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Results from Day 1 not too surprising and here's a look at Friday.
Only 4 of the 7 runners finished the Novices' Chase with the placegetters being the ones we hadn't mentioned – Miller's Bank won by 10 lengths from War Lord and The Widowmaker was third with Gin on Lime, who had led nearly the whole way, ran out of steam at in the run to the line, finishing 4th.
There was a bit of excitement in the Juvenile Hurdle when Knight Salute 14/1 dead-heated with Pied Piper but this result was overturned in the Stewards' room where it was ajudged that Pied Piper had interfered with Knight Salute and the latter was awarded the race. Brazil was 12l back in third and Petit Tonnerre was pulled up.
Clan des Obeaux won the Betway Bowl much to the delight of owner Sir Alex Ferguson, defeating Conflated by a length and Kemboy 8l away third. Protektorat weakened and was 4th and Eldorado Allen the last of the finishers with the trainer unable to offer any explanation for the poor run.
Epatante was an easy winner of the Aintree Hurdle made easier when main rival Zanahiyr fell. For the record Monmiral was 14 lengths away in second.
The Red Rum was a wipeout for us except for Sky Pirate who ran fourth! The winner was The Last Day 12/1 from Dancing On My Own 25/1 and then 15l to Shakem Up'Arry third.
Friday'ss card has 2 G3s and 3 G1s starting off with the Alder Hay and Aintree Handicap Hurdle Gr 3 and a field of 22.
Langer Dee seems to be the preferred way to go on 3/1 with Speech Bubble 11/2, Cobler's Dream 7/1 and we like Fils d'Oudairies on 8/1, with a very rough roughie in Fred at 50/1.
The Novices' Hurdle Gr 1 has Jonbon at evens after his second to Constitution Hill at Cheltenham. We could be tempted by Willie Mullins's El Fabiolo 7/2 and there is First Street at 6/1.
The Mildmay Novices' Chase Gr 1 has only 4 runners and it seems to be a match race between Bravemansgame and L'Homme Presse. Ignore unless you are doing race to race.
The Marsh Chase Gr 1 has 10 runners and we have been waiting for this for Saint Calvados. He bled 2 races back and got pulled up last outing probably because they didn't want to stress him and he should be ready for this and is on 17/2, along with Funamule Sivola with Fakir d'Oudairies fav on 6/5.
The Topham Handicap Chase is Gr 3 and has a maximum field of 30. Mister Coffey is on 7/1, Mac Tattie 15/2 and we are happy to give Notebook another chance especially on 18/1. And the Mullins runner Royal Rendezvous should be considered.
The Sefton Novices' Hurdle Gr 1 has 14 runners with Banbridge on 5/2, Gelino Bello 11/2 and a bit of a roughie in Green Book on 11/1.
