There’s £100,000 up for grabs in Friday’s ITV7 and there’s no shock to see the star attraction will be Aintree, as they host a cracking day’s racing on day two of the Grand National meeting. We tackle the ITV7 and pick out our seven selections for the designated races.
Race 1 – 2:20pm Aintree – William Hill Handicap Hurdle
A decent fifth in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, Ocastle Des Mottes is likely to improve again for Willie Mullins and he can storm to victory in this hugely competitive handicap hurdle at 2:20pm. The handicapper has dropped him 1lb for that Cheltenham run and he travelled serenely well through that contest before tiring in the closing stages. The five-year-old will have the hood refitted for this contest, so providing his Martin Pipe run hasn’t left a mark then he can land the spoils.
Grand National Pinstickers’ Guide – Every Horse Analysed for 2024 Edition
The 2024 Grand National field is now set. It is still a race that draws the attention of the wider public, so for those not so familiar with racing, we have analysed every runner in brief below in our pinstickers’ guide. 1. Noble Yeats (Emmet Mullins/Harry Cobden) 11st 12lb (Trainer/Jockey) (Weight) 2022 winner was fourth…
Thu 11 Apr 2024Race 2 – 2:55pm Aintree – TrustATrader Top Novices’ Hurdle
A fine second in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last month, Mystical Power can prove yet again that he is one of the star novices of the season and storm to victory in the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle at 2:55pm. He looked to have the Supreme sewn up jumping to the front at the final flight, but he was outstayed by Slade Steel in the Cheltenham Festival opener and was a gallant runner-up. He beat Firefox that day and the pair do battle again here, but Mystical Power is the class horse of this race and he can land the prize with aplomb.
Race 3 – 3:08pm Fakenham – Racing TV Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle
We head to Fakenham’s National Hunt fixture for the third race in the ITV7 on Friday and it’s the Caroline Fryer-trained Cloudy Wednesday that can claim victory. The eight-year-old bounded to victory by 11 lengths last time out at Fakenham, which came over fences, and a drop back into the hurdling division shouldn’t pose any problems and one of the likely market leaders can make it back-to-back wins at the track.
Race 4 – 3:30pm Aintree – My Pension Expert Melling Chase
Last seen suffering a shock defeat in the rearranged Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham, Jonbon did not feature at the Cheltenham Festival, but Nicky Henderson’s star can bounce back to form on Friday with victory in the Melling Chase at 3:30pm. The Seven Barrows inmate has won at the last two Grand National festivals and while he will need to improve his jumping, which let him down at Cheltenham, he’s the class act in the race and can down Ryanair Chase hero Protektorat.
Race 5 – 3:43pm Fakenham – horsepwr.co.uk For Welfare Facts & Information Handicap Hurdle
Winless in seven stars, Shengai Enki can finally break his maiden tag in the 3:43pm at Fakenham. Third last time out at Huntingdon he continues to be consistent over obstacles, without getting his head in front, but this race won’t take much winning and the Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole-trained contender is a solid enough option.
Race 6 – 4:05pm Aintree – Randox Supports Race Against Dementia Topham Handicap Chase
Last seen finishing fourth behind Shakem Up’arry in the Plate Handicap Chase at Cheltenham, Henry De Bromhead’s Life In The Park aims to reverse that form when the pair clash in the Topham Handicap Chase, which is run over Aintree’s Grand National fences at 4:05pm. Only given a 1lb rise for that fine run last month, the Irish charge is still pretty lightly-raced and has shaped that these National obstacles could play to his strengths and he looks a potential future National player and can prove that here with a win.
Race 7 – 4:40pm Aintree – Cavani Sartorial Menswear Sefton Novices’ Hurdle
There’s more Grade 1 action at 4:40pm with the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle and it could be another top prize that returns to Ireland with the Willie Mullins-trained Dancing City landing the spoils. Heading to Cheltenham on the back of two wins, the Closutton inmate ran a fine race when finishing third in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and he’s open to more improvement and he can land this trappy betting heat.
Grand National Trends 2024 – All the vital stats for Aintree marathon
There have been many changes to the Grand National over many years, but this renewal will see the field size cut from 40 to 34 which shouldn’t have a huge impact in finding the winner but both Auroras Encore (2013) & Minella Times (2021) were number 35 winners. I’m going to look at the last…
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