Our expert looks through all the races being staged on Grand National day at Aintree Festival picks out a strong challenger in a Grade One as his NAP of the day on Saturday 14th April.
The nation will come to a standstill on Saturday afternoon, as Aintree hosts the 2018 renewal of the Grand National. Before we reach the world’s most famous handicap, there are several Grade Ones to take in and our expert selects a strong challenger in the first of those as his NAP of the day.
2:25pm Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m4f ITV
Black Op was my each-way tip in the Ballymore at Cheltenham and I was delighted to see him run such a strong race behind Samcro. Tom George’s stable have been in poor form of late and, while I remain a fan of this progressive sort, ON THE BLIND SIDE is the horse to back in this Grade One.
Nicky Henderson’s charge oozed class during his victory in the Hyde, waiting until the last moment to overtake Momella and Poetic Rhythm and pull clear in decisive fashion. That win meant Nico De Boinville’s mount had to shoulder a penalty in the Winter Novices’ Hurdle, but even that couldn’t stop On The Blind Side powering home to secure a second straight Grade Two by a convincing margin.
Sadly, Nicky Henderson didn’t get the opportunity to see what his novice could do against Samcro and the other runners in the Ballymore. That means On The Blind Side will be fresh coming into this race and he could emulate stablemate We Have A Dream – who won the Anniversary Hurdle on Thursday after missing Cheltenham – by claiming a maiden top level title.
