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Day Three means that it's Grand National Day.

The going has been downgraded to heavy everywhere and any more rain would surely turn it into bottomless.  Before we get to the Grand National there are two G1 races to whet the appetite and hopefully boost the coffers.

The first of these is the Novices'Hardle with 9 runners.  Brighter Days Ahead is the Elliot-Kennedy runner on 15/8 but we are slightly leaning towards Caldwell Potter who has already picked up a Gr 1 in Ireland.  From the Mullins yard Jimmy du Seuil, the Townend mount, is slightly ahead of Ile Atlantique on 5/1 so watch the market.

Liverpool Hurdle and there is an interesting clash between Flooring Porter 10/3 who placed in this in 2022 and 2023 and the 12yo Sire du Berlais who won this in 2022 and 2023.  There's an up and coming rival in Hiddenvalley Lake 15/2 from the de Bromhead yard with Rachael Blackmore riding and we are not going to ignore Monkfish on 10/1 with the Mullins-Townend connection.

The Grand National is just under 7 kms and there are 30 obstacles for the 34 runers to negotiate.  The top three in the market are Coach Rambler 5/1 (Lucinda Russell and Derek Fox) – they won last year and third in the Gold Cup this year, I Am Maximus 7/1 (Mullins-Townend) and won the Irish Grand National with a great run from behind finish, and Meeting of the Waters 8/1 (another Mullins runner with Danny M on board).

Three we are considering some investment in are Limerick Lace 16/1(Cromwell- Mark Walsh) who has won 3 of her last 4 starts, Minella Indo 20/1 (deBromhead-Blackmore) who won the Gold Cup in 2021 and has got stamina which will be very much needed here, and we have to support our beloved Noble Yeats also at 20/1 as he has a win and a place in previous editions and his Daddy was always good to us.