Aintree Grand National Meeting: Day 2 Tips
Day 2 of Aintree’s Grand National meeting takes place on Friday afternoon, headlined by the Grade 1 Melling Chase.
Jonbon will bid to put Cheltenham Festival disappointment behind him in the feature race and is odds-on to get back on track on Merseyside.
We have selections and analysis for all seven races at Aintree on Friday, including a last-time-out winner who looks sure to go well again.
1.45 Aintree - 3m1f Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices' Chase
A competitive start to proceedings and it’s a slight surprise that Caldwell Potter isn’t vying for favouritism.
The grey bolted up in a Grade 2 handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month, leading from pillar to post, and has untapped potential over staying trips.
Selection: Caldwell Potter
2.20 Aintree - 2m4f Handicap Hurdle
Tintintin couldn’t have been more eye-catching when rallying strongly up the Sandown hill to finish fourth in this year’s Imperial Cup.
That looks a rock-solid piece of form and he gave the impression that he was ready for a return to this distance on that occasion.
Selection: Tintintin
2.55 Aintree - 2m½f TrustATrader Top Novices' Hurdle
Romeo Coolio will be extremely difficult to beat if he reproduces his effort from the Cheltenham Festival, where he finished third behind Kopek Des Bordes in the Supreme.
Gordon Elliott’s gelding is still improving, is proven on good ground and his opponents will have to raise their game significantly to challenge the short-priced favourite.
Selection: Romeo Coolio
3.30 Aintree - 2m4f My Pension Expert Melling Chase
It’s easy to pick holes in Jonbon’s three opponents as he bids to win back-to-back renewals of the Melling Chase.
El Fabiolo’s jumping has become a real cause for concern while Protektorat likely needs further and slower ground. Matata, meanwhile, is yet to prove he’s up to competing at the top level.
Therefore, Jonbon is hard to oppose given his outstanding record away from the Cheltenham Festival.
Selection: Jonbon
4.05 Aintree - 2m5f Randox Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Topham Handicap Chase
The Topham looks like the toughest race on the card from a betting perspective but it could be worth taking a chance on the in-form Bad.
Ben Pauling’s chaser has made an encouraging start to life over fences this term and could still be well treated from a handicap mark of 140.
Selection: Bad
4.40 Aintree - 3m½f Oddschecker Sefton Novices' Hurdle
There’s a chance that Battle Born Lad may get his own way out in front in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices' Hurdle.
Despite the big field, there are no other certain front-runners in the line-up and he was good value for a six-length win over the reopposing Moon Rocket in a Grade 2 Haydock last time out.
Selection: Battle Born Lad
5.15 Aintree - 2m½f Hallgarten And Novum Wines Handicap Hurdle
Patrick Wadge showed that he is a rider to follow when romping to a Cheltenham Festival success on Myretown last month and he rides Manuelito in the final race on day two.
Manuelito beat a good-ground specialist at Newbury last time out, when he was notably well backed, and he could give Wadge another spring festival success.
Selection: Manuelito
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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation