claims.

 

INOTHEWAYUTHINKIN 1 point win @ 11-4 William Hill

 

Aintree 2.20

A maximum sized field of twenty two face the starter for this William Hill sponsored Premier Handicap Hurdle run over a trip of 2M 4F. It has a wide open look about with Dan Skelton throwing five into the race so with stable jockey Harry Skelton apparently choosing Kateira, she should be on anyone’s short list. One who catches my eye is the bottom weight Making Headway, trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero. A lightly raced 3M Irish point to point winner he should relish stepping up to 2M 4F for the first time and with his two victories at Carlisle and Newbury both coming in heavy ground today’s boggy terrain will be of no concern to his connections. His fourth to Go Dante at Sandown in a similar handicap last time was decent form especially as he was staying on up the run in looking to all that a step up in trip will suit. He sports first time cheek pieces as well and looks a good each way bet.

 

MAKING HEADWAY 1 point each way @ 8/1 bet365 1/5th 123456

 

Aintree 2.55

A field of eight line up for this Grade 1 Trustatrader Top Novices’ Hurdle run over 2M 103 yards. A strong fancy is the Willie Mullins trained, J P McManus owned Mystical Power who had both Firefox and stable mate Mistergif 3 1/2L and 6L respectively behind in the Supreme Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham and there seems no real reason why either should turn the tables on the pick. I worry about the very testing ground for Fergal O’Brien’s smart mare Dysart Enos, who missed Cheltenham through injury and a bigger danger may well be Jeremy Scott’s mare Golden Ace who took the mares novice hurdle at Cheltenham four weeks ago. This looks one for Mullins and J P McManus though with Mystical Power.

 

MYSTICAL POWER 2 points win @ 2/1 William Hill

 

Aintree 3.30

A small but select field of seven go to post for the 2M 4F My Pension Expert Melling Chase. The highest rated is the Nicky Henderson trained Jonbon who will be the pick but only if there are signs on day one that all is well with his stable following his nightmare Cheltenham. Henderson has run nothing of real note since and with Jonbon missing Cheltenham will hopefully come here a fresh horse. He’s stepping up to 2M 4F for the first time but was a 15L Irish point to point winner over 3M so I don’t really see that as being an excuse. He will also have to jump better than he did when last seen at Cheltenham but he is a class performer who’s won 12 of his 15 starts having been runner up in his three defeats. Ryanair one - two Protektorat and Envoi Allen will have their supporters along with last years winner Pic D’Orhy but a fit and healthy Jonbon can score and put a smile back on the master of Seven Barrows.

 

JONBON 1 point win @ 5/2 bet365

 

Aintree 4.05

The day’s race over the Grand National fences is the 2M 5F Topham Handicap Chase in which we have a strong field of twenty five lining up. Last year’s winner Bill Baxter, from the in form (a double on Tuesday) stable of Warren Greatrex can run well although he’s shown very little this season, including last time when well backed on his favoured ground and is scant value at around the 9-2 mark. Harry Redknapp’s Shakem Up’arry won the Plate at Cheltenham and even with a 6lb rise can also be competitive for Ben Pauling and Ben Jones. Buckinghamshire trainer Stuart Edmunds has had his string in excellent form for a while now and his runner here Arizona Cardinal is an interesting runner. An easy winner at Leicester and Ludlow on soft ground this year (rising 14lb) this race was mooted after the victory at the latter track by his owners and he could be some each way value in a wide open contest.

 

ARIZONA CARDINAL 1 point each way @ 12-1 William Hill 1/5th 123456

 

Aintree 4.40

Nine staying novice hurdlers face the judge for this Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle. The best form is brought to the table by Ben Pauling’s The Jukebox Man who ran a stormer in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham when runner up, having been run down on the run in, by the 33/1 outsider Stellar Story. He had the Willie Mullins pair Dancing City 7L behind in third and the favourite Reading Tommy Wrong (pulled up) behind that day and can confirm that form under Kielan Woods. The interesting runner, especially if Nicky Henderson’s runners have run well coming into the race, is the Mrs J Donnelly owned Shanagh Bob who we haven’t seen since he won a Grade 2 at Cheltenham over today’s distance back in December. He missed, like all of Henderson’s stars, the Cheltenham Festival and will come here a fresh unbeaten stayer who’s won twice on soft ground. He’s worth a saver.

 

THE JUKEBOX MAN 1 point win @ 7/2 Betfred

SHANAGH BOB 1 point win @ 9/2 Betfred

 

Aintree 5.15

Day two of the Grand National concludes with a nineteen runner 2M 103 yard conditional jockeys’ and amateur riders’ handicap hurdle. Plenty can be given a chance including Olly Murphy’s Go Dante who will love the heavy ground although he will have to overcome a career high handicap mark of 134. The horse which attracts me is the Ben Pauling trained Densworth who appeared to show much improved form for a wind operation when running away with a handicap hurdle on heavy ground at Doncaster on his re-appearance. It was a race where only four hurdles were actually jumped but you couldn’t be anything but impressed by his 16L victory especially as the horse back in second, his stable mate Getaway Drumlee, ran out a easy 17L winner himself later in the month at Fontwell. Densworth ran in this race last year as a 20-1 chance when pulling up, coming back with a dirty trachea wash according to his handler in a recent Aintree preview. A 10lb rise may not be enough to stop him from running well each way in a highly competitive handicap especially as his jockey Beau Morgan takes off 5lb thus halving the additional weight. Charlie Byrnes is a trainer to be feared and his runner here Maidenstreetprince was alongside, although not going as well, as Sir Gerhard when falling two out at Cork 12 days ago and when you consider that one is rated 155 it is possible that he could be very well treated off of just 128 today. He is worth saving on.

 

DENSWORTH 1 point each way @ 10-1 bet365 1/5th 12345

MAIDENSTREETPRINCE 1/2 point each way @ 6-1 William HIll 1/5th 12345

 

 

Well done on an excellent day so far , hope you got 20's & not 12's on Arizona Cardinals brave win 👏

[richard-westwood]

On 4/11/2024 at 12:29 PM, richard-westwood said:

Aint 405 

Kandoo kid  9.0 16/1 

The Edgar Wallace 8.8 36.0 

Fantastic lady 8.7 34.0 Betfair 

Incredibly hard race ....5pt Ew kandoo ...5pt wins other two Betfair 

3rd and 6th ....prob broke even on that so +5.00 on day....fight another day 😁

[The Brigadier]

11 minutes ago, calva decoy said:

Well done on an excellent day so far , hope you got 20's & not 12's on Arizona Cardinals brave win 👏

Unfortunately I will always place my bets when uploading so had to do with 12-1 which is a bit gutting but on the flip side got 5-2 Jonbon, 11-4 Inoutherwayuthinkin and 2-1 Mystical Power (R4) so can't complain 

[FatandHappy1970]

Hiya.

 

Just to say all is well with Kyntara. Great news! Justin. X. 👍. 

 

[fd1972uk]

Just in from work.

Fab day today, way up for the week now, favs done me a turn.

Arizona came in at 20s, which I didn't know till I just checked.

Got a good few freebies for tomorrow, also mgm have 100% profit bet fpr GN so was only going to go £5, but will go max bet on it now.

Only last 2 races no winners, jukebox best a treble and had afadil on the last, also go Dante, but wish jockey had just not started as now will be a losing bet, god knows what horse was playing at, but probably peed off with the constant non starts, meh.

All in all brilliant day though.

[MGC]

745 Dundalk Humanitarian 9/1 ew

First run for new yard might liven it up.