Through the Card Aintree Day 3 Tips for Grand National Day 2022

13.45 Aintree

A tricky 3m handicap to kick start proceedings off on this last day of the Grand National meeting. A lot of these horses ran in Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival. The one I like just missed out in running at the Festival and that is REMASTERED (9/1). Rated 10lbs lower over the smaller obstacles and I have been waiting for him to reappear over hurdles. His only start over hurdles this year was in a Pertemps qualifier, where he ran a very respectable third, which you have to think would have been a pipe opener for the Ladbrokes Trophy a few weeks later.

A race he was running off 146 in, travelling very well and was just pressing the leader when he fell 4 out. 3 weeks later he ran a good second in the Tommy Whittle Chase off the same mark and just bumped into one that day. He was then turned out again about a month later in the Peter Marsh and came 4^th, it was an OK run but could have just been one race too many in such a short space of time.

He hasn’t run since the Peter Marsh on the 22^nd January. So comes in to the race fresh and he’s had wind op. He could just be a bit better than his mark over hurdles and some of his best form has come after a layoff. He is currently 10/1 with firms paying 5 places. He is a solid EW bet in what looks a very competitive race

 

14.25 Aintree

A Grade 1 Novice Handicap Hurdle over 2 1/2m is next, with a lot of this field having missed Cheltenham for one reason or another it again looks a very difficult race.

The one I landed on is the Nicky Henderson highly touted WALKING ON AIR (4/1), the most unexposed horse in the race having only had the two runs ever.  One in a bumper when he lost to the now ill fated Shallwehaveonemore and one run over hurdles in a novice race at Newbury beating another Gary Moore horse Hecouldbetheone by 13 lengths having never really got out of second gear.

He was due to run at Cheltenham but suffered a small set back in the run up to it, so Nicky decided to keep him for another day and hopefully, today is that day. He has to step up remarkably on his last run but the way Nicky was talking about him and how highly regarded he is, that is most definitely a possibility. He was mentioned right up there with the Jonbon and Constitution Hill. He looks to have a bag full of talent and hopefully he follows in his stablemates performances and win.

 

15.00 Aintree

The second of the Grade Ones and this is for the 2mile Chasers, the equivalent of the Arkle. And the Arkle winner EDWARDSTONE (8/11) turns up here, he is the easy pick in this race. This race has no way near the depth the Cheltenham one did. No Grade One winners, horses he has beaten and basically a bunch of handicappers. He is by the far best jumper and horse in the race and with the likes of For Pleasure and Third Time Lucki in the race, there will certainly not be a lack of pace, which should just set the race up perfectly for him and bar a fall I expect him to win fairly comfortably.

 

15.35 Aintree

The Liverpool Hurdle is up next, a race the great Big Bucks dominated over the years winning it an impressive 4 times. This looks like a Stayers Hurdle rematch with the top 3 in the market all turning up again. My selection FLOORING PORTER (15/8) will be extremely hard to beat, a horse who quickly rose through the ranks, proving that his Stayers Hurdle win last year was no fluke by winning it again this year, in what was probably one of the rides of this year’s Cheltenham Festival. The way Danny Mullins rode him was outstanding, having the guts to slow the race down at a crucial time, stack the field up and then kick for home. But he had to have faith in his mount that day and the horse didn’t disappoint.

He jumped well, travelled well and responded to all off Danny’s questions and the turn of foot he showed powering up that hill was a sight to behold.

He looks to have shaken off some of his quirks and now looks a very reliable horse, albeit I don’t expect the other jockeys to allow Danny Mullins to have his own way in front. He may just be too good for them, and he would have run below par to be beaten.

 

16.15 Aintree

A 3 mile handicap chase to warm you up before the big one although there could just be a horse far better than the rest of these and that is SHAN BLUE (5/2). Disappointing in the Ryanair but a line can be put through that, as it really was too bad to be true. The positive coming out of that was when he looked to be beaten, Harry wasn’t hard on him at all. So, he should come in here, somewhat a fresh horse. A grade 1 winner last year in his novice season comes here making his handicap debut off 148.

He has only had the two runs this year, one of them when he looked to have the Grade 2 Charlie Hall chase at his mercy when he fell 3 out seemingly to still be going well. Although you can’t help feel that Harry kicked for home to early. But he had some good horses well beat that day one of which Kittys Light who ran a stormer in the Scottish National last week. He felt the effects of that fall and was put away for the Ryanair, although many were calling for him to run in a handicap at the Festival. But as I mentioned it was too bad be to true and am willing to forgive that run.

He steps back up to 3m and although there are still stamina doubts about him, Aintree is flat and doesn’t take much stamina. He’s 9lbs clear on RPR ratings and just looks to be the best horse in the race as well the best handicapped one too and it’s hard to see any of this field replicating the level of runs he has shown and I keep trying to find something to get him beat, I just can’t.

 

17.15 Aintree

The showpiece of the whole 3 days, the race that stops the nation, the world’s most famous race is here. My selection, as have many, has been aimed at this race for quite some time, I reckon since the end of last year’s Cheltenham Festival. That horse is ESCARIA TEN (14/1).  The biggest bit of interesting form is last years National Hunt Chase which looks absolutely rock solid.  It’s been a good race to follow, as it has worked out very well and he looks very well handicapped on that bare form. He has already beaten the current favourite Snow Leopardess who gives him less weight than that day.

Although he was beaten in the BobbyJo Chase last time out, he wouldn’t have been near fit and fully expect the step up in trip to bring even more improvement from him. The handicapper has been very lenient on him giving him a mark of 151 meaning he will only carry 11stone around and being so lightly raced I can definitely see him being better than that mark. I have been waiting for a big race for him since and I think he is tailor made for it. He jumps well, the test of stamina will be no problem for him and should run an absolutely huge race. I am as confident as you can be in a Grand National about him.

 

18.20 Aintree

A bumper to close the meeting off and there aren’t really any standout performers in it. The horse I have chosen is HENRI THE SECOND (7/1). Although it wouldn’t be any surprise to see Willie notch up another bumper winner with his runner, he hasn’t really beaten much and he looks favourite by reputation rather than form. However if the money comes as it did for his Mares Bumper winner, he will be very hard to beat.

My pick looks slightly over priced on the form of his Ascot run. That day he beat Authorised Speed who ran a very respectable 5^th in this year’s Cheltenham Bumper and Top Dog who has since won a Listed Bumper on Betfair Hurdle day. Other runners that day have also boosted the form by running well in their respective races. As with a lot of bumpers there isn’t a lot of form to go on, but my pick should run his race and can see him getting placed at the very least.

 

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