The handicapper might have been slightly lenient only nudging PRESS YOUR LUCK up 1lb after his second at Newbury recently. Chris Gordon's young novice had earlier looked the winner before unseating at Kempton a week earlier. He outran his odds at Newbury when tipped in this column and I think the form is decent. He seemed to be a tricky ride late on that day and I'd say he probably wants to be produced as late as possible. The big field should allow Joshua Moore to do just that and at 22/1 I think he can feature here.
POLITOLOGUE would be my banker of the meeting if I wasn't so sweet on my last tip and I can't see anything stopping him from winning this race for a second time today. He is the only horse who is consistently proven in Grade 1 company and although Dashel Drasher beat him last time out, that was in his backyard at Ascot on soft ground. I anticipate today's conditions to swing this race into Politologue's favour and provided a safe trip around, I can't see anything which is going to beat him.
My last tip has been in the offing for a month or two now and I'm glad we have got here in one piece and with conditions to suit as well. Paul Nicholls is clearly in good form this week and has laid MODUS out for the Topham Chase all season. He returned this season with a cosy success here at Aintree before connections tried their hand over these fences in the Sefton in December. He performed with credit that day by finishing third but the softer ground and the quick turn around from his first run might just have caught him out. I think he is a horse who goes well fresh and with his season geared around this race you can guarantee he will be ready to roll.
Aintree 1.45 – Press Your Luck
Aintree 3.25 – Politologue
Aintree 4.05 – Modus
Saturday
I'm having two arrows at the board in the 1.45 on Saturday and first up is HOMETOWN BOY who returned a winning tip for this column on his return at Kempton last time out. Stuart Edmunds' horse had some top form in the book before that run and he certainly looked well handicapped off 130. Only up 7lbs he looks sure to go well now stepped up in trip which should bring about more improvement.
My second dart at the board is STONEY MOUNTAIN who certainly looks well handicapped based on his old form. He won the valuable stayers hurdle at Haydock a couple of seasons ago and old connections had already planned out a successful chasing career. However, he isn't the biggest of horses and didn't really take to chasing as he proved on his first run for new connections. We haven't seen him since and I suspect this race may have been the plan for quite some time.
In the big race of the day I'm siding with KIMBERLITE CANDY who looks set to run a mighty race. Tom Lacey has had this race as the plan for quite some time and he looks tailor made for the test this race provides. Ideally, I'd like to see some cut in the ground as his best runs have come on softer going but he ticks too many boxes for me to discount him on the count of the ground.
This is a chancey punt in the last race but I was very taken with the performance of GO DANTE at Wincanton last time. I trust my eye when it comes to punting and I was visually impressed with the selection on his debut. The way he accelerated away up the straight was quite something and I think he might just outrun his odds tomorrow.
Aintree 1.45 – Hometown Boy & Stoney Mountain
Aintree 5.15 – Kimberlite Candy
Aintree 6.20 – Go Dante
