Aintree Tips Tomorrow: Thursday Best Bets from Architect

The Grade 1 Close Brothers Manifesto Novices' Chase will see Turners first and second, Grey Dawning and Ginny’s Destiny, renew rivalry for a third time, but both of them have had some gruelling battles this year. It remains to be seen if it has left a mark ahead of this race. 

Il Etait Temps ran well when he finished third in the Arkle and is stepping up in trip, while Colonel Harry was well held when sixth in the Turners last month and needs more. With this in mind, I’ll take a chance on Tom Lacey’s BLOW YOUR WAD (tipped at 14/1), who could offer some decent value with conditions holding no fears. 

This six-year-old might be the lowest-rated runner in the field, but he’s already developed into a better chaser than a hurdler and beat former Grade 1 winner Tahmuras in a Grade 2 race at Kempton last time out. His jumping was really good, and he had a bit more in hand than the winning margin indicated at the finish. 

This is a lot tougher, but he will be fresher than most having skipped Cheltenham last month, and he’s shaped well in defeat at this meeting for the last couple of years. He is open to a lot more improvement after just four chase starts, so despite having a bit to find on ratings, a new personal best could be imminent. 

Blow Your Wad, 0.5 pts E/W, 14/1

If the market has this right, Sir Gino and Kargese are likely to fight out the finish of the Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle. However, the ground will be testing, while the former seems short enough in the betting and the latter had a hard race at Cheltenham. 

Instead, I like the claims of the unbeaten KALIF DU BERLAIS (tipped at 7/1), who was last seen winning the Grade 2 Adonis at Kempton, and while that form has been let down by the runner-up since, I don’t think Paul Nicholls’ charge was seen to the best of effect. 

This four-year-old is likely to revert back to positive tactics against this calibre of opposition, and that will undoubtedly suit this course. He is held in high regard, and his connections (trainer, owner, and jockey) tasted success in this race back in 2021 with Monmiral.

Whether he has the capability to beat the front pair is open to debate, but Paul Nicholls is seemingly happy to roll the dice with him - his odds are just a touch too high, having done little wrong to date. I think he’s a bigger player than the odds suggest. 

Kalif Bu Berlais, 0.5 pts E/W, 7/1

This is a top-class renewal of the feature race, the William Hill Aintree Bowl Chase. Shishkin won this race 12 months ago and is unbeaten in two starts at this course. He is a brilliant racehorse and should be tuned to the minute in his defence bid, but preference is for GERRI COLOMBE (tipped at 7/4).

I think that’s a very fair price for the Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up. He was an impressive winner of a Grade 1 over course and distance at this meeting last year, and to only be beaten by just over three lengths was a seriously good performance. With a clear run from the home bend and a better jump at the second last fence, I have no doubt he would have been closer to the winner. 

This eight-year-old has an exceptional record under rules, with nine wins and three seconds from 12 starts, and the ground will be favourable for him. 

He has plenty in his favour and takes his racing very well, so it is hard to pick any holes in his credentials. He is a worthy favourite and a repeat of last month’s Gold Cup performance can see him home in front. 

Gerri Colombe, 1.5 pts WIN, 7/4

In the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle, BOB OLINGER (tipped at 6/4) gets quite a confident vote to land a fourth Grade 1 race of his career. He has looked as good as ever since reverting back to hurdles, and he absolutely bolted up in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham over this trip in his penultimate start on heavy ground.

That form has worked out very well, with the third, Brewin’Upastorm, subsequently winning a Grade 2 race at Fairyhouse. Since then, he has contested the Irish Champion Hurdle and lost little in defeat, finishing second to State Man, in which Impaire Et Passe was five lengths adrift in third place. 

The latter should be able to bridge the gap, but the former has an exceptional record on heavy ground over this trip, which reads 11111. This has been the plan since his last start, and Henry de Bromhead’s charge should get the perfect set-up with a strong pace in order. He can confirm his superiority over Willie Mullins’ charge. 

Bob Olinger, 1.5 pts WIN, 6/4

The Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase looks by far the most interesting on the card from a betting point of view. CAT TIGER (tipped at 33/1) could only finish a distant third to Benny’s King last time out, but I have a suspicion that outing was used as a preparatory run for today’s race, which suits him well.

His two starts towards the end of last year in Auteuil on bottomless ground were encouraging, to say the least. He was expected to win at Hereford in his penultimate start when sent off as the odds-on favourite to beat Time Leader, but unfortunately ran out at the eighth fence, handing the initiative to the former. 

The winner subsequently finished third at Cheltenham last month, so the form has a strong look to it. He recently shaped well when third at Leicester and only found one too good in this race two years ago. The 10-year-old makes plenty of each-way appeal with his experience of this course and suitable conditions to draw upon. 

Five places are widely available. 

Cat Tiger, 0.5 pts E/W, 33/1, 5 places 

Trainer Sam Loxton is also represented in the race with ESPOIR DE GUYE (tipped at 25/1). He is a very good chaser when at his best and has returned to form since the return to positive tactics of late with a win and two placed efforts. 

He couldn’t quite get on terms with Captain Tommy last time out but stayed on well all the way to the line to finish second, and his previous defeat of Famous Clermont is among the strongest pieces of form in this contest. 

The latter cruised to victory in this race last year, yet the former beat him with a bit to spare at Wincanton. I know the latter made a mistake at the last fence, but Sam Loxton’s charge was still upsides him at the last fence. 

This former 150-rated chaser looks tailor-made for these fences, and the ground will be right up his street. With everything taken into account, I think he’s a great each-way bet at the odds, with various forms paying five places.

Espoir De Guye, 0.5 pts E/W. 25/1, 5 places

Emmet Mullins pair Its On The Line and Romeo Magico are worthy of respect, but TIME LEADER (tipped at 13/2) has an excellent strike rate under rules, and after catching the eye to finish a staying-on fifth in this race last year, he is fancied to get his biggest paycheque.

The 10-year-old has form figures of 1P111 when teaming up with jockey Huw Edwards and has won three of his four starts since running in this race last year. All of his better form has been on better ground, but he’s naturally a good jumper and has every chance of improving on last year’s effort. 

Time Leader, 1pt WIN, 13/2

SAINT ROI (tipped at 11/2) is given one final chance to show his true colours when he tackles the Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase, the penultimate race on the card. 

Willie Mullins’ nine-year-old should have a better record over fences for a horse of his ability, but he has caught the eye several times, and his second to Banbridge in a Grade 1 race at this meeting last year is quality form for this handicap. 

He was three places behind Path D’Oroux when sixth in the Grand Annual last month, but he didn’t get the clearest of passages and a mistake at the final fence didn’t help his cause either. 

We know he’s better than that, and he handles most ground. He has dropped a couple of pounds to a mark of 150 and the fact that he has course form to his name is a massive advantage. 

He is 4Ib better off with Gavin Cromwell’s charge, and this Grade 1-winning chaser is without a doubt the best horse in the race. In the hope he can have a trouble-free passage and avoid any mistakes, he should be going close. 

Four places are generally available and recommended.

Saint Roi, 0.5 pts E/W, 11/2

We have a strong line-up for the Goffs Nickel Coin Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race and I’m drawn to the profile of the Ben Pauling-trained DIVA LUNA (tipped at 7/1).

This mare was pitched straight into a Listed race on her stable debut at Market Rasen and beat the reopposing Listentoyourheart very nicely, in spite of the latter having the benefit of experience under rules. 

In what was a slowly-run contest, the way she was able to quicken up off the sedate pace and put the remainder in trouble was impressive. She only won by three parts of a length but was allowed to ease down in the closing stages. 

Clearly a mare with a lot of speed and a turn of foot, this track should play to her strengths, and she has plenty more to come. I think her winning debut form has a strong look to it, and having been saved for this race since, she appeals most.

Four places are generally available and recommended. 

Diva Luna, 0.5 pts E/W, 7/1, 4 places