Aintree Grand National Festival – Day 1

Katie Midwinter (12/04/23)

The first day of the Aintree Grand National Meeting kicks off in tremendous fashion with a mouth-watering card sure to whet the appetite of any racing fan ahead of the showpiece event on Saturday. The Aintree Bowl is the pick of the races on day one, with Constitution Hill the star on show in the Aintree Hurdle. There are plenty of youngsters putting their credentials on the line, as well as a first glimpse at the National fences in the Open Hunters’ Chase.

1:45pm – Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

Five runners head to post and Stage Star appears the one to beat following an excellent Turners win at the Cheltenham Festival. The rain is a big concern for nearest rival Banbridge, and he may not line up having been taken out of the race at Cheltenham due to the unsuitable ground. Connections may in hindsight have chosen to roll the dice at Prestbury Park given that strong favourite Mighty Potter slightly underperformed, as well as Appreciate It, opening the door for a masterful Harry Cobden ride aboard Stage Star and a fabulous performance by Notlongtillmay in second.

The lovely Mighty Potter sadly lost his life after suffering a fatal injury at Fairyhouse on Sunday. A four-time Grade One winner already in his short career, he had the world at his feet and could have been a true great. He will be sorely missed and thoughts are with all those who loved and cared for him.

If Banbridge is taken out, Stage Star will surely go off as an odds-on favourite. However, if the Irish-raider holds his own, he could be in with a chance despite not running on his favoured ground. He finished a close second to Undersupervision in a Point-To-Point on yielding to soft ground back in 2020, and won his maiden hurdle on ground described as soft at Punchestown.

Although he may be seen to better effect on a sounder surface, he is likely to be good enough to pose a threat on ground that will be fresh in the first race of the Festival. Banbridge himself will also be fresher, having skipped his Cheltenham assignment. Perhaps that will make all the difference in the closing stages.

Saint Roi beat Visionarian to win a Leopardstown Grade One in December and could fare better than his recent run at Cheltenham, capable of posing a threat in calmer waters. He was beaten twelve-lengths by El Fabiolo in the Arkle over 2m, whilst Banbridge was beaten ten-lengths by the same horse in the Irish equivalent in which Saint Roi unseated early on. The pair could be closer than expected over this longer trip and Saint Roi could prove a tough competitor capable of rivalling Stage Star if Banbridge is declared a non-runner.

2:20pm – Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1)

Zenta did well to finish third in the Triumph on only her second start for new yard. She still has some learning to do and could be capable of showing plenty of further progression. Fellow Irish-raider Nusret, a Golden Horn colt representing Joseph O’Brien, has found a few juveniles better over the Irish Sea but gained success when last seen and could be competitive once again.

Bo Zenith represents an in-form Gary Moore yard performing at a 40% strike rate. He beat Blood Destiny when the pair met in Auteuil but that form no longer looks as impressive as it once did.

Stablemate Perseus Way runs in the same colours and appears to represent more value. The Godolphin-bred son of Sea The Stars has more experience and, whilst he is exposed his third behind Comfort Zone on testing Chepstow ground, as well as his second to Nusret at Kempton, could work out to be decent formlines.

Milton Harris had been very bullish about his former Ballydoyle resident Scriptwriter, as the four-year-old recorded three successive wins at the beginning of his career in a new discipline. Soft ground isn’t to his liking and the rainfall at Aintree is a concern. On a sounder surface he is better than his recent performances have shown, and could still be useful yet not seen to the best of his ability on ground with significant give in it.

The booking of Harry Cobden must be seen as a positive and he has been kept fresh following a disappointing run at Kempton when last seen. If he’s able to replicate his form from the autumn, he has to be in with a chance, but will have to overcome the improving Zenta.

Hat-trick seeking Greyval beat Golden Glance comfortably when last seen, a horse who has since recorded a convincing maiden win at Haydock. Fergal O’Brien’s filly receives the allowance and has proven form on soft ground. This is a big step up in class but she is unexposed. Pawapuri is another unexposed type but will need to fare much better than her debut run and has plenty to do to reverse form with a couple of her more experienced rivals.

Tony Mullins’ Rightsotom has kept on well in two starts to date, perhaps learning on the job and improving with more experience. He could be an interesting outsider worth keep an eye on.

2:55pm – Aintree Bowl Chase (Grade 1)

Gold Cup runner-up Bravemansgame proved his staying capabilities with a wonderful ride in Cheltenham’s showpiece. Travelling beautifully as he so often does, jumping with wonderful accuracy and staying with the freakish Galopin Des Champs all the way to the final fence. The vision of the pair jumping the last in unison will live long in the memory and Bravemansgame just lacked the speed in the final furlongs up that Cheltenham hill. Conflated was back in third and, whilst he creeped closer towards Bravemansgame coming towards the line, he had been well-beaten.

Paul Nicholls’ charge deserves to go off as favourite, as he brings the best form into the race. A King George VI Chase winner this term, before being kept fresh for his Cheltenham target, he has shown class and plenty of ability in his career to date, despite being scrutinised on many occasions. He is arguably the best chaser in Britain at the moment, and you’d go far to find a better jumper of a fence. However, he had a tough race last time out and will have been primed for that race, therefore may be best watched here. Aintree hasn’t been the track at which he’s seen to his best, and it’s likely to suit the likes of Ahoy Senor who has already recorded two wins over his rival in Liverpool.

Lucinda Russell’s course-and-distance winner fell at Cheltenham having made the running whilst travelling well. He is a lovely jumper and has proved himself at the top level with a Grade One win here twelve months ago. If Bravemansgame shows any tiredness, Ahoy Senor will be ready to pounce given he has recovered from his nasty 17th fence departure at Prestbury Park last month.

Whilst cases can be made for both Bravemansgame and Ahoy Senor, they face stiff opposition in older pair Shishkin and A Plus Tard respectively. The Nicky Henderson-trained Shishkin has looked vulnerable since pulling up in the Champion Chase last season, and suffered from injuries and complications during 2022. A classy horse and on his day near unbeatable, Shishkin took time to adapt on pipe-opener at Sandown before bouncing back to winning ways in the Ascot Chase, much to the delight of his overjoyed trainer.

At Cheltenham he was never travelling comfortably, being niggled along by jockey Nico de Boinville from the outset. Perhaps had he not tried to take a couple of fences with him on his journey in the Ryanair Chase, he may have overcome eventual winner Envoi Allen and was the nearest at the finish, rallying late on when the race was lost.

In the aftermath of the race it was clear that de Boinville wasn’t happy aboard Shishkin, and it just wasn’t his day. He is much better than that but his jumping let him down, as well as his reluctance to go with the pack in the early stages. If Henderson is able to get him back on song, and Shishkin is in the mood, he will be very difficult to beat. The preliminaries may provide crucial clues.

Former Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard is the highest-rated horse in the race and should never be discounted, despite two pulled-up efforts this season. On reappearance at Haydock he looked well in the paddock but didn’t travel a yard and Rachael Blackmore called it a day. Some injury problems were found and A Plus Tard was kept fresh for March, to attempt to retain his crown at Cheltenham.

Henry de Bromhead’s star was badly hampered during the race and rightly pulled-up by Blackmore when travelling nicely enough alongside Galopin Des Champs. Connections were hoping for a big run, and it’s believed that A Plus Tard could have gone close had he not suffered misfortune.

Ga Law is the outsider of the field and has a mountain to climb with his high-quality opponents. With 13lbs to find with the next lowest-rated horse Ahoy Senor, Jamie Snowden’s gelding looks unlikely to make the frame. He could only manage fifth in the Ryanair when sent off at odds of 40/1, and has plenty to find with Shishkin on that run.

This race is a mouthwatering clash of the titans, but is exceptionally difficult to predict. It may come down to which horse jumps with the most fluency, and if that is the case then Bravemansgame should be first past the post. However, Shishkin has shaped as a horse desperate for a step up in trip of late, and a crack at 3m1f could bring out enough improvement to have the beating of the field. He will need to settle better and show more enthusiasm, but if he can get into a steady rhythm and switch-off early on, expect him to be right there at the finish. All being well he could head to the King George in December, and it may be worth taking a look at the ante-post markets ahead of this race.

A revitalised A Plus Tard will be tough to beat in the run-in, but he is perhaps the least reliable of the three main contenders at this stage, which reflects in his enticing price. Ahoy Senor and Conflated are both worthy of being mentioned as lively contenders, and it would be no surprise to see either be challenging late on.

3:30pm – Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1)

A horse that needs no introduction, the star attraction on the first day of the Aintree meeting is no doubt recent Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill. Currently best priced at odds of 1/7, it’s clear to see that he is the emphatic favourite to land the Grade One prize and it’s near impossible to see him being beaten, barring any accidents or long jumps at the final hurdle! It’s a joy to watch this mighty competitor strut his stuff.

Perhaps he isn’t the most eye-catching in the paddock, or the biggest in frame, but he is simply majestic in full flow. Constitution Hill keeps things simple, does his job and appears straightforward to train. He is a superstar, potentially one of the greatest, certainly in modern times. Crowds flocked to catch a glimpse of him at Cheltenham, and again at Seven Barrows in the Lambourn Open Day last week. It’s certainly odds-on that the same will happen at Aintree, and the northern crowds will want to see a repeat performance, an emphatic win once again.

There is plenty of each-way value in the race, with the prices bar Constitution Hill at 14/1 the field. The young and improving Zanahiyr ran on well to finish third at Cheltenham, finishing four-lengths behind State Man and ahead of Vauban. He is the likeliest to finish second on recent form, but course-and-distance winner Epatante will be striving to bounce back following a disappointing run in the Mares’ Hurdle.

Sharjah is possibly overlooked at 25/1, and has plenty of class for Willie Mullins, whilst the Nigel Twiston-Davies team will be hoping for a much better showing by I Like To Move It, who could be good value at 33/1 as best of the rest. Sceau Royal is no pushover at 66/1, but it’s likely his best days are behind him.

The betting without Constitution Hill markets may be the way to go, as the race appears wide open in behind. A forecast bet could be an attractive proposition, and Zanahiyr, with Davy Russell aboard, gets the nod as the one to chase home the fantastic favourite.

4:40pm – Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)

In a thirteen runner race there are plenty with chances of making the frame, as expected. Current market leader Douglas Talking is bidding for a three-timer for a northern trainer who looks set to saddle the Grand National favourite in Corach Rambler, Lucinda Russell.

Third Time Lucki has been luckier of late but will need to carry a hefty weight of 12st over the line if to reign victorious. Last year’s runner-up has been given a harsh rating of 144 by the handicapper, 4lbs above his Irish rating. He finished second behind The Last Day in last year’s renewal, but although he has previously won on heavy ground he has appeared to struggle on softer surfaces recently, and the rainfall won’t be a welcome sight.

Course-and-distance winner The Last Day makes the shortlist as he attempts to retain the title. He is rated 2lbs higher this time around, coming into the race off the back of a pulled-up effort in the Grand Annual Challenge Cup, slightly hampered at the first fence.

Another who has proven form in testing ground, his best form in recent seasons has come on good to soft here last year. He has faced difficulties in the past and lengthy absences from the racetrack, but is a likeable type who possesses plenty of talent.

Pay The Piper is another worthy of consideration for the small yard of Ann Hamilton. A nose second to Calico when last seen at Doncaster represents a good line of form and he is only 1lbs higher this time around. He is certainly capable of making the frame off a mark of 143 and the trip will suit. Mackenberg has only two-and-a-quarter-lengths to find with Pay The Piper on Doncaster form, now 1lbs lower, and could outrun his odds of 25/1 for Donald McCain.

5:15pm – Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Grade 2)

Five-year-old mare Seeyouinmydreams made an emphatic start to her hurdling career with an easy success at Newbury, having been an expensive purchase for connections following a Point-To-Point win. She is a classy type running in familiar colours and is likely to be one to watch next season as she is set for a campaign over hurdles. This is a step up in class and she faces a plethora of Irish-based mares, but the class shown on debut and the sure improvement to come makes her an intriguing prospect that may be worth sticking with.

Willie Mullins is usually one to stick with the in bumpers, and he saddles French recruit Jolie Coeur Allen, a half-sister to Icare Allen making her debut for the Closutton yard. Mark Walsh takes the ride aboard the J P McManus-owner filly, as Patrick Mullins is aboard apparent second string Williamstowndancer, available at a huge price of 14/1 for connections, having already been exposed in Listed company.

July Flower was an AQPS Grade One winner in France and makes her debut for Henry de Bromhead, whilst John Queally sends two-time Irish bumper winner Gaillimh A Run over to England, with experience in her favour.

Day 1 selections:

2:20pm – Zenta 6/4, Scriptwriter 8/1 (EW)