Today's Tote Placepot Tips for Aintree

Leg 1 Selections: Jonbon

I have tried to find reasons to take on JONBON but I can't find any, as he is by far the best horse in the race and while he has had to settle for second at the last two Cheltenham Festivals, he should be too good for these. 

He beat El Fabiolo at the meeting two months ago and is clear of these on both official ratings and form over fences, so Nicky Henderson’s multiple Grade 1 winner gets the sole vote to comfortably land the opener. 

Leg 2 Selections: Bardenstown Lad, West Balboa, Vina Ardanza, Gatsby Grey 

BARDENSTOWN LAD just hasn’t delivered his best over fences for whatever reason and even though he was well held back over hurdles at Musselburgh last time, connections bypassed Cheltenham in order to tackle this race instead. 

He has won four of his eight starts over hurdles and his third in last season’s Grade 1 Albert Bartlett is high-class form. He is very well-treated off 139 and has a fair chance. Lanzarote winner WEST BALBOA should improve for the step up in trip and is also shortlisted. 

VINA ARDANZA was third in a Grade 1 at this meeting last year and will have come on for his return last month. He is of interest under his rider who claims five, while GATSBY GREY caught the eye when fifth of 17 over this trip at Leopardstown two starts back and is interesting. 

Leg 3 Selections: Authorised Speed, Irish Point, Springwell Bay

Gary Moore’s AUTHORISED SPEED could have the ammunition to make his mark at the top table in this Grade 1 event. He bombed out in the Tolworth when a short-priced favourite but had excuses and got back on track last time with an easy success. 

The step up in trip is a good move and he is held in high regard by connections, so after Bo Zenith’s near-miss on Thursday for the team and nearly all of the stables runners running well at the meeting so far this week, he could be another to go well in a race that should suit.

IRISH POINT won a Grade 3 when last seen under a positive ride and his form-lines are seriously strong, including his neck second to Marine Nationale and has claims, while SPRINGWELL BAY has won four of his six starts and the form of his Cheltenham third has been advertised by the winner scoring here yesterday, Fennor Cross.

Leg 4 Selections: Flooring Porter

FLOORING PORTER couldn’t win the Stayers’ Hurdle for a third years in a row at Cheltenham last month but his fourth was still a good effort in defeat and he wasn’t given a hard time of things late on but stayed on well again once headed and there’s optimism about him being fitter this time as well. 

He is still the class act in the field, gets on well with Danny Mullins and must have an excellent chance of going one better than last year. 

Leg 5 Selections: Coconut Splash, Darrens Hope, Shakem Up’arry 

COCONUT SPLASH is proving frustrating and remains winless over fences but it is only a matter of time before everything clicks and he is well-treated here. DARRENS HOPE has a good chance if able to produce her best form and was a Grade 2 winner last year. She cannot be underestimated, neither can SHAKEM UP’ARRY, who has a solid chance if he stays the distance after a good display in the Plate at Cheltenham when third. 

Leg 6 Selections: Delta Work, Vanillier, Roi Mage, Capodanno

DELTA WORK ran a nice race in this last year to finish a never-nearer third having been too far back and is eligible to compete in this year’s renewal from a pound lower mark. He has won the cross-country at the Cheltenham Festival for the last two years and is better off at the weights with Noble Yeats and Any Second Now this time around. There are a lot of positives about his chances this year.

ROI MAGE is the most experienced chaser in the field and ran a tidy race when second to Longhouse Poet when last spotted. He won’t lack stamina and he will be suited to the large field and the pace of the race. If he’s there or thereabouts on the second circuit, he will definitely run well with seven places available. 

CAPODANNO has a good record in big-fields and won a Grade 1 last spring plus his comeback run should have straightened him ahead of his big test. His best form is around this time of year and the fact that connections skipped the Gold Cup with him to tackle this race instead is an interesting move. 

VANILLIER isn’t the most fluent of jumpers but after all, he is a Grade 1 winner who ran a good trial race for this race last time. He is a stronger stayer, who gets his conditions, and gets into this on a really nice weight.