Architect Tips has nine tips for Saturday's horse racing action on Grand National Day.
13:20 Aintree
Monmiral, 0.5 pts E/W, 9/1, 5 places
MONMIRAL (best price 9/1) finished very strongly to win the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival last month, and his effort can be markedly uplifted given the race was run at a sedate pace.
This seven-year-old has proved expensive to follow on a few occasions, but that latest performance was a major step forward from his previous efforts, and we know he acts well at this course, having landed a Grade 1 race at this course three years ago.
He’s been hit with a six-pound rise for that success, but that seems manageable, and his second at this meeting two years ago in the Aintree Hurdle was another excellent effort in defeat. He is likely to get the race run to suit, and being open to improvement after just 11 hurdle starts, he is worth keeping on side.
Various bookmakers are offering five places, so he must be backed each way. He is a very good horse when everything clicks, and he is fancied to back up that latest performance with another bold display under suitable conditions.
Chantry House, 0.5 pts E/W, 25/1, 5 places
CHANTRY HOUSE (best price 25/1) might not be the force he once was, but he has shaped nicely in a couple of hot handicaps this season to suggest not all is lost, and it’s worth recollecting that he’s also a Grade 1 course winner!
Nicky Henderson’s 10-year-old could only finish midfield in the Pertemps Network Final last time out, but he’s been dropped another couple of pounds, and this will only be his eighth start over hurdles. James Bowen got a decent tune out of him when the pair finished fourth at Huntingdon back in January, and he will know more about him now.
After a full retrospect of his form, his best form would entitle him to beat these. While Nico has passed him over in favour of Bold Endeavour, he still interests me, and he’s undoubtedly one of the most talented horses in the field. With most firms paying a generous five places, I cannot help but feel he’s overpriced and capable of running a massive race.
Fine Margin, 0.5 pts E/W, 14/1, 5 places
The Willie Mullins-trained FINE MARGIN (best price 14/1) looked badly in need of his comeback effort at Leopardstown last month and he is better judged on his stable debut when he finished second in the Betfair 'Serial Winners' Stayers' Handicap Hurdle at Haydock. That form is good enough to make a serious impact here.
The way he travelled powerfully to put himself in contention was noticeable, and he might have even won if he had jumped the last couple of hurdles better, especially the last one. In that race, he had a few of these in behind, including subsequent Grade 1 winner Crambo, so the form has a really nice look to it.
While the handicapper has put him up another three pounds, I think this mark remains within reach on the evidence of his Haydock form, and this flat course should really suit. Again, with most firms paying five places, he is worth the roll of the dice because he’s more than capable of going well if he’s able to replicate his Haydock effort. Add to that, he is open to improvement.
13:55 Aintree
Caldwell Potter, 1pt WIN, 3/1
CALDWELL POTTER (best price 3/1) comes into the Grade 1 Turners Mersey Novices' Hurdle with a lofty reputation based on how much he cost his new connections back in February. However, I’m quite confident he will justify the price tag by handing Paul Nicholls a big win this week.
This giant six-year-old will no doubt make a smashing chaser, but he’s rapidly improved through the ranks in this sphere and was last seen battering Predators Gold in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle by six lengths.
He is very interesting stepping up in distance, and he will relish the conditions. He is up against a quality field, but he’s a Grade 1 winner; he is the highest-rated runner in the field, and he can make his class count for Paul Nicholls, Harry Cobden, and his owners.
14:30 Aintree
Now Where Or When, 0.5 pts E/W, 33/1, 4 places
The William Hill Handicap Chase looks competitive as ever, but down near the bottom of the weights, NOW WHERE OR WHEN (best price 33/1) makes plenty of each-way appeal with various firms paying five places.
The nine-year-old has not been at his best of late, but he’s largely been competing in tough company, as was the case last time out when up against four horses rated a minimum of 147.
This is easier, and his third in last year’s Bobbyjo Chase reads well, as does his sixth in the Bulmers Leopardstown Handicap Chase. With various firms paying four places, he gets my each-way vote.
15:05 Aintree
Hiddenvalley Lake, 1pt WIN, 13/2
The Grade 1 JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle looks completely wide-open, but with holes to pick in many of these, I am happy to play two against the field.
The first one is HIDDENVALLEY LAKE (best price 13/2), who is very lightly-raced and was last seen impressively winning the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle on heavy ground, where his jumping was good and he quickened away from the rest in good style, with Sire Du Berlais well beaten.
He was only ninth in last year’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle but has improved a tonne since, and the fact that he bypassed Cheltenham last month in favour of a trip to Liverpool could speak volumes. He is fresher than most in this race.
His owner, trainer, and jockey encountered heartbreak in the Aintree Hurdle with Bob Olinger, but this seven-year-old is fancied to take this Grade 1 prize. He is open to more improvement than the remainder and has plenty in his favour.
Hewick, 0.5 pts E/W, 11/1, 4 places
The King George ultimately fell apart, but HEWICK (best price 11/1) does deserve more credit than he’s been given for his heroic performance, and it’s fascinating to see he lines up in this race rather than the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National, which he could have contested.
He’s evidently a much better chaser, but his handler must feel as though he has a good chance in this contest, hence why he’s been declared for it. He ran well on his last start over hurdles when fourth in the Grade 1 Grande Course de Haies D'Auteuil Hurdle, and he has a solid each-way chance in an open renewal. Four places are available.
17:00 Aintree
Found A Fifty, 1.5pts WIN, 2/1
FOUND A FIFTY (best price 2/1) ran a huge race to finish second to Gaelic Warrior in the Arkle last month, and that form has been boosted by the third Il Etait Temps returning an easy winner on the opening day of Aintree.
The seven-year-old was fancied to run well at this meeting last year, but he was disappointing for whatever reason. However, he’s raised his game since going chasing, and this doesn’t look like the deepest of editions of this contest, as most of these don’t look like Grade 1 material.
Gordon Elliott’s charge has the best form in the book, and this Grade 1-winning chaser was only beaten a neck by Il Etait Temps in the Irish Arkle in December. He is extremely consistent and is the top-rated runner in the field, so he should prove to be too good for this lot.
17:35 Aintree
Mister Meggit, 1pt WIN, 9/4
The unbeaten six-year-old, MISTER MEGGIT (best price 9/4), has dotted up in his two starts, including when he produced a bloodless success at Doncaster, where he never came out of second gear.
The form of his debut win at Carlisle has worked out very well, and the time figure was decent as well. The ground will be in his favour, and the track should suit, so he could be hard to beat.
