Mildmay Novices' Chase

Gerri Colombe

The most backed horse for the second day of the Grand National Festival at Aintree is the seven-year-old GERRI COLOMBE, trained by Gordon Elliott.

He was seven from seven heading into the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (5/4 SP) at Cheltenham, but Stu Williams was rightfully cautious about the seven-year-old's prospects, instead backing subsequent scorer and better jumper The Real Whacker.

Gerri Colombe's stock was high going into the Festival at Prestbury Park as a result of him defeating subsequent scorer Bronn on chasing debut at Fairyhouse before landing both the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase over Christmas - beating the likes of Adamantly Chosen and Kilcruit - and the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown.

Having come up short at Cheltenham, Elliott’s charge remains a big favourite for Friday's opener at Aintree (current best price 8/11). More than 70% of the Mildmay Novices' Chase betslips feature backing for Gerri Colombe.

Sefton Novices' Hurdle

Maximilian 

The second most backed horse for the second day of the Grand National Festival at Aintree is the seven-year-old MAXIMILIAN, trained by Donald McCain.

Having skipped the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival in favour of an Aintree outing, he is among the favourites (current best price 6/1) for the Sefton Novices' Hurdle.

Maximilian was beaten for the first time in his career in December's Ballymore Winter Novices' Hurdle but bounced back to land the Albert Bartlett River Don Novices' Hurdle at Doncaster by a length from Stay Away Fay.

A few months on and the rematch is on at Aintree, as Paul Nicholls' Stay Away Fay shades Maximilian in the market at 9/2. Gordon Elliott's Absolute Notions edges them both for favouritism at 4/1.

Across the whole Friday card, just short of 4% of the bets through oddschecker post final declarations (24% of the Sefton) have gone the way of Maximilian.

Top Novices' Hurdle

Found A Fifty

The third most backed horse for Friday at Aintree is FOUND A FIFTY by the sire Solskjaer (Danehill half-brother to Yeats), who Johnny Ward is convinced comes in under the radar simply because he did not go to Cheltenham. 

One of his top tips for the three-day meet, Ward said: “People seem to forget he was favourite against Corbetts Cross at Naas when there was essentially nothing between them.

“Prior to that, he was one of the most impressive winners of a maiden hurdle all season, beating all bar Parmenion by at least two dozen lengths. 

“Parmenion won next time by 14 lengths. He is simply a serious horse and looks a massive each-way price here. The best of the Supreme runners set to run here - if he even does - is Inthepocket, and he looks relatively exposed.”

At the time of writing, 2.3% of all bets on Friday's Aintree card and 16% of those on the Top Novices’ Hurdle have gone the way of Found A Fifty.