The ground is likely to be on the soft side of good for the start of the Aintree Grand National meeting and with showers, some heavy, forecast between now and Saturday the ground is unlikely to quicken up leaving slow ground which will put emphasis on stamina in the Big One on Saturday.
Today's proceedings open with a terrific Novices' Chase over 2m 4f; Sizing John will be delighted that the brilliant Douvan is not in the field and he promises to be suited by the step up in trip from the minimum distance.
That said Garde La Victoire (1.40) was still going well in the JLT when coming down five out and he can give Richard Johnson and Philip Hobbs a welcome winner given the pair had a barren Cheltenham; the selection should appreciate underfoot conditions and have the race run to suit with the pacy Arzal likely to make it a decent test; he is 4/1 at BetVictor and that looks a fair price.
The second Grade 1 is the Juvenile Hurdle and Ivanovich Gorbatov is the Even money favourite to follow up his Triumph Hurdle success of last month; he must go close but I felt Ruby Walsh gave Footpad (2.15) too much to do at Cheltenham and back on an easier surface is taken to reverse the form. The selection is 5/1 at BetVictor and that looks a cracking each way price.
The third Grade 1 on the card is the Betfred Bowl and this is a high-class renewal with the Gold Cup placed horses Djakadam (2.50) and Don Poli meeting the King George winner Cue Card who came down three out at Cheltenham when, seemingly, going best.
Cue Card is the even money favourite at BetVictor and is a previous winner at the Aintree Festival but he has never won over fences at the meeting, finishing second to both Don Cossack (2015) and Sprinter Sacre (2013). He was reported to be unscathed after his Cheltenham fall but I just favour Djakadam (2.50) runner up in the last two Gold Cups; he deserves to win a big one in Britain and he looks the best of the Irish given Don Poli looked devoid of pace when 10l behind the selection last month. Today's slower ground will suit Don Poli but it certainly won't inconvenience his stablemate who gets the vote; he is 9/4 with BetVictor.
Champion Hurdler Annie Power (3.25) cannot be opposed in the Aintree Hurdle the feature and fourth successive Grade 1 contest on the card. The mare gets 7lbs from the boys, was too good for the opposition at Cheltenham and is proven to be every bit as good if not better over this extra half mile. She is an 8/15 shot which makes little appeal as a betting medium although I am sure she will be in many doubles and trebles on the day.
Pacha Du Polder was a running on fifth in the Cheltenham Foxhunters when ridden by Victoria Pendleton who is not in the saddle today with Will Biddick taking over; he is likely to be ridden a lot more prominently today but still faces a tough ask with the Festival winner On The Fringe looking for the double/double having won at both Cheltenham and Aintree last year.
On The Fringe wasn't at his brilliant best at the Festival and today's easier ground will suit but 6/4 is plenty short enough in a 20-runner field around these fences and I will look for an each way alternative.
Mendip Express (4.05) finished runner up in the Becher Chase over the National fences when trained by Harry Fry in 2014 and can reward each way support (12/1 at BetVictor) as long as his jockey doesn't get too far out of his ground. Marasonnien looks sure to take them along at a good clip and it will be interesting to see if there is any money for the latter trained by; yes, Willie Mullins.
The Red Rum is one of my favourite races of the year and the form of Fayette County's second to Noche De Reyes at Ludlow was franked when the winner followed up back at the Shropshire track by 6l earlier in the week. He must run well but Viconte Du Noyer (4.40) looks as if he has been laid out for the race by the excellent Henry de Bromhead and he gets a narrow each way vote at a double-figure price. The selection first came to my attention when scoring at Killarney where he beat Dandridge (2lbs better off) a minute back in July and as long as it is not soft ground (genuine good to soft is fine) then he must go close. The tissue I have seen is 14/1 with BetVictor and that warrants each way support.
The finale is a ridiculously competitive Mares' Bumper; Augusta Kate was backed off the boards when running well in the Champion Bumper and she will appreciate returning to her own sex and the bit of ease in today's ground.
She is likely to be all the rage for her owners the Masters Syndicate who include Alan Shearer, Ant & Dec and Chubby Chandler the golf agent. August Kate winning at Aintree on the opening day of the Masters for the Masters syndicate does have a certain ring to it; she will be short enough in the betting.
La Bague Au Roi (5.15) comes into the race on a four-timer and has been laid out for the race by Warren Greatrex; the yard were out of luck at Cheltenham but introduced a good Bumper winner at Bangor last week and this inmate can reward each way support.
For all your racing odds check out BetVictor.com authorised betting partners of British Racing and six places on the Crabbie's Grand National.
