UK Horse Racing Tips: Aintree

Brio Conti travelled like the winner in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham and finished a very creditable fourth, with Canardier half a length behind in fifth. Both warrant respect, but of more interest further down the handicap is ESPRIT DU LARGE, who is unexposed over hurdles after just the three starts and could potentially have enough in hand off a mark of 132 to win a handicap of this nature. He was deemed good enough to run in Grade 2 company at Haydock in January and won effortlessly on his first try over this distance in novice company last time, beating a 130-rated animal by 10 lengths off level weights. Tedham brings a good level of form to the table and is another to take seriously.
Prediction : 1st Esprit Du Large 2nd Brio Conti 3rd Canardier

Itchy Feet will no doubt prove popular following his career-best third in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, in which he accounted for the reopposing Felix Desjy (fifth) and ARAMON (sixth). This better ground and flatter track should suit the latter much more than the conditions he encountered at Cheltenham, though, and the gut feeling is that Willie Mullins' charge will reverse the form. He got a lot closer to the Supreme winner Klassical Dream in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown on good ground in February and on that form he boasts claims as good as any. Precious Cargo has looked a smart hurdler in two starts for Nicky Henderson and cannot go unconsidered.
Prediction : 1st Aramon 2nd Itchy Feet 3rd Precious Cargo

This race has cut up quite a bit and although it is thought Lostintranslation, second in the JLT Novices' Chase at Cheltenham, will improve for the step up in trip, it is difficult to get away from TOPOFTHEGAME. A maiden over fences going into Cheltenham, his run in the Kauto Star at Kempton over Christmas earned him a crack at the RSA and he improved again to beat Santini and Delta Work in a thriller. Providing that hasn't left a mark, Paul Nicholls' gelding should follow up. Mr Whipped is interesting at the prices in first-time cheekpieces.
Prediction : 1st Topofthegame 2nd Lostintranslation 3rd Mr Whipped

Politologue got the better of Min in a head-bobber following a fantastic ding-dong up the home straight 12 months ago and Paul Nicholls' grey arrives here on the back of a sterling effort in the Champion Chase when running the mighty Altior close. He returns to what is possibly his ideal trip and is very much expected to confirm form with his old rival from across the Irish Sea, with Willie Mullins' eight-year-old well held at the Cheltenham Festival following a sticky round of jumping. However, they may have to give best to WAITING PATIENTLY, who had no luck at all when brought down in the King George, before bumping into an on-fire Cyrname in the Ascot Chase. Without that runaway winner in the field it would have been back-to-back victories for Ruth Jefferson's son of Flemensfirth in that Ascot feature over 2m5f, and he had Politologue back in fourth on that occasion on ground which was a touch on the quick side for the fragile, yet talented, eight-year-old.
Prediction : 1st Waiting Patiently 2nd Politologue 3rd Min

Nicky Henderson has a fantastic record in this race having won it three times since 2013 and a lot of the attention here will go to his Janika, who has finished second on all three outings for the Seven Barrows handler, including in the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival last time. He was handed a 6lb rise in the ratings for that near-miss, which leaves him shouldering top-weight once again, therefore a chance is taken on stablemate KILCREA VALE, who took well to the fences when finishing fourth in this last season and returns off just a 1lb higher mark now. Peter Bowen is another who has done well in this contest and his Henryville, who has run well over these obstacles in the past, arrives here on the back of a useful performance at Ludlow. Indian Temple shaped well when seventh in this last season and could be overpriced, while Highland Lodge is a standing dish in contests over the famous spruce. Ballyhill looks favourably treated on his run behind Janika at Cheltenham, with only nine lengths separating them on that occasion but there is a huge difference at the ratings here, and he appeals having missed Cheltenham and dropping back to his optimum distance now. Cadmium and Peregrine Run lead the Irish challenge, with Activial and Mercian Prince others who could be suited by the challenge and possibly run well at longer odds.
Prediction : 1st Kilcrea Vale 2nd Ballyhill 3rd Janika

Champ's winning run came to an end when second to City Island in the Ballymore at the Cheltenham Festival, but he lost little in defeat and it will be interesting to see if the step up to three miles can help the exciting Seven Barrows inmate get back to winning ways. Stablemate Downtown Getaway got off the mark at Ascot following a tussle with Champagne Well and both should be suited by the stamina test here, while Dallas Des Pictons travelled like a Graded horse when finishing second in the Martin Pipe at the Festival and is another who will appreciate the return to this trip. However, preference is for EMITOM, who has gone from strength to strength this season, showing plenty of guts to win under a double penalty last time, and is more than entitled to take his place in Grade 1 company now. He can confirm Ffos Las superiority over Lisnagar Oscar, who represents the Albert Bartlett form and the Prestbury Park fifth should be better suited by this flatter track, so has a chance of making the podium.
Prediction : 1st Emitom 2nd Lisnagar Oscar 3rd Champ

Mcfabulous looks sure to be popular having bounced back to winning ways with a six-length victory over some exciting prospects at Newbury last month and the half-brother to Waiting Patiently heads here with a favourite's chance. However, he has a bit to find with MASTER DEBONAIR from when they met in a Listed contest at Cheltenham in November and Colin Tizzard's five-year-old is backed to leave his disappointing Champion Bumper effort in the past and confirm superiority with the Paul Nicholls-trained runner here. There was very little pace in that Festival contest and the son of Yeats was keen that day, with the lack of a recent run also coming into play when the race developed. He should strip fitter today and can give a better account of his ability. Dewcup, Blackhillsofdakota and Santa Rossa are three highly-respected contenders from Ireland, with the latter a comfortable winner of a Leopardstown Grade 2 last time.
Prediction : 1st Master Debonair 2nd Mcfabulous 3rd Santa Rossa