Aintree Tips: Andy Holding's Friday Racing Tips

Not many horses can get almost knocked over in the early part of a competitive handicap and come back and win easily, but that’s exactly what DARGIANNINI (best price 9/1) achieved at Newbury last time out and, with Harry Derham’s stable continuing to thrive since, this improving hurdler has every chance of providing his rookie handler with his most notable success to date. 

Highly regarded in his formative years with Paul Nicholls, the son of Fame And Glory failed to fulfil his potential when switched to Harry Whittington, but on the evidence of his last two starts, he seems to be trending back in the right direction. 

A smooth winner over subsequent winners West To The Bridge and Go Dante at Uttoxeter back in January, the eight-year-old was heavily supported to repeat the dose at the Berkshire venue two months later and after almost being brought down by the falling Bold Plan at the second hurdle, it looked as though the gamble might be under question. 

However, dusting himself down, he soon gathered his poise and by the time he’d entered the home straight it quickly became apparent he was running all over his rivals. Nudged out late on after quickening well to assume command after two out, he scored in the style of horse right on top of his game and although today’s contest represents a totally different ball game regards level of opposition he faces to those 41 days ago, he might just have the necessary quality to rise to the occasion.

The time-honoured debate when assessing races at this meeting is whether top-class Cheltenham form will be carried over in the way the figures suggest it should and if ever there was a contest for that argument to rage, this most definitely fits the bill. 

The one who holds strongest claims based on matters a month ago is Inthepocket, with his gallant fourth in the Surpreme, and he will be pretty tough to beat if he ships up in similar shape. Luccia was a bit disappointing in the Mares’ Novice Hurdle and will probably have to improve, and the same can be said for the likes of Tahmuras, Strong Leader and Rare Edition. 

Of those that missed the big gig a month ago and have been saved especially for this prize, Found A Fifty has been well found in the market, so that leads us on to ALTOBELLI (best price 10/1) and HULLNBACK (best price 10/1) who both fall into the ‘could be anything’ category. 

The former created a favourable impression in his sole bumper start last season and he’s been rather kept under the radar in just two outings over hurdles this term. Despite being heavily eased over the final half a mile at Carlisle last time out, Harry Fry’s inmate still clocked a speed figure to suggest he’s bordering on top class and with connections seemingly happy to sacrifice the 2m4f Grade 1 on Saturday and bring him back to the minimum trip, the hint deserves to be taken. 

The latter has also deliberately swerved several big engagements with a view to coming here fresh and that policy could well be rewarded. Despite being beaten when strongly fancied on his hurdling debut, the form of his two subsequent wins since still stacks up well in the context of today’s race and with a run style to suggest he will appreciate the nature of the Merseyside venue, this powerfully-built future chasing type can go well for yard still ticking along at a healthy rate (had a winner here on day one) 

As Always Waning and Ultragold proved in recent times, it’s certainly no bad thing to have had previous experience of these famous fences, so with that in mind, AL DANCER (best price 11/1) and GESSKILLE (best price 8/1) rate the no-nonsense pair to take against the field. 

Just a nose separated the two when they met over today’s C&D in the Grand Sefton Chase back in November, with the former just coming out on top, and there’s every chance they will be heavily involved again barring accidents. 

Despite getting low at a few fences once or twice, the 10-year-old grey acclimatised really well to his new environment and although he’s not 100% guaranteed to uphold the form, he’s been given every chance by connections in his bid to do so (hasn’t run since). 

The latter had plenty of experience of a variety of different obstacles over in his native France so it’s come as no surprise that he’s taken well to the Aintree fences and, having narrowly missed out on success at his first attempt around here back in November, he went on to fill out the same position in the Becher Chase a month later. 

Whether him being slowly away that day was partly by design on his first attempt at the 3m2f trip, who knows, but either way, it was still a Herculean effort by the seven-year-old to end up a big player at the business end and a repeat of something similar on his return visit should be enough to see him bang there once more.

The form of the River Don was well and truly advertised by Stay Away Fay in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival and with there being no fluke about the way MAXIMILIAN (best price 11/2) scored that day, Donald McCain’s gelding is fancied to come out on top again.

A creditable third on his first attempt in Graded company at Sandown earlier in the season, the son of Alderflug subsequent underwent a wind operation and on the evidence of what we witnessed on Town Moor, that procedure seems to have done the trick.

Super tough when asked for maximum effort after the last, the chestnut ended winning going away and with today’s ground likely to be similar to what he faced 76 days ago, the decision to come straight here and avoid Cheltenham may turn out to be an inspired one.

HURRICANE BAY (best price 40/1), third in the same race three months ago, probably deserves more respect than the market affords him based on that sterling effort and is worth a few quid to at least finish in the money.

Handy throughout what turned out to be a well-run affair, he ended up being the only one ridden in such fashion to be still there pitching at the last and having been given a nice break to refresh his system since landing odds back over the same C&D a month later, it makes little sense why Lucy Wadham’s has been dismissed as a 33/1 poke.