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Day 2 of the Aintree Festival was a disaster from start to finish in terms of yesterday's Lucky 15 bet.
Handstands chances were gone early doors, as he was brought to a near halt due to a faller. Wade Out ran a good race to finish in 6th place. Some bookmakers were offering 6/7 places on that contest. Blue Lord was steady towards the head of the market but was eventually pulled up by Paul Townend, and he was ultimately very disappointing. Califet En Vol had every chance when entering the straight, but the petrol light came on and his effort dwindled out. I was most disappointed in Califet En Vol as I was waiting on him for a nice double with Gentlemen De Mee, but it wasn't to be.
Day 3 is upon us, and good luck to everyone with their bets in the big one, The Grand National! My fingers are crossed for my good friend Rizz, who has been on Stumptown at 66s since last October.
Cairnzy's Tips
Happygolucky 13/2 – Aintree 2.30
Besides the Grand National, this contest looks like one of the trickier puzzles to solve on day three, but there is plenty of value to be had with this field.
My dart landed on Happygolucky, who I think Rizz tipped up as an each-way play during the Cheltenham festival, where he ran a blinder to finish fourth in the Ultima. My selection is one of the veterans in this contest at the age of 11, but he's only run the five times since winning this contest back in 2021.
He's since switched stables from Kim Bailey to Mrs Rowley, and the change of scenery has seemingly sparked some life back into him in his two starts so far. Jockey Jonny Burke takes the ride for connections, and the old boy could run a big race in his attempt to land this contest again.
Timmy Tuesday 8/1 – Aintree 1.20
Gordon Elliot hasn't had the greatest of times in the big festivals, but he's popped in the odd winner here and there at other meetings.
His runner in the opener caught my eye, and I thought at prices, Timmy Tuesday was a decent bet. Timmy Tuesday won last month at Down Royal over 2m4, and I was rather impressed by how he won on that occasion. He travelled ever so strongly throughout that contest, and despite hanging left, he was well on top towards the finish. Given how strongly he finished off his last two handicaps over 2m4, this step up in trip to 3m should hopefully suit him well. Timmy Tuesday will also run over a left handed track which will also aid his cause.
Horaces Pearl 7/1 – Aintree 1.55
Lulamba is very much the one to beat on the back of his second at Cheltenham in the Triumph Hurdle, but at odds on, I've opted to swerve him. Henderson feels that extra distance will help Lulamba, and as much as I would intend to agree, he isn't exactly proven over it, and the odds are simply too short to take a risk in my opinion.
One horse that has proven form over the trip is the unbeaten Horaces Pearl from the Fergal O'Brien yard. He won last time out at Newbury by a comfortable 6L over 2m5 so the forecast trip tomorrow of 2m4 should prove no issues. My selections form may not be as classy as that of Lulamba's, but he has shown enough in his last five starts to suggest he is more than worthy to cut it at this level.
From watching a few replays of his previous runs, Horaces Pearl appears to be a strong traveler and, more importantly, a very good jumper over the obstacles. 7/1 looks an attractive price on paper for this horse, and given I am advising this bet as an eachway Lucky 15, I couldn't not add him in.
Stumptown 10/1 – Aintree 4.00
My last selection on day three comes in the big one, The Grand National. As previously mentioned, my good friend Rizz has been on this horse as an antepost bet since October, and the 66/1 he got at that time is now sitting pretty sweetly. I've got my fingers crossed for him that Stumptown can do the business tomorrow afternoon.
I'm advising today's Lucky 15 bet as an eachway play, so it only makes sense to add a selection in the bet from the Grand National itself, as we will get more places on offer. Furthermore, Stumpstown has slightly drifted out to 10s from the 7s I took last week, but I wouldn't let a small drift like that put you off. This race, as many know, is a lottery, but I do believe Stumptown has a cracking chance.
There isn't much better form on offer than Stumptown's win at Cheltenham in the Cross Country. Stumptown has shown enough to suggest he will stay this trip, and if he jumps well, then I'm confident enough to say he'll bang there towards the finish. My only slight concern is if this contest comes too soon after the Cross Country run as he was made to work for that victory, spending most of the final third off the bridle. With that said, he continued to find under pressure and seemingly had a lot left in the tank as he finished well on top as he hit the line.
Advised bet – Eachway Lucky 15
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