UK Horse Racing Tips: Aintree

LA BAGUE AU ROI remains unbeaten in four starts over fences and can continue on the upwards curve here for Warren Greatrex. She claimed the notable scalps of RSA Chase first and second Topofthegame and Santini at Kempton on Boxing Day, before showing a nice attitude to score at Leopardstown in Grade 1 company back in February. This meeting has been her target ever since, having skipped Cheltenham, and her 7lb mares' allowance can see her account for this field. Glen Forsa unseated his rider at the first in the Arkle Chase last month but previously hammered Kalashnikov in a small field at Sandown, while Bags Groove wasn't good enough at the highest level when behind the selection over Christmas.
Prediction : 1st La Bague Au Roi 2nd Glen Forsa 3rd Kalashnikov

This looks an intriguing contest which pitches the winners of the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (formerly Fred Winter) and Triumph Hurdle together. Marginal preference is for handicap winner, BAND OF OUTLAWS, who landed a gamble to score at Cheltenham last month and should appreciate the switch to this speedier circuit. Pentland Hills did it well enough at Prestbury Park 20 days ago, but that looked a messy race and the form of that contest might not be too trustworthy. Fakir D'Oudairies ran well in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and shaped there as though a step up in distance could suit him better, while Christopher Wood was rated 85 on the Flat and remains unbeaten after two starts in this discipline for Paul Nicholls.
Prediction : 1st Band of Outlaws 2nd Pentland Hills 3rd Christopher Wood

The Gold Cup form gets it's first real test as Nigel Twiston-Davies' stable star Bristol De Mai looks to build on his third-placed effort and confirm superiority over King George winner CLAN DES OBEAUX, who faltered up the hill to finish fifth in the Cheltenham showpiece. The pair finished second and third respectively in this race 12 months ago behind Might Bite and both look certain to be involved at the finish once again, with the Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old fancied to bounce right back to his best faced with a flatter track and easier stamina test. Elegant Escape was sixth in the Festival blue riband and placed in the novice Grade 1 over 3m1f at this meeting last season, while Kemboy is an interesting contender having only got as far as the first at Prestbury Park. He has Road To Respect held from when they met in the Savills Chase at Christmas and Willie Mullins' charge is the pick of the trio of Irish raiders.
Prediction : 1st Clan Des Obeaux 2nd Kemboy 3rd Bristol De Mai

BUVEUR D'AIR will be a warm order for this contest and rightly so. The eight-year-old eased to victory in this race two years ago and was unable to defend his crown 12 months on having returned home after his Champion Hurdle success out of sorts. This season it is almost rolls reversed, having suffered misfortune when falling at the third obstacle in last month's Champion, but he will arrive here relatively fresh as a result and can take back his title. Willie Mullins' duo Melon and Faugheen visit Aintree for the first time and both warrant respect following pleasing efforts at the Cheltenham Festival, while County Hurdle scorer Ch'tibello makes some appeal at longer odds.
Prediction : 1st Buveur DAir 2nd Melon 3rd Faugheen

Ucello Conti is bound to be popular in the betting market having finished sixth in the 2016 Grand National and fourth in the Becher Chase the same year. That said, he has unseated his rider in the last couple of National's which is a big concern. With that in mind, preference is for ROAD TO ROME, who failed to get home after a bold front-running display over the extended 3m2f in the Cheltenham Foxhunter Chase last month. The drop back in trip should be a big help to him and so should his jockey, who has won this race three times already. Wonderful Charm won easily on his seasonal return at Doncaster in February and he could go well once again, while Burning Ambition is another who has strong form claims. Others to consider are Balnaslow, Kruzhlinin and Road To Riches.
Prediction : 1st Road To Rome 2nd Ucello Conti 3rd Kruzhlinin

The return to fences and drop back in trip can help LADY BUTTONS regain the winning thread following her brave effort to finish fourth in the Grade 1 Mares Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Philip Kirby's likeable mare has developed a fantastic following this term, winning four on the bounce in the early part of the season, and arguably at her best over fences, she holds leading claims with conditions to suit. Eamon An Cnoic is another to drop back in trip having travelled with real zest for a long way in the Plate at the Festival. He was less than four lengths adrift of the winner in fourth and is just 2lb higher now, while Movie Legend is an interesting runner chasing three wins in a row. Theinval has finished second in this the past two years and turns up here fresh having skipped Cheltenham, with Grand Annual form represented by Brelan D'As (third) and Forest Bihan (fourth).
Prediction : 1st Lady Buttons 2nd Theinval 3rd Eamon An Cnoic

Misty Whisky may be the place to start here having run on well to land Sandown's Listed Mares Final in the dying strides last month, and she looks a useful prospect moving forward. She can confirm form with stablemate Whitehotchillifili, who was fourth on that occasion and has the assistance of Richard Johnson now, while Farne wasn't far away in third in that contest and could go under the radar. Timetochill and Who What When are others who have won Listed bumpers this term and they both warrant respect, while there was a lot to like about Miss Heritage's 19-length romp at Catterick last month and Harry Cobden is an interesting jockey booking. Ireland claimed this prize last year and their challenge is lead by Gordon Elliott's impressive Gowran winner Daylight Katie, while Henry De Bromhead's Minella Melody couldn't have won with any more authority if she tried on debut and must be on the shortlist. However, it is not unusual for this race to throw up a surprise winner and, therefore, a chance is taken on HAWTHORN COTTAGE. Amy Murphy's six-year-old has been off the track since landing a hot bumper at Cheltenham last spring and it is interesting connections go in search of this prize following such a long absence with a mare that has always been held in high regard.
Prediction : 1st Hawthorn Cottage 2nd Misty Whisky 3rd Miss Heritage