Racing tips: Stage Star could be very tough to stop from a front running ride

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I don't understand how Golden Keeper was as bad as he was at Catterick, it seemed too bad to be true. On a positive note, at least it was just one selection as there is some strange results happening on the flat at the minute, especially with soft ground.

Aintree 1:45 – Stage Star 13/8 (2pt)

At the time of writing, Stage Star is around 13/8 and I think that makes him a quality bet for day 1 of the Grand National meeting.

He surprised many when winning the Turners Novice Chase at Cheltenham last month, making all under Harry Cobden and pinging every fence along the way. He beat Mighty Potter, who looked like a machine before losing at Cheltenham and had previously put Banbridge firmly in his place. Though many will believe the form isn't great due to the runner-up being the horse he is, I think he could easily romp home in this on a track which should suit under another front-running ride.

It wouldn't surprise me to see Banbridge withdrawn on the forecast ground, as he was pulled out of Cheltenham on soft ground, so they clearly have their reservations about him on a testing surface. Saint Roi is the interesting runner in this race as he goes up in trip, which is strange as he has campaigned over 2m over hurdles and fences all of his career, and now they've change their plan and upped in him trip. If he stays, he is one to be wary of as he does have some decent form over hurdles. However, his run at Cheltenham didn't impress me, he was miles behind Jonbon who I tipped, but looking back I don't think Jonbon is as good as everyone seems to think.

Aintree 2:55 – Ahoy Senor 11/4 (1pt)

It's always a bit of a risk going for Ahoy Senor as you never know what version is going to turn up, but I can't help but be drawn to him again as he just has the ability to run well in big races and win races like this, and is attractively price up by the bookies.

He is up there with one of my favourite horses in training, he's been tipped up by myself on multiple occasions and when I don't tip him up he wins and chucks egg in my face. I don't think this race is as good as it might look. Ahoy Senor was in the middle of running a very big race in the Gold Cup 27 days ago, he jumped well for the most part but he got in too close to a fence on the back straight of the final circuit and which gave him no chance of landing the jump. I think he would've finished in the top 3/4 that day, that's for sure as he has an engine and he looked like he was on one of his good days that day. I think the return to Aintree will suit him, he is 2/3 at the track and has won 2 Grade 1's here, including last year over fences when easily beating Bravemansgame and L'Homme Presse.

Unfortunately, his usual jockey, Derek Fox is injured and isn't risking a ride until Corach Rambler in the National, so it means we get my good mate, Brian Hughes in the saddle. Everyone knows I'm not Brian's biggest fan, I don't like his riding style and he never seems to fire the horses into a fence, which is what I like in a jockey. That is my only concern for him today, so fingers crossed Brian doesn't chuckle it.

A Plus Tard is a Gold Cup winning horse but he hasn't looked the same since, he's clearly had problems as he was PU at Haydock in the Betfair Chase earlier this season and was PU in the Gold Cup when he was hampered by the falling horses. He wasn't jumping great anyway and I think he would've been PU anyway, so I struggle to see him winning this.

Shishkin will attract support like he always does and he might find the improvement needed to win this on his first try over 3m, well in fact 3m 1f. He might stay, but there are far too many questions to be answered from him at this moment in time. He will prefer Aintree, but he has a very hard race at Cheltenham and he put in a very big performance the time before, so I do worry at the age of 9 whether those runs will have taken their toll.

Aintree 4:40 – The Last Day 10/1 (0.5pt ew 4pl)

I don't think this race is that good either, and I'll be siding with a previous winning tip in this race last year in The Last Day. He won for me at odds of 12/1 last year in this exact race and he is only 2 lbs higher this season. He is now an 11yo so it will be tough for him, but odds of 10/1 at the time of writing seem fair enough with 4 places on offer and I think he is worth a try at a race which has clearly been the plan for quite a while.

I tipped him up at Cheltenham and in hindsight, it was a terrible idea as they were always going to come back and go for this race, so you can probably say that was a prep run for today's race. You rarely see an Evan Williams horse win at huge odds of 33/1, so the fact he went off at those odds suggests he wasn't anywhere near fit enough to do himself justice.

He is 2/2 at this track and relishes soft ground, so I expect a much better run from this horse today.

Aintree 5:15 – Gaillimh A Run 8/1 (0.5pt ew 4pl)

I'd hate to be the commentator pronouncing this mare's name, but I do think Gaillimh A Run comes to this race with an EW chance for a trainer who won this race back in 2018 with a very smart bumper horse, Getaway katie mai.

John doesn't send many horses over to the UK, so when he does they have to be respected as he could easily have kept this mare in Ireland for Punchestown or the Fairyhouse race just gone which was a decent pot. Instead, they've come to Aintree where John is 1/1 in bumpers and is 5/15 with one horse in 3rd and two finishing 4th, equaling a profit of +42.63 to £1 level stakes. Whenever the smaller yards bring over runners for races like this, it makes you think that they firmly believe they have a fighting chance of walking away with some decent prize money.

Considering John has previously won this race with a nice mare, and that was his sole runner in a bumper race at this track, it makes you think that he knows what calibre of horse is needed to win this, and I don't believe for one minute that they'd send this mare to Aintree if they weren't confident, as it would just be a waste of money on travelling. They've booked the Coddmaster in Jamie Codd, which is never a negative and at the prices she has to be respected, especially with four runs under her belt and two wins.

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