The Grand National headlines the racing season, with so much focus on the big race at 4pm on Saturday. Matty Sutcliffe has a selection to follow in the feature, as well as five others throughout the card.
Published: 2:30pm, Thursday 10th April (Odds correct at time of publication)
1:20 Aintree – William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – West Balboa 5/1 2pt WIN + Floueur 66/1 0.5pt EW 5 places
WEST BALBOA was a huge eye-catcher off top-weight in a competitive handicap at Kempton last time out, clocking the quickest final two furlongs having only been put into consideration late on. She’s been leniently dropped a pound for that effort and for all she still remains 6lbs higher than when winning this contest last season, she bolted up off 135 there and her effort last time out signalled an imminent return to the winners enclosure. She won’t mind it if the ground doesn’t dry out, as she won an attritional renewal of the Lanzarote in 2023 where just four of the twenty runners completed.
As you all know I rarely back a favourite in a race of this nature, but at 5/1 she’s a confident selection and I’d envisage her going off half that price come Saturday afternoon.
At the other end of the market, FLOUEUR is far from a model of consistency but is capable of smart form when on a going day. The son of Legolas was 11 lengths behind Galopin Des Champs in the 2021 Martin Pipe and sent off the 15/2F for the Ultima the following season, but struggled to be involved in any competition bar dotting up in a Clonmel Hurdle against superior rated rivals. His form figures for UK trainers read 8PU5PU, but he proved he was still capable of running a good race when beaten a nose at 50/1 at Doncaster on his penultimate effort. He gave 7lbs to a progressive sort there who was landing a hattrick, and beaten five lengths off a 5lbs higher mark in a competitive handicap at Musselburgh.
The race at Uttoxeter two weeks later may have come too soon, so I’m (perhaps wishfully) willing to draw a line through that and trust if he can replicate that Doncaster effort on a similarly flat track like Aintree, then he’s capable of outrunning his lofty odds. He’s wells suited to testing going with four of his five wins coming on heavy-soft ground, and his Durham based yard are in excellent form.
2:30 Aintree – William Hill Handicap Chase (Registered As The Freebooter Handicap Chase) (Premier Handicap) (GBB) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Sam Brown 14/1 1pt EW 4 places
SAM BROWN has been anything but consistent since he bolted up by 15 lengths in this race in 2022 off a mark of 147; that was until connections equipped him with visor. His record in his newly fitted aid reads 1451, with consistent RPR’s of 157,157,156,156, winning twice in a season for the first time since 2024.
His form stacks up this season. He was five lengths behind Protektorat in the G2 Denman chase, who subsequently won the Ryanair, and the 5th that day subsequently won the Grimthorpe in treacherous conditions off top-weight giving the well backed second some 24lbs. Then the form of his staying on 5th in the Coral Trophy was backed up by Flegmatik and Cap Du Nord. Freddie Gingell retains the ride who was excellent when riding him for the first time to victory at Ascot, and a repeat of that effort would see him go well here. We know he handles underfoot conditions, and he’s 2lbs better off for a five length gap with Forward Plan who’s 13/2 in here and may not appreciate testing conditions should it not dry out.
3:05 Aintree – JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Strong Leader 1.5pt WIN 9/1
STRONG LEADER improved drastically for the step up to three miles in the G2 Cleeve Hurdle in January, staying on strongly in first time cheek-pieces behind Paisley Park and Noble Yeats. While he was kept to two miles as a novice, it’s no surprise should he continue to flourish over staying distances given his dam is a half-sister to Hennessy and Feltham winner Strong Flow, and the Pat Taaffe winner Carrig Millie.
Strong Leader has some smart form as a novice, including a second here last season in the Top Novices’ Hurdle to Inthepocket with Luccia in 3rd, so that course form will bode well now he’s proven his ability as a young, unexposed stayer. I’d be slightly worried should the ground be on the testing side given his better form has come on good ground, but he wasn’t disgraced behind Bob Olinger in heavy going in the Relkeel, and Brewinupastorm who was six lengths ahead backed that form up in a Fairyhouse G2 next time out. That said, there’s potential for the ground to dry out come Saturday, which would certainly enhance his chances but should it be soft, then at least he’s fresher than most.
4:00 Aintree – (Grand National) Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (7yo+) – Limerick Lace 16/1 1pt WIN
I’m happy enough with my four ante-post plays, Chemical Energy, Roi Mage, Farouk D’Alene and Mac Tottie, which can all be found on site. However, I’m keen to add one more in the form of LIMERICK LACE. Gavin Cromwell’s mare has progressed at a rate of knots this season, culminating in taking the Mares Chase at Cheltenham, staying on strongly in testing conditions to defy the favourite Dinoblue. Only thirteen mares have taken this prestigious contest, the last being Nickel Coin in 1951, so she’ll have to buck that trend. However she’s 6lbs well in off her mark and should she cope with the turnaround, then I’d fancy this classy, fluent jumper to run a promising race.
She shaped well on her only start at three miles when second to Coko Beach in the Troytown Handicap at Navan in November, keeping on well from midfield in a race that favoured those who raced prominently. By Walk In The Park, she’s a sister to the Kim Muir winner Inothewayurthinkin who showed his likeness for a stamina-laden trip last month, and the pair are also related to three other stayers.
Obviously the trip is an unknown quantity, but she’ll handle the ground with no issues and has already proven her ability to back up after a tough race given she bolted up in a Listed Mares race at Doncaster a month after her Troytown second.
5:00 Aintree – My Pension Expert Maghull Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Silent Approach 50/1 0.5pt ew 3 places
As a general rule of thumb, it’s best to forgive a mare for throwing in an abnormal stinker, which was the case when SILENT APPROACH was beaten 36 lengths at Naas in a listed contest in February. Sean Flanagan never looks comfortable on the mare from flag fall, jumping well below how she previously did. She was also slightly disappointing when 3/1 for a G2 at Thurles finishing behind two mares she previously beat with ease, but I’d put that down to the race coming too soon (a week) after her five length third to Spillane’s Tower in a Punchestown G3. The form of that contest has worked out extremely well, with the second getting the better of Spillane’s Tower next time out down in trip, before those rivals flip-flopped the placings once more with Spillane’s Tower taking the G1 Fairyhouse Gold Cup in promising fashion, with Blood Destiny back in third. I’d say Spillane’s Tower has just as much ability than any horse in this lineup despite the official ratings suggesting otherwise, so if we’re taking Silent Approach’s form with him literally, then I think this mare has the potential to be bang there if drawing a line through that last effort.
Connections opted to skip the Manifesto Novices’ Chase on the opening day, perhaps in search for dryer ground later in the week, and that could prove a shrewd move give there’s likely to be a good clip on with Nickleback and Matata, so any extra stamina reserves will be welcomed.
Danny Mullins retains the ride this time and his record on her stands at 1133. She will be well rested after a two month break given she had a busy winter, and she’ll handle the ground better than most. Combine that with the fact she receives a handy 7lbs mares allowance, then it’ll be no shock should this well bred daughter of Walk In The Park run into the frame.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Aintree Day 3 Value Punts
1:20 Aintree – William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – West Balboa 5/1 2pt WIN + Floueur 66/1 0.5pt EW 5 places
2:30 Aintree – William Hill Handicap Chase (Registered As The Freebooter Handicap Chase) (Premier Handicap) (GBB) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Sam Brown 14/1 1pt EW 4 places
3:05 Aintree – JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Strong Leader 1.5pt WIN 9/1
4:00 Aintree – (Grand National) Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (7yo+) – Limerick Lace 16/1 1pt WIN
5:00 Aintree – My Pension Expert Maghull Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Silent Approach 50/1 0.5pt ew 3 places
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