Advised Friday Night 5th April
Racecourse & Time
Aintree – 13:45
Advised Stake & Bet Type
1/2 Point Each Way
Name of Horse to Back
Forza Milan
Current Odds:
10/1 Bet365, Boylesports, Ladbrokes & 888sport, use BOG bookies
Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing
Selection Reasoning:
Forza Milan won nicely last time out at Sandown following a wind operation. That win was run over two and a half miles and he will relish stepping out in trip. In November 2017 he finished second over course and distance beaten by a well handicapped Louis Vac Pouch on soft ground. Forza Milan is lightly raced and there should be better to come from this Milan horse with a clear run of things. Barry Geraghty was booked to ride but was taken to hospital following a fall in the Topham Chase with a leg injury. We hope Barry is ok and if out then Jonjo will find an able replacement.
Racecourse & Time
Aintree – 13:45
Advised Stake & Bet Type
1/2 Point Each Way
Name of Horse to Back
Poker Play
Current Odds:
10/1 Bet365, Boylesports, Ladbrokes & 888sport, use BOG bookies
Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing
Selection Reasoning:
Poker Play runs for trainer David Pipe who landed this race last season with Mr Big Shot. Poker Play was an expensive purchase and ran just ok when beaten by Flemcara at Exeter off a rating of 125. He proved that rating all wrong with an easy victory from Bold Plan at Uttoxeter over two and a half miles. The handicapper has raised him a whopping 11lbs but now that Poker Play is in form it is a good time to stick with him. Tom Scudamore rides and the soft or tacky ground tomorrow will not bother this horse.
Racecourse & Time
Aintree – 14:25
Advised Stake & Bet Type
1/2 Point Each Way
Name of Horse to Back
Angels Breath
Current Odds:
10/1 Bet365, Boylesports, Ladbrokes & 888sport, use BOG bookies
Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing
Selection Reasoning:
Nicky Henderson usually strikes with a few winners at this festival and following the success of Pentland Hills and Champ we hope he bags a hat trick thanks to Angels Breath. This horse comes with a big home reputation and needs to do it on the track tomorrow. He won impressively at Sandown on soft ground and then found Kempton too sharp on good ground over two miles. Things happened too quickly for him in the Supreme Novices hurdle at Cheltenham so stepping up in trip half a mile looks a good idea. Brewin ‘upastorm is the main danger but might be more exposed than Angels Breath.
Racecourse & Time
Aintree – 15:00
Advised Stake & Bet Type
1/2 Point Each Way
Name of Horse to Back
Lalor
Current Odds:
10/1 Bet365, Boylesports, Ladbrokes & 888sport, use BOG bookies
Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing
Selection Reasoning:
Lalor didn’t fire at all in the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Richard Johnson took the wise decision to pull him up when not travelling well to save him for this race. Last year Lalor won the Grade 1 novices hurdle here following a poor run in the Betfair Hurdle so he is prone to the odd blip. What we do know is he loves it around Aintree having won here at Grade 1 level for the past two seasons. Chasing has not bothered him and Lalor is a good jumper in the main for a Novice. Richard Johnson knows the horse very well and he should be fresh and ready for this assignment. Lalor is joint top rated with a couple of the Irish runners but was by far the best of these over hurdles.
Racecourse & Time
Aintree – 16:20
Advised Stake & Bet Type
1/2 Point Each Way
Name of Horse to Back
Debece
Current Odds:
10/1 Bet365, Boylesports, Ladbrokes & 888sport, use BOG bookies
Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing
Selection Reasoning:
Debece loves it at Aintree and looked a winner in a valuable handicap last year until tiring late on his first run in a year. This season trainer Tim Vaughan has managed to race him three times over fences winning twice and placing behind Drinks Interval. Debece lacks experience but looks a decent jumper and most likely will be on the front end out of trouble getting a good look at his fences. The ground and trip are fine and this looks to have been the long term plan. Trainer Tim Vaughan is quoted in the racing post as saying “We know he has exceptional form around Aintree. We deliberately missed Cheltenham and got the third run into him over fences in a softer race at Catterick. He’s been difficult to train but I’m expecting a great run.”
Racecourse & Time
Aintree – 16:20
Advised Stake & Bet Type
1/2 Point Each Way
Name of Horse to Back
Oldgrandewood
Current Odds:
10/1 Bet365, Boylesports, Ladbrokes & 888sport, use BOG bookies
Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing
Selection Reasoning:
Oldgrangewood might prefer better ground but did run very well in this race last season until tiring late off a 9lb higher rating. He caught my eye staying on well if all too late in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival for Bridget Andrews. It’s a bonus the handicapper has dropped him 3lbs since Cheltenham as well as Harry Skelton booked to ride. Flat courses suit him best and he looks well handicapped with a good chance of going better than last season.
**Next Update Sunday Morning 6th January ~10:00
As per usual you will be emailed as soon as new selections are updated online