The Road to Cheltenham has three Aintree Day 1 tips including a 2 point win bet in the opening race of the festival.
13:45 Thursday
The opening day of the Grand National meeting starts with a bang with Grade 1 action right from the start -punters are faced with the usual dilemma of sticking with Cheltenham Festival form or looking towards those who missed having a hard race in favour of coming here fresh.
The Road to Cheltenham has a bet in the opener at 13:45, the first of four Grade 1s on Thursday, as well as two other selections on the day. Make sure you stay on top of all the free bets and special offers for the week as you place your bets.
Aintree Day 1 Tips
I’m a huge fan of IMPAIRE ET PASSE and I’m expecting him to bounce back after a sub-par performance at the Dublin Racing Festival. He never travelled that day and I wonder if something was amiss given he finished some 10 lengths adrift of Ballyburn.
He has a bit to find with Croke Park on that running but I’d prefer to judge this four-time Grade 1 winner on his Limerick run at Christmas. He jumped like a buck that day and he is the one to beat if he can reproduce that level of performance.
Impaire Et Passe won the Aintree Hurdle at last year’s meeting so we know he’ll have no problems with the track. He can get Willie Mullins and Paul Townend off to a flyer in the opener – just as stablemate Il Etait Temps did 12 months ago.
14:55 Thursday
We haven’t seen SPILLANE’S TOWER since his disappointing effort in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day but Jimmy Mangan will have his stable star primed and ready to go. Writing this on Wednesday morning, I can’t believe that he’s not favourite for this race.
His form behind Fact To File in the John Durkan Chase earlier in the campaign looks very strong – much stronger than anything else in this field. He was given an RPR of 166 that day and he’d have a fantastic chance if he can run to that mark again.
The second best horse in the race on official ratings, Spillane’s Tower would prefer some cut in the ground but I’m hoping his class can get him through. Grey Dawning is the main danger in my opinion but he is 0-3 at Aintree and I’m happy to take him on.
16:40 Thursday
PRIMOZ lost his chance at the start of the Grand Annual and you can put a line through that run. He’ll head here as a fresh enough horse after Derek Fox – ruled out of this year’s meeting through injury – kept him out of trouble and ensured a clear trip round.
Patrick Wadge, fresh from winning on Myretown at the Cheltenham Festival, will take the ride and he’ll have his supporters. It’s a competitive race but there are several exposed types in the field and an unexposed chaser like Primoz may have plenty in hand off his BHA mark of 130.
The drying ground will suit My Mate Mozzie but that horse hates a battle and it’d take a brave man to trust him. Sans Bruit could be dangerous off the same mark as last year and Harry Cobden is in the saddle, which could make the difference.
