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THIS is Milesey's updated thoughts on day on of the Grand National meeting at Aintree.
There are some fascinating races as we build up to the main event on Saturday.
2pm: Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle
FLAXEN FLARE
Successful in two hurdle races at 2m on good to soft and soft ground. A winner at 25-1 in a Grade 3 hurdle race in the Group 3 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham over 2m (good to soft) on his latest outing last month, beating Caid Du Berlais by 4 1/2l. Has also won at Leopardstown this season.
2.30pm: Betfred Bowl
FIRST LIEUTENANT win
GIANT BOLSTER ew
Winner of three hurdle races, a NH flat race and two chases from 2m to 2m 5f on ground varying from good to heavy. Beaten 9l by Cue Card when second of eight at 2-1 fav on his latest outing in a Grade 1 chase in the Group 1 Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham over 2m 5f (good to soft) last month.
The Giant Bolster has won a hurdle race and three chases from 2m 3f to 2m 7f on ground varying from good to soft. Finished 16l behind Bobs Worth when fourth of 9 at 16-1 on his latest outing in a Grade 1 chase in the Group 1 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase at Cheltenham over 3m 2f (soft) last month.
3.05pm: Aintree Hurdle
THE NEW ONE
Winner of four hurdle races and three NH flat races from 1m 6f to 2m 5f on ground varying from good to soft. A winner at 7-2 in a Grade 1 hurdle race in the Group 1 Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham over 2m 5f (good to soft) on his latest outing last month, beating Rule The World by 4l. Has won 3 times this season.
3.40pm: John Smith’s Fox Hunters Chase
GWANAKO
Has won five hurdle races and seven chases from 1m 7f to 3m on ground varying from good to soft. Won on his latest outing in a chase when 2-9fav at Sandown over 2m 4f (soft) last month, beating Dead Or Alive by 17l. Has won twice at Sandown this season.
Cottage Oak
Winner of a hurdle race, two NH flat races and four chases from 2m to 3m on ground varying from good to firm to heavy. Third of 23 behind Salsify beaten 21l at 9-1 on his latest outing in a chase at Cheltenham over 3m 2f (soft) last month. Has won three times this season.
4.15pm: Matalan Red Rum Chase
TOUBAB
He has won a hurdle race and two chases at 2m on good and good to soft ground. Won on his latest outing in a chase when evens fav at Doncaster over 2m (good) last month, beating Ulysse Collonges by 3/4l.
Astracad is winner of three hurdle races and three chases from 2m to 2m 4f on ground varying from good to soft. Well beaten at 10-1 behind Unioniste when seventh of 14 on his latest outing in a Grade 3 chase in the Group 3 Ironspine Charity Gold Cup at Cheltenham over 2m 5f (heavy) in December last year.
4.50pm: Betfred Manifesto Novices’ Chase
FAGO win
DRUMSHANDO ew
He has won a hurdle race and two chases from 2m 1f to 2m 5f on soft and heavy ground. Beaten 15l by Kapga De Cerisy when second of 3 at 2-5fav on his latest outing in a chase at Sandown over 2m (good) in February. Has won at Newbury and Auteuil this season.
Winner of three hurdle races and four chases from 2m to 2m 1f on ground varying from good to heavy. Finished 19l behind Alderwood when fourth of 23 at 20-1 on his latest outing in a Grade 3 chase in the Group 3 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase at Cheltenham over 2m (soft) last month. Has won 3 times this season.
5.25pm: Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle
EASTER DAY win
MANY CLOUDS ew
He has won three hurdle races from 2m 2f to 2m 6f on soft ground. Won on his latest outing in a hurdle race when 4-9fav at Huntingdon over 2m 4f (soft) in February, beating Nataani by 4l. Has won three times this season.
He has won two hurdle races and a NH flat race from 2m to 2m 3f on ground varying from good to soft to heavy. Beaten 12l by Close Touch when second of 16 at 13-2 on his latest outing in a Grade 3 hurdle race in the Group 3 EBF NH Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final at Sandown over 2m 4f (heavy) last month. Has won at Exeter and Ascot this season.
Milesey
2.30 betfred bowl
FIRST LIEUTENANT win THE GIANT BOLSTER ew
3.05 Aintree Hurdle
THE NEW ONE
http://WWW.BETFAIR.COM
Silviniaco Conti – 2.30
The New One – 3.05
Captain Conan – 4.50
Treble
Does any1 have a placepot they could give for tomorrow with knowledge put into it lol
2.30 Siliviniaco conti-first liuetenant- giant bolster
1-2-3
got a £2.50 ew double on THE GIANT BOLSTER & THE NEW ONE.
Hope its the start to a good week for me :-)
Is THE GIANT BOLSTER still alive?that horse was running when i was a nipper,that poor old animal should be in a horse rest home.
Any tips to rival ‘the one’ in the 3:05? Paddy power have a cash back offer if runner finishes 2nd behind ‘the one’.
MrT, don’t if Milesey will be on today, thinks he’s busy quaffing champers at Aintree.
Grandouet was travelling well in champion hurdle when falling and Geraghty has chosen this horse instead of oscar whisky must have great chance.
When you’re lucky enough to have a job like mine you’re going to get times when tough decisions have to be made and I made one when I passed over Oscar Whisky for GRANDOUET (3.05) in the Aintree Hurdle.
Under normal circumstances it would have been a no-brainer. Oscar Whisky has won the race for last two years and once again ground conditions will suit.
But the elephant in the room is his performance in the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival when he was never really travelling and I pulled him up before the last.
He was disappointing in the same race a year ago before he won at Aintree and under normal circumstances I’d have been on board at Liverpool – but unlike the previous two years, Nicky Henderson has another serious runner in the race in Grandouet.
Unlike Oscar Whisky, Grandouet was running a grand race in the Champion Hurdle until we came down four out.
I know it was a long way from home but I couldn’t have been any happier with the way he was travelling and I’m pretty sure we’d have been right in the action at the finish.
On the plus side, because he was out of the race so soon, he didn’t have a hard race although you can argue that would have been balanced out by the heavy tumble.
But if you go back to the International Hurdle at Cheltenham in December when Grandouet was second to Zarkandar after over a year off you’ll see that he comes out of that race the best horse having to concede the winner 4lb.
Look, I’m under no illusion that I might have got this wrong. Both horses have worked well since Cheltenham but I’ve got to go with my gut instinct and that tells me Grandouet.
He’s entitled to improve, will like the nice ground and I’d be very surprised if the first try at two and a half miles around this sharpish track doesn’t suit him really well.
We’ll see, but I hope I’m right.
Of the others, I can see the increase in trip suiting Countrywide Flame and the nicer ground will be in the favour of Prospect Wells although he does have plenty to find on paper.
I start with a solid chance in the Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle, ROLLING STAR (2.00) who performed below par in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
I’ve just got to forgive him that because he started favourite for a reason and that was his impressive British debut at Cheltenham in January when he easily beat Irish Saint a couple of lengths. I’m well aware that Nicky’s other runner, Vasco Du Ronceray, finished one place ahead in the Triumph but through Irish Saint, Rolling Star comes out best.
I understand that both have gone nicely in their work since Cheltenham but I’ve had to go with my own feeling for both horses, plus the form book.
I left the decision about rides to Nicky in the Red Rum Handicap Chase so I’m on TANKS FOR THAT (4.15).
He’s not had his ideal ground since I rode him to finish second in the 2012 Grand Annual at Cheltenham and he’s now 2lb lower than his rating then. Although he pulled up in the Red Rum last year I’m hopeful that the faster ground will help him this time.
I’d still have plenty of respect for Nicky’s other two runners. Kid Cassidy is in the J P McManus team so AP rides and has got to overcome top weight and a 7lb weight rise for finishing second in the Grand Annual.
Anquetta is going to be favoured by the ground and I’m pretty sure this sharper circuit will help him.
I’m really looking forward to CAPTAIN CONAN (4.50) in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase. He put in a great effort at Cheltenham to finish under five lengths fifth to Benefficient in the Jewson Novices’ Chase and I reckon two and a half miles on a level track is going to suit him.
Remember, a year ago at Aintree he was second to Darlan over two miles in the novice hurdle and that was the last time he had the good ground that he’s going to get this time.
I’m more than hopeful that the track and better going will make up for the half length we finished behind Changing Times at Cheltenham – after all, we beat him over 30 lengths on the previous run at Sandown.
John, I might have a punt on something today and have seen a few tipsters suggestion a lay of Oscar Whisky.
Just hope Geraghty has picked the right 1 Oscar Whisky run a shocker at Cheltenham so lay might be way to go.
Thank you Tom Pricewise Segal … he tipped up L’Unique in the 2pm Aintree race … nice little 10/1 winner … his other pick today is in the 4.15 ANQUETTA E/W
If interested Paddy Power have a MBS on the 3:05 at Aintree, if your horse comes 2nd to The New One then you get your stake back.
I’ll be taking on the new one with GRANDOUET @ 4/1, what John Highlited earlier are good signs
FIRST LIEUTENANT takes it!
ZARKANDAR!!! ;-) winner…keep the faith…knew he’d come good Milesey!! ;-) tough as nails…Is CUE CARD running tommorrow??
Ha well done Guido son!
Cheers AC :-) I like ZARKANDAR since he wom Triump Hurdle at 7/1 for me…ran well today/had blinkers on him/never gave up ;-) Like CUE CARD as well..gotta tuff job 2moro but ya never know…?
waht are u fancying today? Fitba??..Benfica, Spurs Lazio dnd for me…
Yeah he’s a good horse … good jockey/trainer combo as well … I’ve stuck some money down on Lazio, Been backing them quite a bit throughout the Europa League, had a good return on them so far … Wasn’t too sure about tonight being in Turkey and all but after reading Milesey’s write up it helped me make my mind up … Also been reading up on the game today and the Fernebache manager is already running a bit scared
ya think Lazio straight win then AC?..will do a trixie with other pair. Dont like Chelsea as a club and nobends like JT/AC etc so will swerve them n hope they get beat :-)
Your walking on egg shells here Guido … Massive Chelsea fan you are talking to here :) … I’m bias to Chelsea obviously but I do think we will win tonight, it will be the away leg that will be tricky … Yeah straight win no point beating around the bush ;)
AHHH the signs were all there and I never took it … its Snowing in London, I’m on a website chatting to a load of Tartan’s … Todays big winner at Aintree TARTAN SNOW @ 100/1 … Somebody slap my sporran!
Didnt know u were a Chelsea fan AC..? thot u were Scottish? ach well, fair play to ya..we all have out cross to bear!! ;-) Whats it cost for an adult ticket at SB then take it your based in London? R u going to match? Have relatives in Sarf Lundin…used to live in Tooting/Stockwell/Clapham areas..(jocks/lived there for yonks/mostly dead now tho)..in Twickenham now.
Ach gonna do perm 3/4 Spurs, Benfica, Mansfield+1 n Lazio+1..bit conservative….hope Lazio win ootright for ya tho AC (good for me as well!!)
Gonna have a wee dip on Cue Card 2moro..8/1 or so…f*** it…nuthin cert in this world!! He’ll gie a good run for money anyway thats for sure.,,be kickin masel if he beats SS. Aye seen that Tartan Snow?..ffs..never done any other nags..keep ma winnings in tact!!
AC – I reckon Gunner widda a monkey e/w on Tartan Snow…?? ;-)
haha no pal not Scottish … English born and bred, born right round the corner from the Bridge, don’t live round there anymore though, based in Greater London now, just on the outskirts … Prices are crazy … they want £52 for Sunderland on the weekend, I normally go but with the Fat Spanish Waitor in charge I’m saving it all for next season when hopefully the special one returns … Haha He’s out there now spending his winnings ;)
£52 notes for Sunderland..christ!! :-( be 75 plus for MU/Arsenal etc is it?? Mourinho eh?…i reckon he’d like MU job/the way he was beingso magnanimous…if old chewing gum chomping boozy faced Fwergwie wid pack it in..maybe not yet. Think he might end up there as Fergies replacement one day tho?..ya think?
Dont think the Man u Hierachy would have it … My money would be going straight on either PeP G or David Moyes
Giggs will be next Man Utd manager.
Hope footy picks go better than racing today. Missed first lieutenant and then packed next 4 e/w and not a single one even places.
Doubly cheering on benfica, bale, spurs and lazio tonight!!