Sam King tipped the well-backed Murcia (7/1) to score on day one of Aintree’s Grand National meeting and is back with three selections on day two.
One thing we learnt yesterday at Aintree was that this is proper spring ground; the times were decent, and horses were bounding across what looked like a very sound surface.
With the ground on the sharp side, I'm looking to take on those towards the top of the market in the opening Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices' Chase at 1.45.
Handstand's Scilly Isles success is probably the best form on offer, but alongside the promising Dancing City and potentially progressive Caldwell Potter, he's surely more effective on a softer surface.
With that in mind, it could pay to take a chance on Quai De Bourbon, who was a good third in last season's Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and the masterful Willie Mullins, who won all four Grade 1s yesterday.
The Gigginstown House Stud-owned unexposed six-year-old still looked to be travelling well within himself when unseating Patrick Mullins in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase last time and remains very much unexposed, especially in three-mile chases.
He's worth chancing at odds of around 8/1.
1pt Each-way - Quai De Bourbon
Odds – 8/1
The William Hill Handicap Hurdle at 2.20 looks like an ultra-competitive affair, but I'm hopeful I've found one at a nice price that can run well.
Dan Skelton won this twelve months ago with Kateira, and understandably, Be Aware is likely to be top of his list with brother Harry doing the steering,
However, it's the fellow Harry-ridden Listentoyourheart that edges preference for me. Young Harry Atkins claims a valuable 7lb off her back for the first time, and that could be exactly what she needs on her handicap debut in this competitive event.
A lightly raced six-year-old, she posted a very promising effort when fifth in the Grade 2 mares' bumper at this meeting twelve months ago, while she also showed useful form when giving 3lb to Paul Nicholls' well-regarded 127-rated mare Jubilee Alpha when they met in Listed company at Newbury in November.
Her fourth-place finish in a Grade 2 event at Kelso last month was another solid effort in defeat, and she looks feasibly treated now, effectively running off a mark of 120.
1pt Each-way – Listentoyourheart
Odds – 16/1
Our next wager comes in the Grade 1 TrustATrader Top Novices' Hurdle at 2.55. With Gordon Elliott saddling just one winner from 39 runners over the last fourteen days, I'm keen to take on Romio Coolio, who does set the form standard following his third-place finish in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last month.
I've landed on Tripoli Flyer, with the hope that he'll jump with more fluency on better ground in a contest that should be run at a decent pace. The Fergal O'Brien-trained contender held useful form in bumpers, most notably finishing runner-up in Grade 2 company at this meeting twelve months ago.
He looked smart when winning the Grade 2 Dovecote at Kempton last time, and this promising six-year-old is selected to take the step up to Grade 1 level in his stride.
1pt Win –Tripoli Flyer
Odds – 11/4
