Aintree Tips: Andy Holding's Saturday Racing Tips

WEST BALBOA (best price 7/1) hasn’t run since putting up a sterling effort in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton back in January, but that long pause isn’t such a bad thing considering the gruelling nature of that race and, off what still appears to be a fairly workable handicap mark, Dan Skelton’s mare can emulate the stable’s previous winner of this contest, Aux Ptite Soins.

Shaping as though slightly in need of the run following a 339-day break on her seasonal return, the daughter of Yeats was rather pitched into the lion’s den on just her fourth race under rules, but that didn’t stop her beating a 20-strong field of quality handicappers at the Sunbury venue, of which only four lasted the test.

Entered in the Grade 1 Mares Hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival until the five-day stage, it’s clear she’s held in some regard at home and with the seven-year-old having a similar profile to Roksana before she went through the ranks, there’s every chance this improving and game type can do the same.

IRISH POINT (best price 7/1) presumably bypassed Cheltenham with a view to come here relatively fresh and with Gordon’s Elliott’s inmate arguably holding some of the best singular bits of form to his name, there’s a decent chance that prudent policy can by vindicated.

A creditable runner-up to subsequent Supreme winner, Marine Nationale, in the Grade 1 Royal Bond at Fairyhouse earlier in the season, he went on to fill out the same position when chasing home Ballymore second Champ Kiely in the Lawlor’s Of Naas at the same level next time out. Outpaced and never a factor when dropped back in trip behind Facile Vega at the DRF, the five-year-old made no mistake in much calmer waters at Naas last time and with today’s step back up in trip seen as a positive, another solid run should be forthcoming from this consistent sort.

HOME BY THE LEE (best price 11/2) ran an extraordinary race in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham a month ago and after leaving the impression he was probably pound-for-pound the best horse in the race, Joseph O’Brien’s gelding can back up that theory against similar opposition.

Well-positioned coming to the one in front of the stands first time, he made such an error it caused him to lose his hind end and, as a consequence, he got shuffled back right through the pack. Despite that potential race-ending incident, he somehow worked himself back into a challenging position approaching the last and he ended up finishing his race off as well as anything in a close-up fifth.

A convincing winner of his two previous starts against similar opposition to what he faces today, the eight-year-old can put matters of what happened 31 days ago right.

ELDORADO ALLEN (best price 9/1) has been dining at the very top table for much of his life, backed up by the fact he’s yet to run in a handicap chase, so with connections probably coming to the conclusion his chances of winning at Graded level nowadays are remote, Joe Tizzard’s grey can hopefully make class tell.

Runner up in the Charlie Hall and Betfair Chases respectively, the nine-year-old grey hasn’t quite managed to run up to the same standard on three subsequent starts, but considering he’s been up against the very best chasers around, he deserves to be cut some slack.

An honourable last of seven finishers in the Gold Cup, he’s been dropped to mark which should give him a chance of being competitive again and with the ground coming in his favour, a chance is taken his can return to former glories.

Having already advised Corach Rambler and Mr Incredible several months ago, the temptation not to add another to the list has been a fairly easy one to resist up till now, but having looked at the race again with a totally blank canvas, it’s hard not to come to the conclusion GAILLARD DU MESNIL (best price 14/1) has to be worth a small interest at the current odds.

Although Ruler The World was still a maiden over fences coming into the National, it’s worth noting Mouse Morris’ second-season chaser had loads of top-class form in Grade 1’s, as well as being runner-up in an Irish National prior to coming here and that’s exactly what the son of Saint Des Saints has on his CV.

Proving that he stayed 3m5f well on only his fifth start over fences, it was that stamina he showed at the Co Meath venue which ultimately gained the day in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham on his latest start. Whether he would have caught Malher Mission had he not tipped up at the second last is open to debate, but the way he powered up the hill was in the style of a horse who will keep galloping until he drops.

Added to the mix the touch of class he has to go alongside his sound jumping technique, and Willie Mullins’ inmate has every chance of being bang there at the business end with a clear round.

It’s been a while since Nicky Richards had a potentially top-class young horse in his care, but in the shape of FLORIDA DREAMS (best price 28/1), the Greystoke handler might just have one that takes him to a few big Saturday dates further down the line.

The Doyen gelding took a while to get into top gear when making a winning debut at Musselburgh back in January, but he looked really good in hitting the line hard and his winning time and backend sectionals backed up the visually impression he created.

Saved specifically for this race since, the rain that has fallen in the last 24 hours will have enhanced his chance and he could well turn out to be the joker in the pack.