Aintree Grand National Meeting - Day 1

x PyRo

Selections et all here. GL folks.

2:00 Aintree - Carlito Brigante - 1pt e/w @ 10/1 (Bet365)

It's probably a bit pointless opposing the main duo, with Big Buck's likely to win again, but I was extremely impressed with Gordan Elliot's 5 year old at Cheltenham. It was hard not to be impressed, but he made a mockery of a 22 strong field in the Coral Cup over 2m 5f at Cheltenham. There were worries over how Carlito Brigante would get the trip, but he got it with ease and ran out a very easy 6 length winner, although his closest pursuer said farewell when falling at the final hurdle when beaten. Given that he got the trip so easily there, I'd imagine the step up to an extended 3 mile on a flat track without much problem. Whether he's good enough is another thing, but a wind-op and tongue tie seems to have improved him to no end, so I'll have a small each-way punt at decent odds. He'll do well to topple either of the front two in the market, but he has ability and lots of it, enough to get third at least.

2:30 Aintree - Local Hero - 0.5pts e/w @ 16/1 (VC)

Backed this fellow in the Triumph during the festival, where he was a staying on 10 length 8th behind Zarkander, the odds-on favourite today. He'll be doing very well to overturn that form but I'll take my chances at nice odds. He wouldn't exactly be a fluent jumper, having failed to convince on a few occasions but he has a massive engine and if he could string everything together, he could manage to get a lot closer to those that finished ahead last time out. AP McCoy is back in the saddle having deserted him and that's sure to be a plus. McCoy guided Local Hero to all 3 of his hurdling wins, including a Grade 2 at Cheltenham back in January, where he got a very good finish out of him despite numerous mistakes. The horse probably does need further and this track mightn't be exactly ideal, but I think a place is certainly on the cards on ground that suits. It's another race where one of the front two should win, although stranger things have happened. Minimal each-way bet for me.

3:05 Aintree - Punchestowns - 3pts @ 6/1 (Bet365)

Skipped Cheltenham to be fresh for this, which was a good idea given that he doesn't jump fences very well around there and whilst todays fences aren't exactly easy, he should be able to handle them a lot better. Punchestowns was a high class hurdler, rated 173 before going novice chasing, but he hasn't lived up to his potential in this sphere, getting beaten on 3 occasions, mainly due to jumping poorly. Although he jumped terribly nearly every time he's won too, but he has a huge engine, travels well, likes this ground and could just prove to be a better animal around here and away from Cheltenham. He'll have to improve a fair bit to beat Denman, but at least he comes here fresh and hopefully he'll have got a lot of schooling in anticipation of making a good charge for this £85k pot. The favourite, for all it'd be lovely to see him win, may just find himself up against it on the back of a tough race. He also fell in this race two years ago when struggling. He's an out-and-out galloper, so how a test of speed will suit nowadays is left to be seen, but I couldn't back him with stolen money at his price. Punchestowns could finally live up to his promise over fences, and at 6/1, he looks a decent price to do so, even if he can't jump!

Not going near the Fox Hunters'. Hope young Twister wins though.

4:15 Aintree - Sports Line - 1.5pts e/w @ 14/1 (Betfred)

Definitely not a recent form pick but was up near the top in Novice Chases for Willie Mullins, including a relatively close up 3rd to Captain Cee Bee in a Grade 1 at Punchestown 12 months ago. Sports Line has since shown very little on 3 runs for his new yard, but McCain fancies the track to be right up his alley and I'll trust him on that. Henry Brooke is on board, taking 7lbs off his back to leave a riding weight of 9st 7lbs, as most of the animals here are out of the handicap, but that could come in handy here and the ground should be alright too. It's a fairly wide open contest and claims could be made for plenties of them, but I think that this fellow is well treated on his best form and could put it all together here. 14/1 with one firm, 10's generally, and that looks a nice each-way price. Small enough each-way bet for me.

ghosttown

Bets for the day are on;
2.30 - Local Hero 16/1
3.40 - Ice tea 12/1
4.15 - Mamlook 13/2
5.25 - Problema Tic 11/1

4 x 2ew
6 x 1ew double
4 x 0.50ew treb
0.50 ew acc

Also 5ew Kanesh 3.40
Total 43.00

mike65

I haven't done a specific Aintree bet but I do have a "No1" accu thing running right now and a few are included

Grandouet @ 10/3 (GP)
Baby Run @ 7/2 (GP)
Get Me Out Of Here @ 15/2 (GP)
Woolcombe Folly @ 13/2 (GP)