Friday 8 April 2022

Friday 8th & Saturday 9th April 2022: Mount Up for a Grand National Belter

The Grand National is now upon us. Britain’s most famous race, and the country’s biggest betting event too, is run at Aintree on Saturday and we have a keenly priced selection in the big one along with plenty of other information for Friday and Saturday.

Friday 8th April 2022

1.45 Aintree (Handicap Hurdle – Grade 3) – LANGER DAN

Dan Skelton’s Langer Dan was backed off the boards for the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival and he was desperately unlucky there to be brought down at the second hurdle.

He’s been readied superbly to win a valuable handicap and this could prove to be great compensation gained while he is still fresh.

He had a similar prep last season before winning the Imperial Cup and finishing second in the Martin Pipe, and I reckon that he remains better handicapped than main rivals Cobblers Dream and Speech Bubble.

5.25 Kempton (Maiden Fillies’ Stakes) – TIMELESS MELODY

There are a couple of interesting newcomers here, so do watch out for any significant money for John and Thady Gosden’s Glorious Romance or William Haggas’ Hello Jumeirah.

Delphinus brings the best form into the race on paper, but there should be a lot more to come from Charlie Appleby’s Timeless Melody and she is the selection in this 1m3f contest.

Appleby saddled three in a one-mile fillies’ novice at Newcastle back in February, the trio finishing second, third and fourth in the correct order according to the betting.

Timeless Melody was the last of those, losing a couple of places late on, but the form of the others has been more than a little encouraging since then. The daughter of Teofilo has been given plenty of time and Will Buick is on hand to guide her round, his only mount of the day.

Saturday 9th April 2022

2.25 Aintree (Mersey Novices’ Hurdle – Grade 1) – WALKING ON AIR

Nicky Henderson’s Epatante simply cruised into the race over 2m4f on Thursday around here, and now it’s hoped that a stablemate at the other end of his career can do the same.

Walking On Air can’t match the experience of Stage Star, Three Stripe Life or North Lodge, but boy is there some talent there.

The five-year-old has had only one bumper and one hurdle start to date, the latter culminating in a completely facile win at Newbury.

He had any amount in hand, in reality probably running to about 20-25lbs better than a horse who has since won and is rated 122. That puts Walking On Air close to the 150-mark potentially, something only Three Stripe Life can match though I reckon the younger horse can improve past him now.

3.35 Aintree (Liverpool Hurdle – Grade 1) – THYME HILL 

Champ is probably just going a little backwards now and this race could be down to the Cheltenham Festival 1-2 from the Stayers’ Hurdle; Flooring Porter and Thyme Hill. Flooring Porter did what he does that day, but benefitted from a fantastic ride from Danny Mullins.

Aintree is very different though and it should suit last year’s winner Thyme Hill. Philip Hobbs’ star is still improving and can turn the tables on Flooring Porter.

5.15 Aintree (Grand National – Grade 3) – MOUNT IDA 

You don’t have to be a fan of Gordon Elliott to appreciate how good he is with these big staying races, or how lucky he is to have so many such types to choose from which may equally be the case.

There may be no Tiger Roll now, but Elliott’s yard still has several in with a serious chance this year including Escaria Ten and Run Wild Fred. I like those two, but the one I like best is Mount Ida.

There’s been a lot of talk about mares and their ability, or perceived inability, to win this race. As it happens, I also like the mare Snow Leopardess who should go off favourite for this race but in a strange twist she isn’t the mare I like most!

Mount Ida may be better handicapped, despite carrying 11-5. Unplaced only once in chase races, the daughter of Yeats has been running over shorter distances which is just good prep, although she won the 3m2f Kim Muir easily at last year’s Cheltenham Festival and is a near certain stayer.

Any Second Now is another to consider along with the previously mentioned runners, but in this extraordinary race you could do worse at the odds than use Mount Ida in your various win, each-way and perhaps exotic bets.

9.45 Aqueduct (Wood Memorial Stakes – Grade 2) – MORELLO 

The last three races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby are run this weekend, perhaps the strongest three in fact.

Over in California, Messier and Forbidden Kingdom renew rivalry in the Santa Anita Derby. They boast the strongest form so far and in taking each other on again at Grade 1 level will have to put it all in. Whoever wins will likely be favourite for Churchill Downs on May 7, but won’t have much if any improvement to come.

In Kentucky, Keeneland hosts the Blue Grass Stakes. Smile Happy is favourite for that one but has been drawn wide. He may or may not get the better of Emmanuel, with a win for Smile Happy in this Grade 1 probably just seeing Epicenter’s odds shrink further at the top of the market.

We stick with New York and the Grade 2 Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct. If I were forced to back a horse in the Kentucky Derby now, it would be Morello.

Bred for the job by Classic Empire, Steve Asmussen’s colt was a facile winner of the Gotham Stakes over a mile back in March.

He hardly broke a sweat that day meaning, unlike so many others on the trail, he has plenty more to give and it’s clear that they think plenty of him at home.

Mo Donegal and Early Voting feature fairly highly in the Derby betting, but aren’t in the same league as Morello on a level playing field and I reckon it’s Jose Lezcano’s mount who makes a bold claim for the Run for the Roses on Saturday.

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