3 minute read

There are 4 Grade 1 races on Day 1 and 3 on Day 2.

On day 1 the Aintree Hurdle, which is now run on this day rather than the Saturday, will be one of the top attractions with Constitution Hill versus 5 others.  It's an increase in trip for him but since he has now won 6 from 6 by a combined margin of 86 lengths – the 9 lengths of the Champion Hurdle being the shortest – the only thing to stop you putting the mortgage on him is the price of 1/9! Stablemate Epatante won this last year but she wasn't that sparkling at Cheltenham and is on 14/1.

Activities get underway with the Novices' Chase with 5 runners and on paper it is a battle between Banbridge and Stage Star who aims to continue the Cheltenham winning form.  Both are on 3/2 or thereabouts.

The Jewson Juvenile Hurdle has 9 runners with Zento on 5/4 for Mullins- Mark Walsh and 11/2 the quote for Bo Zenith and Nusret from the Gary Moore and Joseph O'Brien yards respectively.

The Aintree Bowl has had one of the strangest scratchings:  Bravemansgame had to be withdrawn because one of his named owners is under investigation by a financial watchdog and the horse – or his share of it – is considered an asset and therefore is "frozen".  The horse had a good chance too!  Now the best placed in Shishkin on 15/8 for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville with A Plus Tard looking for a bit of redemption after his last run which possibly came too soon in his recovery from injury so if he has fit he has a great chance and 5/2 OK – as usual Racheal Blackmore rides for Henry de Bromhead.

Friday's card also starts with a Novices' Chase with 6 runners.  Gerri Colombe will be ridden by Davy Russell as Jack Kennedy has not yet got the all clear in recovering from a broken leg.  He says this is one of the rides he will miss the most.  They are on 10/11 with the Mullins-Townend runner Bronn on 10/3.

The Novices' Hurdle has a field of 16 and here we like the mare Luccia who was unlucky last time but has great form before that – she's on 4/1 with Nicky-Nico.  Found A Fifty is 7/2 for Elliott-Russell and 4/1 Inthepocket de Bromhead-Blackmore.

The Marsh Chase has 7 runners with the two top contenders being Fakir d'Oudairies for Joseph O'Brien and Mark Walsh and Pic d'Orhy for Nicholls-Cobden tied on 9/4.