Author: GrandNationalpro Staff
Brian Healy gives his runner-by-runner verdict on the big-race field for this afternoon’s Aintree Hurdle, one of four Grade One contests on a cracking opening day racecard. The fourth and final Grade One contest of the opening day of the 2018 Aintree Grand National meeting, the Aintree Hurdle goes to post at 3.25pm where a field of nine declared runners go to post to compete over a trip of 2m 4f for a winners’ prize in excess of £140,000. Some top-class winners of this race in recent years feature on the roll-of-honour, including reigning champion and dual-Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winner…
Willie Mullins confirmed to the press over in Ireland yesterday that he will only be sending a small group of challengers to the Aintree Festival this year. It was a wonderful treat last season to see so many of Willie Mullins’ stable stars make the trip from County Carlow to Merseyside and strut their stuff at the Aintree Festival. Mullins was in the midst of a ding-dong battle with Paul Nicholls for the British Champion Trainer title and victories for Annie Power, Douvan and Yorkhill meant Willie would leave Liverpool with a narrow lead. Nicholls managed to arrest that advantage…
Our expert brings you some insider tips for the Grand National on Saturday afternoon. The Last Samuri was beaten 14 lengths by Definitly Red in the Grimthorpe at Doncaster and is no better off at the weights. But another tilt at this, in which he finished a gallant second last year, has always been the long-term aim, though he is 12lb higher. Vieux Lion Rouge won the Becher Chase here in December but only three lengths covered the first five home and all take their chance today. Highland Lodge won the Becher in 2015, The Last Samuri was third and…
Insider tips for the Liverpool Hurdle, the feature Grade 1 contest on the final day of the Aintree Festival.Cole Harden adopted his usual front-running tactics in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham last month but was outpaced once headed approaching the last. However, he still finished well ahead of Snow Falcon. Yanworth started favourite for the Champion Hurdle but was soon left behind when the pace quickened at the top of the hill. He’s probably shown his best over 2m4f and is entering unknown territory over this trip in a race in which a strong pace is guaranteed. Ballyoptic has been…
Our expert brings you insider tips for the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle, the first Grade 1 contests on Grand National day at Aintree.Many of these are dipping a first hoof into pattern race company having proved prolific in less-exalted novice events but Messire Des Obeaux is an exception. He won the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle in December and was a close-up third in the Neptune Investment at Cheltenham, though has been on the go for a while. FINIAN’S OSCAR was forced to miss Cheltenham after suffering a minor setback but he looks the one to beat in this if back fighting fit.…
Here are some insider tips for the Maghull Novices’ Chase, the second Grade 1 on the Grand National day card at Aintree.Charbel paid a heavy price for his one and only mistake in the Arkle at Cheltenham last month. He may well have made Altior work hard for victory had he stood up and would definitely have finished ahead of eventual fifth Forest Bihan.He’ll be hard to beat if that hasn’t affected his confidence but a chance is taken with POLITOLOGUE as the drop back to 2m should suit this free-going sort, who finished ahead of Thursday’s winner Flying Angel when fourth…
Our expert brings you insider tips for the Gaskells Handicap Hurdle, the opening race on the final day of the Aintree Festival. No-one would begrudge the unlucky Barney Dwan a first victory of the campaign but his reward for another terrific run behind Presenting Percy in the Pertemps Final was a 5lb rise in the handicap. Fourth-placed The Tourard Man should get closer today and For Good Measure met traffic on the home turn in that race and ran better than his final position suggests – he may prove the best of three JP McManus-owned runners. Duke Street has been…
Insider tips for the Betway Handicap Chase, the second handicap on Grand National day at Aintree.There’s no time to draw breath before the big race as 18 runners are due to contest this always-competitive handicap on the Mildmay course. Emerging Force, Potters Legend and Relentless Dreamer all ran well in different races at Cheltenham last month. Value At Risk in unexposed over fences but racing for the first time since October. Thomas Brown won over 2m4f here in November but has been successful over further and is an interesting runner. STARCHITECT never really got involved in a Grade 3 at The Festival but was…
Harry Fry confirmed yesterday that Unowhatimeanharry, the beaten Stayers’ Hurdle favourite and 2016 Albert Bartlett champion, will skip a showdown with Yanworth in the Liverpool Hurdle and head to the Punchestown Festival instead.Everyone in the horse racing world will have been looking forward to a stunning showdown between Yanworth and Unowhatimeanharry in the Liverpool Hurdle on Saturday afternoon. Both are looking to bounce back quickly from underwhelming performances at the Cheltenham Festival, with Alan King and J.P. McManus deeming the time right to push Yanworth up to three miles for the first time.Sadly, this clash of the titans has been…
Following conflicting reports on Thursday afternoon, Katie Walsh is set to keep her ride in the Grand National, despite a heavy fall in the Foxhunters Chase at Aintree.The Chair has claimed many victims over the years and as Distime made a mess of his landing following a leap over Aintree’s infamous fence, Katie Walsh was thrown from the saddle in the Foxhunters. Paul Nicholls will have been dismayed to see Walsh crash to the turf and looked on in horror as she was clattered by a following horse when attempting to protect herself on the ground.Early medical examinations looked bad, with…