Neil Morrice brings us his best bets and tips from Friday's racing from around the United Kingdom! Tips on 5 April come your way from day two of the Grand National Festival as well as Wolverhampton and Sedgefield.
JLT Chase (Registered as the Melling Chase) (Grade 1)
As his name points out, fans of
WAITING PATIENTLY have been doing just that and Ruth Jefferson's gelding has seen the racecourse just twice this season, unseating his rider early doors in the King George VI Chase and chasing home the freakish Cyrname in the Ascot Chase in February. Subsequent plans have focussed firmly on this contest and this is a real chance for the gelding to show he's the best the North has to offer. He brings plenty to the table under Brian Hughes and should benefit from the equipping of first-time cheekpieces.
Paul Nicholls didn't take up this option with Cyrname who can only operate on right-handed tracks. But even without that equine Brexiteer, the Ditcheat trainer has a potent super-sub in the shape of
POLITOLOGUE. The hooded eight-year-old ran possibly the race of his life to get within a length and three-quarters of Altior in the Champion Chase which confirmed he'd bounced back from a couple of below-par previous efforts. Taking account of the fact that he's equally as good over this longer distance, Politologue is a worthy favourite here as he attempts to complete back-to-back victories in the prize.
MIN will struggle to cope with the latter on Wueen Mother running as he met traffic problems after jumping the third last and wasn't able to recover, finishing fifth and some nine and a half lengths adrift of Politologue.
Those looking for an upset might consider
TOP NOTCH who didn't turn up in the Stayers' Hurdle and now returns to fences on the back of a light season.
GOD'S OWN,
HELL'S KITCHEN and
WOODLAND OPERA appear to be outclassed.
Neil Morrice's Predicted Finish
First: WAITING PATIENTLY
Second: Politologue
Third: Top Notch
Fourth: Min
Fifth: God's Own
Randox Health Topham Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
The final race over the National fences before the big one features a solid favourite in
JANIKA who takes a strong profile to post for Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty. The JP McManus-owned mare has a willing attitude to racing and an economical jumping technique that should lend itself to this race over slightly more than a circuit of the Grand National course. Don't be put off by that fact she's finished second in all three of her outings this season - she's thoroughly genuine and under 11st 12lb ran a stormer to go down fighting by three-quarters of a length to Siruh Du Lac in the Brown Advisory Plate at the Cheltenham Festival. In some schooling over a special ' Aintree' style fence in Lambourn she was electric the other day.
Henderson has a second string to his bow in the shape of
O O SEVEN who is on the same mark as when finishing fourth in this two years ago. He's been campaigned sparingly and is the type that could get competitive.
Although he hasn't won for two years
HENRYVILLE needs to be taken seriously for new trainer Peter Bowen, having dropped 12lb in the ratings to a tempting mark. Furthermore, he has twice shown an affinity for these fences, albeit when with another trainer. But Bowen as we know is a master at preparing one for the Topham, having sent out Always Waining to win it three times in a row, a record that is unlikely ever to be matched. Henryville finished eight in this last season and also placed in the Grand Sefton Chase. He's a spring horse but wouldn't want the ground to go soft.
Equally fascinating is
ADRIEN DU PONT who was given a lot to do when third to Walt at Kempton but didn't compete at Cheltenham, having been trained with this race in mind by Paul Nicholls. I find it hard to know why his Kempton run didn't attract the attention of the Stewards, as he was last turning in only to pick up and fly when the birds had flown. I don't know why he didn't win that day, but am willing to pay to find out. This horse needs to be backed to make amends. I just hope he doesn't get too far back.
Assuring there's a furious pace up front will be
CADMIUM and
DIMPLE. They are good jumpers but the latter needs better ground to be seen to maximum effect and it doesn't look like he'll get it.
Neil Morrice's Predicted Finish
First: ADRIEN DU PONT
Second: Janika
Third: Henryville
Fourth: CADMIUM
Fifth: O O SEVEN
Betway Mildmay Novices' Chase (Grade 1)
There must be a reasonable chance that the winner of next year's Gold Cup is in this field, because both
TOPOFTHEGAME and
LOSTINTRANSLATION are exciting to watch and superb jumpers. My own loyalties are divided as I backed both of them in their respective races at Cheltenham, Topofthegame winning the RSA Chase and Lostintranslation finishing an honourable second to Defi Du Seuil in the JLT Novices' Chase.
Paul Nicholls can't conceal his admiration for
TOPOFTHEGAME. The man who tutored the careers of Kauto Star and Denman thinks this colossal old fashioned type is the real deal, and ready to stamp his seal on the major three-mile chases next season.
Colin Tizzard is equally complimentary about
LOSTINTRANSLATION who attracts his fences with alacrity and elan, and looks a dyed-in-the-wool Gold Cup prospect. He will under Robbie Power set out to take no prisoners here.
CHRIS'S DREAM won't mind cut in the ground and is an interesting Irish raider that has been selectively campaigned this season. Coming here a fresh horse under Rachael Blackmore, he looks to have a place chance behind the 'big two'.
MR WHIPPED is another coming into battle fresh from a break but might still have to settle for minor honours.
Neil Morrice's Predicted Finish:
First: TOPOFTHEGAME
Second: Lostintranslation
Third: Chris's Dream
Fourth: Mr Whipped
Aintree Best Bets - Day 2 Undercard
Race 1 Merseyrail Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
WAIT FOR ME
Trainer: Philip Hobbs
Jockey: Richard Johnson
WAIT FOR ME Seems to have lost his way but ran better than it looked at Cheltenham and has become well handicapped. A horse that is at his best either early or late in the season and in with an Each Way shout at a working man's price.
Race 6 Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)
CHAMP
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Jockey: Barry Geraghty
To say
CHAMP has done nothing wrong this season is something of an understatement considering his four race winning sequence was only halted at the very top level by City Island at Cheltenham. For a horse that takes a keen grip, he finds plenty at the business end of his races and the same was true as he only gave way to his conqueror up the final hill. He's trained beautifully subsequently and any easing in ground conditions will not bother him.
Wolverhampton Best Bets
Race 4: AGENT BASTERFIELD (8)
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Getting weight from his seven foes,
AGENT BASTERFIELD turns out quickly after a pleasing seasonal comeback over this trip at Chelmsford City where he lost out in a head bob to Hypnos. That was his best offering in four career starts and he can build on it.
Race 6: RHOSSILI DOWN (10)
Trainer: Charles Hills
Jockey: P J McDonald
Charlie Hills campaigned
RHOSSILI DOWN like a good filly last year and after her creditable debut offering when third at Newbury took her to another Grade 1 track for a final outing. While she ultimately disappointed, she started just 11-2 and was beaten a total of only three lengths.
Sedgefield Best Bets
Race 3: JOKERS AND ROGUES (3)
Trainer: Dianne Sayer
Jockey: Conor O'Farrell
Returning to his happiest hunting ground
JOKERS AND ROGUES can gain an all-important easy lead which is paramount to the horse's winning chance. A dual scorer here, he could be very hard to peg back if given too much leeway and that's a scenario I can see occurring.
Race 6: MIDNIGHT BLISS (1)
Trainer: C Fryer
Jockey: Mr J Andrews
Most of these have been out of form but top weight
MIDNIGHT BLISS is a consistent sort who is more likely than his rivals to give his true running. He can compensate for a fall (when already beaten) at Southwell over this longer trip.
