Grand National Tips – Day 3 – Grand National Day

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It was a case of close but not close enough for my selections on day two of the Aintree Grand National festival.

Heart Wood looked to be travelling best when entering the business end and, in my opinion, looked the most likely winner, but from out of nowhere, the eventual winner, inothewayurthinkin, got a second wind and stormed through to land the spoils.

My last selection, Conflated, ran a blinder to finish second to Jonbon, and at one point, I thought I had called the winner, but he just didn't see it out as well as Jonbon. I never advised each way on my original post as only two places were on offer but looking back now I probably should have, given I fancied Conflated to run a big race.

Day three of the Aintree Grand National Festival is probably the worst in terms of quality and although we have the big race to look forward to, not a lot jumps out to me in terms of being a safe bet.

My main Grand National post will be live soon, you'll find my views and selections on the big race all on that post but I will include my selections as a header at the bottom of this article too.

Aintree Day 3 Races:

• 3:20: Bridle Road Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) – Honours Grey
• 13:55: Turners Mersey Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) – Sire Du Berlais
• 14:30: William Hill Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) – I Am Maximus
• 15:05: JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) – Corach Rambler
• 16:00: Randox Grand National Chase (Premier Handicap) – Delta Work
• 17:00: Maghull Novices' Chase (Grade 1) – Galia Des Liteaux

3:20: Bridle Road Handicap Hurdle

Honour Grey 14/1 EW – 13:20 Aintree

With the Ben Pauling yard firing in the winners this year, I was surprised to see Honor Grey priced up as big as 14s in the market. He enters this with decent each-way claims, with most bookmakers offering five places and some as many as seven (Sky Bet being one of the bookmakers).

He was having his first outing since October 2022, which saw him win at Ascot in February. He wasn't fancied in the market that day, as he went off at 14/1 there as well. Regardless, that was a solid performance given the layoff. Although he only won by 3/4 of a length, he battled on gamely and hit the line hard that day, giving the impression he had a bit more left in the tank.

Race fitness clearly won't be an issue and the run at Ascot will have blown away any cobwebs. Paul has given him a two-month break since his run at Ascot, so he should come here fresh and ready to go.

I dived a bit deeper into the form of his recent Ascot run, and although you can argue a 7lb rise is a tad on the harsh side for a narrow margin victory, the follow-up runs from the second and third that day suggest it's probably fair enough. Supreme Gift, who finished second, followed up with a 6l success in class 3, and the third-placed winner won a class 3 also by a whooping 21l.

This race, of course, represents a rise in grade, but he looks like a horse on the up, and his possible improvement could be anything.

15:05: JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle

Sire Du Berlais 5/1 – 15:05 Aintree

This year's Liverpool Hurdle is as competitive as you would expect, but I think this race could set up nicely for Sire Du Berlais. At 5/1, he looks a decent bet as he aims to make it a hat-trick of wins in this race.

I thought he did well to finish as close as he did at Cheltenham last time out when he was too far off the pace to land any significant blow. That being said, he did make up some decent ground when going for home and that should have set him up nicely for this. He enjoys something to aim at and should get that tomorrow with Flooring Porter who more times than most going to the front and sets a decent gallop.

The Elliott yard has been up and down this season, but they look like they are turning for the better as we approach the end of the jumps season. Better late than never, as they say!

He had a winner with Gerri Colombe on the opening day of the festival, and for what it's worth, he had two winners at Limerick on Thursday.

If Hewick wins this, I will be kicking myself, as he was withdrawn from the Grand National and aimed at this instead. If he ran in the Grand National, I'd have had an each-way play on him, but regardless, you go with your gut in this game, and I think the race is just set up to fall into Sire Du Berlais's favour.

Good luck to everyone on the final day of the festival. In the comments, let me know who you fancy for this year's 2024 Grand National. Can Corach Rambler join the history books?

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