2021 Aintree Grand National Festival Day 2 Preview
Author:
Jamie Clark
Publish Date:
Wednesday, 07th Apr 2021
Experiences:
Our experienced editor
Experiences:
Our experienced editor
Jamie Clark was Sports Editor of Coral bookmakers between 2014 and 2017 during their merger with Labrokes and a key period for the British betting industry. Working as a bookie’s runner on the point to point circuit in the Midlands and at Market Rasen Racecourse where his late godfather had a trackside pitch growing up, he has had ties to horse racing all of his life. A regular visitor to Cheltenham during the National Hunt season and York over the summer, he has been involved in Horsebetting.com since its inception. Jamie now brings you his take on major news stories from the racing world and those all-important betting tips.
Aintree Festival Friday – Grand National day 2 tips and preview
You’re reading the Horsebetting.com guide to the Friday of the Aintree Festival with all our Grand National day 2 tips and selections. Find out which horses our experts fancy for all the Ladies Day action on the edge of Liverpool.
There’s a wide-open start to the day with the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at 1:45. Many have chances, and that’s a theme throughout this Friday card. WILDE ABOUT OSCAR has already defied top-weight in one event like this last month, so may well do so again. The consistent Edwardstone has also placed third and fifth in the same grade on his last two starts, so could go close once more.
In the Top Novices’ Hurdle at 2:20, Dusart returns after a setback and a taking bow at Newbury. It’s just a matter of race fitness, because Nicky Henderson’s charge showed loads of ability on his only career start. BELFAST BANTER took the County Hurdle on day 4 of the Cheltenham Festival last time out, so might be good each-way value if building on that.
Third Time Lucki is better off at the weights with the Irish raider, but has also run below par on his last two starts. The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle form is represented by the keen front-runner For Pleasure, but Alex Hales’ charge needs to settle better.
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The third race is the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at 2:50, where CHANTRY HOUSE looks to follow-up on Cheltenham Festival glory. A major beneficiary of Envoi Allen’s early exit from the Marsh Novices’ Chase last month, he is one of two running for owner JP McManus.
Chantry House hails from the Seven Barrows stable of Henderson, the most successful trainer in this race’s history. As he took the spoils by staying at Cheltenham, this longer trip should suit him. His pedigree also suggests that too. Chantry House is one of our Grand National day 2 tips despite some dangerous opposition. That includes Shan Blue for the Skeltons and Colin Tizzard pair Fiddlerontheroof and The Big Breakaway.
The feature contest is the Melling Chase, run as the Marsh Chase, at 3:25 and POLITOLOGUE is our pick to win it again as he did in 2018. Paul Nicholls has three entries, but the grey gelding is a four-time Grade 1 victor for owner John Hales. After missing Cheltenham, Politologue comes here a fresh horse.
The same can be said of fellow course and distance winner Nuts Well. He looks a great each-way bet to get among the places, because of questions over other rivals. Will the jumping of Master Tommytucker hold up? Will Irish raider Fakir D’Oudairies show up after being withdrawn from Fairyhouse on Monday on similar ground deemed unsuitable?
Topham typically competitive for bettors
On the Grand National course, the Topham Chase is the big betting handicap of the day at 4:05. It’s not quite a case of sticking a pin in the racecard, and our tentative selection is MODUS. His third over course and distance in the Grand Sefton in December looks good, and he gets in here off an unchanged mark.
Another worth considering is Livelovelaugh. He’s on a long losing run, but finished 11th in the 2019 Grand National after travelling well for much of the race. Recent showings in competitive graded Irish handicaps give the Willie Mullins trained favourite obvious claims. Storm Control could go well at a big price too.
In the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at 4:40, Bravemansgame goes up in trip trying to bounce back from defeat at Cheltenham. CAPE GENTLEMAN was an out-and-out stayer on the Flat, however, so edges things in our Grand National day 2 tips on this event. Oscar Elite looks an each-way play if confirming last month’s Albert Bartlett form with Streets Of Doyen.
Finally, the Friday card closes with an ultra-competitive conditional and amateur jockeys’ handicap hurdle at 5:15. There’s lots to like about a third McManus owned horse winning on the day after Chantry House and Modus in CAMPROND. The 1lb rise in the Philip Hobbs inmate’s rating for winning at Taunton is offset by the 3lb claim of Ben Jones.
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