Aintree Tips Tomorrow: Friday Best Bets from Architect

The Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices' Chase will be a different rest for INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN (best price 11/4), but given how impressive he was in the Kim Muir last month, he could be hard to beat here if he’s able to produce a similar performance. 

The best is yet to come from this six-year-old, and not only does he stay well, but the conditions will suit. He is unexposed at this trip and further, and the form of his third behind Gaelic Warrior and Il Etait Temps back in December has worked out extraordinarily well. 

The latter, for instance, bolted up in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase yesterday. The speed figure from that race is strong, and Gavin Cromwell’s charge is the highest-rated runner in the field at 158. He can continue his progression by taking this Grade 1 opener. Great chance. 

Inothewayurthinkin, 1pt WIN, 11/4

With Dan Skelton chasing the trainers’ championship crown, this is a good opportunity for him to edge closer to it, with a few strong chances in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle. 

KATEIRA (best price 7/1) is the choice of Harry Skelton and is back at the scene of her excellent second in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices' Hurdle at this fixture last year, which is a quality piece of form. 

She has specifically been trained for this race, and this three-time winner from last season is surely well-handicapped with a mark of 136, given that she was punching above her weight against horses rated 150+ last year at this meeting. 

She looked in need of her comeback run when third at Wetherby and clearly didn’t stay when stepped up to three miles next time out at Kempton. She then caught the eye when staying on the fourth last month at the same venue. 

This race is likely to be run at a decent tempo, and her established course experience is a vital asset. With most bookmakers paying five places, I’m quite confident she has the ammunition to run very well. 

Kateira, 1pt WIN, 7/1

The Fergal O’Brien-trained DYSART ENOS (best price 5/1) wasn’t able to make Cheltenham due to being lame, but she is strongly fancied to seek redemption by landing the Grade 1 TrustATrader Top Novices' Hurdle under Paddy Brennan. 

She won all three of her bumper starts, including a nine-length winner of a Grade Two bumper race at this fixture last year, in which she beat Golden Ace, who advertised the form by defeating her rivals in the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham last month. 

That was the race Dysart Enos was going to contest, so there’s every chance she would have won that race. However, she seemingly has all the qualities to make it to the top; she handles most ground and can reap the reward for connections by retaining her unbeaten record. 

Dysart Enos, 1pt WIN, 5/1

I am really interested in the price of EASY GAME (best price 16/1) for the Grade 1 My Pension Expert Melling Chase, whose record when fresh is very good, and I’m surprised he’s such a big price for this race with lots going for him. 

The 10-year-old’s record when fresh, with a break of two months or more, reads 122111, and his latest defeat of Envoi Allen and Gentlemansgame reads well, as the latter finished second in the Ryanair Chase last month behind Protektorat. 

Willie Mullins’ only representative will love conditions, and his record over this distance reads 21111. He is up in class, but he won’t get many better opportunities to win at the highest level, so he’s definitely one I’m interested in. 

Easy Game, 0.5 pts E/W, 16/1

In the Randox Supports Race Against Dementia Topham Handicap Chase, one more chance is handed to JAMES DU BERLAIS (best price 10/1) who surely has the class to go really close for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins. 

This eight-year-old is consistent and has been running with credit in all of his handicap starts this season. He ran a super race to finish seventh in the Plate last time out when carrying top-weight, where he travelled well and looked the likely winner until a bad mistake at the second last fence. 

He won’t afford to do that here, but he’s generally a good jumper, and this race looks made for him. The assessor has dropped him a pound, and conditions will be in his favour, so with various firms paying five places, he should be able to run well, granted a clear round. 

James Du Berlais, 0.5 pts E/W, 10/1, 5 places 

Ben Pauling has Shakem’uparry, who I tipped at 16/1 to win the Plate last month, but on this occasion, preference is for stablemate YOUR DARLING (best price 8/1). 

This nine-year-old has deliberately been saved for this race, and his great jumping will see him flourish over these fences. His record when fresh, returning from a break of two months or more, reads 131411. 

He has winning form on soft or heavy ground, and he’s a winner at this distance too. He was so impressive in winning at Ascot last time out, and although this is a completely different test, he is very well handicapped off 137. 

Five places are generally available and advised.

Your Darling, 1pt E/W, 8/1, 5 places

It was heartbreak for THE JUKEBOX MAN (best price 7/2) when he was collared at the post in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, but a better jump at the last hurdle, and I have no doubt he wins.

He has his chance for redemption, and this track should actually suit him a lot better. This six-year-old is clearly a top-class horse, and he’s another on the card that will love the ground, plus his stable remains in good form. 

He relished the step-up in trip last time out and remains unexposed over the distance, with improvement to come. Based on that latest piece of form, he should be the clear favourite, so he’s a definite bet at the current odds. 

The Jukebox Man, 1pt WIN, 7/2

The final race on the card is the Alder Hey Handicap Hurdle, and the one who stands off the page is

LUTTRELL LAD (best price 16/1). He has run well the last two times to make the frame and won on heavy ground at Cartmel last year. 

He also finished fourth at this meeting in a bumper three years ago, so he’s familiar with the track. Tom Lacey’s charge remains well handicapped off a mark of 129, and with his rider taking off seven pounds, he must have a serious each-way chance with five places on offer. 

Luttrell Lad, 0.5 pts E/W, 16/1, 5 places 

Paul Nicholls’ AFADIL (best price 11/1) ran a huge race to finish fifth in the County Hurdle last time out, where he made a bold bid from the front and did well to make the frame, having set a good pace. 

This five-year-old has dropped a pound, and this course will suit him better. This five-year-old is open to improvement and won’t be inconvenienced by conditions, so with five places generally available, he’s an attractive bet. 

Afadil, 0.5 pts E/W, 11/1, 5 places

The Paul Nicholls-trained SONIGINO (best price 20/1) has not been at his best the last two times in the Lanzarote at Kempton and Martin Pipe at Cheltenham, but has plenty in his favour returned to this course. 

The seven-year-old ran very well when third in this race twelve months ago from a mark of 133 and is only three pounds higher this time around with Freddie Gingell’s five-pound claim taken into account. 

His fourth in the Greatwood Hurdle back in November reads well before he absolutely trounced his rivals over course and distance in December under similar conditions. 

The ground will suit him; he has proven himself at this course, and he remains pretty well treated when you consider Freddie’s claim. With six places generally on offer, I’ll be disappointed if he’s not, at the very least, in the frame. 

Sonigino, 0.5 pts E/W, 20/1, 6 places