Aintree ~ Friday 16th

[BillyHills]

705 Aintree : Double Vodka EW Nice tricky meeting at Aintree, like the look of this full length handicap. Had my eye on Double Vodka this season especially with the trainer Chris Grant having his stable in good form for most of last and this season. The horse are well and expected this one to have been closer to winning one by now. Went up to rating of 133 when winning last March, didnt reappear until Feb this year as the ground is the key to this horse, had a couple of runs to get fit on softish ground and dare I say it, to get his handicap down a bit. First time he got his ground was in the Imperial Cup at Sandown and was well there turning for home and finished 9th behind Ashkazar. Then ran in another Class 1 race over an extra half a mile and seemed not to stay, they gave him another chance over a trip when finishing fourth at Ayr and this time it was obvious the trip was wrong. So, tonight he's back at the right trip, unless it hisses down all day in Liverpool the ground will be right, he's won over course and distance, he has the young lad Gillies taking another 7lbs off an already slipping handicap mark and its a Class 3 race which is his grade. Has an improving horse in Kings Head to worry about but apart from that the opposition is not that great. 14/1 in the Post and 16/1 on BF at the moment is just too big to let go by. Aintree 6.00 : Bowleaze EW Think this trip and ground is perfect for this horse, last time the Cheltenham straight and the softish ground over 3m 2f was just too much after looking the likely winner. Before that won at Sandown on good ground. Has been aimed a bit high by connections and drops back to a class 3 which is about right. Trainer is in good nick and Darryl Jacob has won on him before which is a plus as he can be a bit quirky at times. Around 8/1 looks fair and should be therabouts.

[mlmrob]

Re: Aintree ~ Friday 16th Briery Fox 6.00 Aintree

Briery Fox is consistent and loves flat tracks. Both his falls here were over the National course. His second to Out The Black last time has been franked as the third home has since won a class 2. Off the same mark here and dropping in class Briery Fox must go close despite his trainers record of 0 from 30 in chases here.