Top tipster Andrew Mount continues his look through the day’s cards at the Aintree Festival, with his thoughts and tips for day two’s racing, featuring the Mildmay and Topham Chases. Check out his selections below, plus get A Bet £10 – Get £20 Free Bet At Boylesports
1.45pm – Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle
Handicap hurdles over the 2m4f trip at this meeting usually go to those ridden patiently and I’m happy to oppose those likely to be on the front end, including….KATESEON, WEST TO THE BRIDGE, MASTER DEBONAIR, THE VOLLAN, STOLEN SILVER, WILDE ABOUT OSCAR and AMARILLO SKY.
NIGHTBOATTOCLYRO scored three times from off the pace after joining Sam Drinkwater and then did best of the hold-up horses when third at Kempton. This race will be run to suit and he encounters a field of 15+ runners for the first time since his 50-1 Chepstow win back in December 2019.
Selection: Nightboattoclyro – 25/1
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2.20pm – Betway Top Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
THIRD TIME LUCKI ran well in the County Hurdle, finishing just over three lengths behind Belfast Banter in sixth of the 25 runners. He hit the front plenty soon enough that day and a strong pace could see him bounce back to winning ways.
FOR PLEASURE was allowed to dictate when beating Third Time Lucki into second at Cheltenham’s November meeting and the small field helped him secure third place at 40-1 behind Appreciate It in the Supreme. He could struggle to dominate here.
ANY NEWS impressed in winning his first two hurdle starts, the first of them on good to firm going, and then ran a solid second to Make Me A Believer at Cheltenham. He was well backed prior to unseating early in Grade 2 company at Kelso last time and looks open to plenty of improvement.
DUSART impressed in beating Soaring Glory at Newbury on his debut and the runner-up is now rated 143. He looks a very exciting prospect and Micky Henderson has won this four times in recent years. It’s rare for a once-raced individual to contest this race – nine have tried this century and all were beaten, though only one started at shorter than 20-1.
HOUX GRIS did well to finish fourth in the Fred Winter after racing up with the pace. The other five horses in the top six came from midfield or further back and winner Jeff Kidder has gone in again since. Paul Nicholls is 0-7 in this race in the past ten years, with only two of his runners placing.
Selection: Any News 5/1
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2.50pm – Betway Mildmay Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
CHANTRY HOUSE heads the market after his three length win over Fusil Raffles in the Marsh at Cheltenham. He’s six from eight for Nicky Henderson, will appreciate the drying ground but takes a big step up in trip.
SHAN BLUE did too much too soon when fifth to Chantry House at Cheltenham and he might prove happier over this 3m1f trip, his first run over 3m+ since his Kauto Star win at Kempton on Boxing Day.
ESPOIR DE ROMAY looks short enough in the betting given that his record above Class 3 level reads 302 (0-3), compared to 31111 (4-5) at a lower level.
Colin Tizzard’s horses generally ran well at Cheltenham with both FIDDLERONTEHROOF (second) and THE BIG BREAKAWAY (third) placing behind Monkfish. However, the yard has gone quiet again since, with just one winner from 25 runners in the past fortnight (as of Thursday morning).
Selection: Shan Blue 11/2
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3.25pm – March Chase (Grade 1)
POLITLOGUE was 20 lengths behind Min when second in this race in 2019 but is fresher this time, having missed Cheltenham. His record for Paul Nicholls when rested for at least ten weeks reads 111211 (5-6) for a profit of £13.63 to a £1 level stake at SP.
FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES kept on well from off the pace to finish a 12-length second to Allaho in the Ryanair and his record for his current yard, when racing over 2m-2m5f, now reads 114221122222 (4-12), with the fourth place coming in the 2019 Supreme.
DASHEL DRASHER has had a fine season but would have preferred softer going.
NUTS WELL beat Clondaw Castle into second when taking the Old Roan Chase over trip and track in October and could go well despite the subsequent absence.
Selection: Politologue 3/1
Danger: Fakir D’Oudairies
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4.05pm – Randox Topham Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
MAGIC SAINT will appreciate the return to handicap company after his fifth to Sceau Royal in the Game Spirit Chase. He’s looks like he made need a stiffer test of stamina nowadays and kept on well from off the pace to finish a nine-length sixth of 12 to Nuts Well here in October when last racing over 2m4f+.
IBLEO kept on well to finish third in the Grand Annual, though his stamina remains unproven.
KAUTO RIKO has a fine record on his seasonal debuts, winning first time out in 2016/2017, again in 2017/2018, going down narrowly at 100-1 in the Peterborough Chase in 2019/2020 and placing at 50-1 in the Paddy Power Gold Cup this term. The 146-day break should be viewed positively and he makes each-way appeal.
Selection: Kauto Riko 25/1
Danger: Magic Saint
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4.40pm – Doom Bar Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
BRAVEMANSGAME fared best of the British-trained runners when third in the Ballymore.
Emmet Mullins shows a profit with is British raiders and Cape Gentleman won the 2m Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton last time. The track was favouring his prominent style that day and the return to a longer trip on a left-handed track is not sure to suit.
MIDNIGHT RIVER might have been the 1-4 favourite when scoring at Leicester in November but that was still worthy of an upgrade as he raced in the ‘swamp’ on the inside rail. His subsequent Grade 2 fourth at Warwick was also better than it looked as he came from midfield on that pace-favouring track. He got back to winning ways at Ascot last time, despite failing to settle, and the better ground could bring about further improvement.
Selection: Midnight River 10/1
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5.15pm – Pinsent Masons Handicap Hurdle (Conditional Jockeys’ And Amateur Riders’ Race)
COMPETITION is having his first run for Tom Lacey, who does well with stable ‘switchers’. Good ground suits and he’s worth a look in the betting.
WILD MAX has won four of his six completed starts since joining Paul Nicholls and this sometimes-keen sort will appreciate the big field and likely strong pace. He’s arguably best right-handed but did win at left-handed Doncaster on his penultimate start.
ROWLAND WARD went off too hard when fourth at Fakenham last time – his first start following wind surgery. A more patient ride could see him bounce back to the sort of form that saw him competitive in Graded company as a juvenile hurdler.
LEONCAVALLO struggled to see out the 2m4f trip when sixth of 22 in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham last month. Nine of his ten wins have come in small fields but he was third of 20 to Sharjah in the 2018 Galway Hurdle and couldn’t be dismissed on account of the big field
Selection: Leoncavallo 9/1
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