The Grand National meeting at Aintree commences today and of course the fixture these days is not all about the big race on Saturday. We have four Grade 1 contests to kick things off today, of which I have selections for two of those races. However the one handicap on the card looks of most interest from a punting perspective. Spycatcher landed the nap for us on Saturday (advised 9/2) whilst Midnight Gun was placed for the each-way selection in the Lincoln (advised 8/1).
Aintree 1.45: Croke Park
Horses that have missed Cheltenham in favour of other targets can often do well at Aintree and this opening race on the card is a case in point where CROKE PARK can show the benefits of avoiding a hard race at the Festival, whilst favourite Jango Baie must prove he has overcome his exertions from a battling success in the Arkle.
Croke Park has always been a yard favourite of trainer Gordon Elliott, but went off the boil after Christmas last year having started the season in a very promising manner. However he has impressed me all season with the fluency of his jumping over fences and that can hold him in good stead today around this tight track.
He is the sort of horse who does not do much in front, hence the fact all his three wins during the first half of the season were by less than a length. He is perfectly genuine though as shown by they way he held off the pack in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse. He was not good enough to beat Ballyburn at the Dublin Racing Festival, but was still a good second on the day and keeping him fresh since for this looks a sound move.
Aintree 2.55: Spillanes Tower
Another to miss Cheltenham was SPILLANES TOWER who looks to leave behind him a rather sub-standard effort in the King George last time.
I am sure he was not at his best that day, but he was never really put in the contest with a serious chance. I think he is worth another chance at the highest level here having come close to landing the John Durkan earlier in the season when just touched off by Fact to File.
He already has winning form over 3m having won the Grade 1 novice at the Punchestown Festival last season, a success which also showed his effectiveness on good-to-soft ground. Still only seven we might not have seen the best of this gelding yet and I can see this race being run to suit as there are several horses in the race such as Stage Star, Ahoy Senor and Embassy Gardens who all like to force the pace early.
Aintree 4.40: The Folkes Tiara & Primoz
There are plenty of exposed looking sorts towards the head of the weights and this looks best left to two of the lower rated horses.
THE FOLKES TIARA won one of the most valuable 2m handicap chases on the calendar at Fairyhouse in November, another example of his ability to handle top of the ground conditions. We have only seen him once since, when defeated by the narrowest possible margin at Leopardstown’s Christmas fixture.
That was a race he had won the previous winter when again getting decent ground and I think it is safe to forget his unplaced efforts at last season’s Dublin Racing Festival and Cheltenham because the soft ground on those days were against him. He is up in the weights of course, but I like his usual prominent racing style around this track and all the elements are otherwise in his favour.
PRIMOZ did go to Cheltenham, but his chance in the Grand Annual had gone by the first fence having been another victim of the chaotic starting process that week. As it happened I did not particularly fancy him for that race because he has shown all his best form to date on flat tracks and was well beaten at Cheltenham earlier in the season.
His good ground win back at the start of autumn around Wetherby saw Primoz at his best and his hurdles successes at Ayr last season, including at the big spring meeting showed how effective he is around sharp, left-handed tracks. The drying ground will be in his favour too and he is a quick horse who can pounce off a strong gallop.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Croke Park – 1.45 Aintree – 11/2 general
1pt win – Spillanes Tower – 2.55 Aintree – 11/4 general
1pt each-way – The Folkes Tiara – 4.40 Aintree – 6/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way- Primoz – 4.40 Aintree – 6/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
