It’s Grand National week and the Tote are guaranteeing £500,000 in the Placepot every day of the huge Aintree meeting.
GG Editor Rob Plumbridge landed the Placepot on Day One at Aintree and makes his suggestions on how to scoop some of the big prize today.
Leg 1: 1.45pm
Leg 1 Selections: (4) Jonbon
An easy start here with Jonbon head and shoulders ahead of these and should make up for defeat at Cheltenham. He won here last season so the track holds no mysteries and should get us through barring any mishaps.
Leg 2: 2.25pm
Leg 2 Selections: (12) West Balboa (18) Mexico
Happy enough to take two in this. West Balboa is progressing nicely enough and is lightly race. A win in the Lanzarote reads well here too. I’m also keen on Mexico who looks to have plenty more at this longer distance after winning last time on first attempt.
Leg 3: 3.00pm
Leg 3 Selections: (7) Hermes Allen (8) Irish Point
The stamina test at Cheltenham wasn’t up Hermes Allen’s street clearly but he’s got plenty of class and a return to a flat track here will be much more up his street and he’s officially the best horse in the race. I will also play Irish Point who has some solid form in graded company.
Leg 4: 3.35pm
Leg 4 Selections: (2) Champ (10) Marie’s Rock
It’s hard to know how many of these will be feeling their efforts at The Festival and how much petrol that will have taken out. Marie’s Rock never got going in the Mares race and it was a crawl for the majority of it. She can gain compensation and run well here. I will also take the old boy Champ who missed Cheltenham and he will be fresher than most.
Leg 5: 4.15pm
Leg 5 Selections: (5) Beauport (7) Shakeem Up’arry
Wildly competitive and the riskiest leg because we can’t pile in with the National in the final leg. So I’m going with the two. Beauport looks like he has plenty more in the locker and ran well in a handicap here last year. Shakeem Up’arry was a good third at Cheltenham and can build on that and make the frame.
Leg 6: 4.40pm
Leg 6 Selections: (1) Any Second Now (2) Noble Yeats (7) Delta Work) (13) Gaillard Du Mesnil
The big one. Taking no chances here and picking four. This isn’t a question of who will win, but who we know is built for the test and can get us in that top four spots. In that regard Delta Work (third last year), Any Second Now (2nd) and the winner Noble Yeats all have to be added. I will throw in Gaillard Du Mesnil too who looks built for a big stamina test and has a bit of class.
Suggested Placepot
Leg 1 Selections: (4) Jonbon
Leg 2 Selections: (12) West Balboa (18) Mexico
Leg 3 Selections: (7) Hermes Allen (8) Irish Point
Leg 4 Selections: (2) Champ (10) Marie’s Rock
Leg 5 Selections: (5) Beauport (7) Shakeem Up’arry
Leg 6 Selections: (1) Any Second Now (2) Noble Yeats (7) Delta Work) (13) Gaillard Du Mesnil
64 Lines @ £0.50 a line = £32