UK Horse Racing Tips: Aintree

Jango Baie flew home from what looked an impossible position to win the Arkle and this extra half-mile should certainly suit, while Gidleigh Park's Windsor triumph took a huge boost when the runner-up Caldwell Potter came out and slammed his rivals in the novices' handicap at the Festival. However, Irish raiders CROKE PARK and Impaire Et Passe make most appeal. The latter won a thrilling renewal of the Aintree Hurdle 12 months ago and warrants plenty of respect in first-time cheekpieces, but Gordon Elliott's charge had his measure at the Dublin Racing Festival and could confirm that superiority. The strapping seven-year-old has improved throughout this season and another step forward would make him difficult to beat.
Prediction : 1st Croke Park 2nd Impaire Et Passe 3rd Gidleigh Park

It should come as little surprise that the majority of previous winners of this contest raced in the Triumph Hurdle beforehand, but Willy De Houelle and Gibbs Island represent this year's form and were unable to land a blow at Cheltenham. Live Conti had little difficulty in disposing of his rivals on his stable/UK bow at Wetherby and must enter the reckoning. However, marginal preference is for PUTURHANDSTOGETHER, who showed an opening mark of 130 to be all wrong in the Fred Winter. The Joseph O'Brien-trained gelding impressed with his high cruising speed and this sharper track should play to his strengths. Stablemate Naturally Nimble arrives on the back of a respectable fourth in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown and isn't out of it.
Prediction : 1st Puturhandstogether 2nd Live Conti 3rd Naturally Nimble

Saved for this having swerved the Gold Cup, GREY DAWNING should be cherry ripe after a comfortable success at Kelso. Runner-up in the Betfair Chase before disappointing in the King George, the eight-year-old has a preference for going left-handed and remains unexposed over staying trips. Similar to the selection, Spillane's Tower didn't show his true colours in the Kempton showpiece, but he has strong claims on the form of his previous second to Fact To File in the John Durkan. Jimmy Mangan's charge may prefer softer ground, but he thrived this time last year and is a leading contender. Ahoy Senor fell in the Gold Cup, but has been runner-up in the last two renewals of this contest. Gaelic Warrior may not have shown much in two starts at Leopardstown this campaign, but he scored over 3m at Punchestown as a novice hurdler and stepping back up in trip could be a shrewd move by Willie Mullins.
Prediction : 1st Grey Dawning 2nd Spillanes Tower 3rd Gaelic Warrior

A dramatic Champion Hurdle saw CONSTITUTION HILL lose his unbeaten record when coming to grief four from home, but Nicky Henderson's superstar remains the one to beat. Returning to further should allow the 2023 winner to get into more of a rhythm, as could the flatter nature of this circuit. He put main market rival Lossiemouth in her place at Kempton on Boxing Day and it is difficult to envisage Willie Mullins' grey, who skipped the Champion Hurdle to land a second Mares' Hurdle in impressive fashion, turning that form around. Wodhooh, now seven from seven over timber after bolting up in the Martin Pipe, looks well worth a try at this significantly higher level.
Prediction : 1st Constitution Hill 2nd Lossiemouth 3rd Wodhooh

Famous Clermont was successful in the 2023 renewal of this contest and comes into this event off the back of an easy success between the flags, so must be respected. Runner-up in this for the last two years, Bennys King is back for another crack at the grand old age of 14 and his triumph at Leicester confirmed he retains plenty of enthusiasm for the game, but it may pay to side with MY DROGO. The 10-year-old beat Gracchus De Balme (second) and Jet Plane (third) when victorious at Haydock in February and that might have put him spot on for this.
Prediction : 1st My Drogo 2nd Famous Clermont 3rd Bennys King

Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore have teamed up to win this twice since 2019 and can strike again courtesy of THE FOLKES TIARA. The nine-year-old arrives fresher than most after a two-race campaign that saw him so nearly supplement a Fairyhouse Listed success at Leopardstown's Christmas fixture. My Mate Mozzie seems to dance every dance when it comes to big Festivals and ran his usual honest race in defeat in the Grand Annual. General Medrano was eighth there, with Primoz further back and never involved, although better is expected from Lucinda Russell's novice. Last year's winner Sans Bruit returns on the same mark, but has ground to make up on Dr T J Eckleburg from a meeting at Chepstow.
Prediction : 1st The Folkes Tiara 2nd My Mate Mozzie 3rd Primoz

SEO LINN justified strong market support when readily winning a Listed bumper at the Cheltenham November Meeting and this has presumably been the plan ever since. The way in which she travelled and quickened that day, and given her Flat pedigree, the test that Aintree offers could be even more up her street and she gets the vote as a result. Jackie Hobbs still looked a little green when winning at Ascot but eventually won with plenty in hand. Providing this stiff test doesn't come too soon in her development, she is likely to be bang there at the finish. Charisma Cat would have beaten Kingston Queen in another couple of strides at Market Rasen and she subsequently took Listed honours at Sandown. Strong Run, Betty's Daisy and Blue Betty are others to keep an eye on.
Prediction : 1st Seo Linn 2nd Jackie Hobbs 3rd Charisma Cat