Expert Aintree Festival 2014 Tips for Day 2

Free betting tips for each race shown live on Channel 4 as part of the Day 2 coverage of the Aintree Festival.

 

The middle day of the three-day Grand National meeting provides us with five Graded races on a cracking day of Channel 4 coverage.  Here are the best bets for each race shown live.

 

 

 

 

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2.00 Aintree

 

The coverage kicks off with a 2m novices hurdle where a couple who contested the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival re-oppose.

 

Amore Alato (12/1 SkyBet) and Art Of Payroll (7/1 bet365) come here off the back of career best efforts, the former when second to Irving at Kempton and the latter winning a handicap at Leopardstown decisively.  Both would need to improve if they are to win here but both are proven on good ground and may do so.

 

Baltimore Rock (10/1 BetVictor) kept up the Pipe legacy when he won the Imperial Cup on his latest start off a mark of 125.  This demands considerably more and he is unproven on quicker ground but looks to have really clicked since the turn of the year so is respected.

 

JOSSES HILL (15/8 William Hill) finished second in the Supreme having filled the same spot in the Tolworth at Kempton.  He looks a smart novice but didn't have an awful lot to spare over Sgt Reckless (5/1 bet365) who takes him on again.  That said, he does look the more likely to improve and gets the vote to score here.

 

2.00 Betting Tip – JOSSES HILL (WIN) (15/8 William Hill)

 

 

 

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2.30 Aintree

 

The Mildmay Novices’ Chase is up next with form from three Festival chases combining to make an interesting puzzle.

 

Don Cossack (8/1 William Hill) was still travelling well enough in the RSA when he came down and may prove better here.  His best form came at Fairyhouse on the quickest ground he has encountered which makes him interesting here.

 

HOLYWELL (3/1 Stan James) has won big handicaps back-to-back years at the Cheltenham Festival.  Officially the second highest rated in the field, he ran Solwhit to three lengths in the Liverpool hurdle at this meeting last year and has a great chance.

 

O'Faolains Boy (9/4 bet365) won the RSA last time out, staying on too strongly up the hill for his opponents.  He took a while to get on top at Ascot the time before as well and whilst boasting the best novice form in the field he may just find things happening a little quick for him here.

 

Wonderful Charm (7/2 BetVictor) flopped in the JLT having run up a solid sequence of form beforehand.  Unproven over this trip, but best in on official ratings he merits respect.

 

2.30 Betting Tip – HOLYWELL (WIN) (3/1 Stan James)

 

 

 

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3.05 Aintree

 

The Melling Chase is another Grade 1, this time over 2m 4f.

 

Ballynagour (6/1 bet365) was impressive at Cheltenham benefiting hugely from a first time tongue tie when turning what had looked a competitive handicap into a procession.  This is a massive hike in grade but, if in the same form, he may be capable of defying it.

 

Module (9/2 Stan James) ran a career best in the Champion Chase at the Festival when third to Sire De Grugy.  His stamina isn't totally proven but, on a flat track, it shouldn't be too much of a problem, although he wouldn't want he ground to get too quick.

 

RADJANI EXPRESS (5/1 bet365) continued his improvement in the Ryanair last time when finishing third to Dynaste.  He has shown a liking for good ground and, coming here off the back of a very light campaign, should play a part in the finish.

 

Wishfull Thinking (7/1 Stan James) has shown that turning eleven has been no barrier to success this year, following up a handicap win off a mark of 156 with an eye catching effort in the Champion Chase, staying in stoutly up the hill over a trip too short.  He should run another solid race but he may find spritelier legs have his measure.

 

3.05 Betting Tip – RADJANI EXPRESS (WIN) (5/1 bet365)

 

 

 

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3.40 Aintree

 

The Topham chase is the second of the races over the big fences this week and is mind blowingly competitive.

 

The top three in the weights; Champion Court (25/1 Stan James), Double Ross (9/1 bet365) and Rebel Rebellion (20/1 BetVictor) should all be considered.  The first named has been a little below par this season but his running style will be suited to this race.  Double Ross has improved rapidly all season and is probably up to defying this mark, although his tendency to give the odd fence a clout is a concern.  The last is proven over these fences having won the Grand Sefton in December but has been lumped up a massive 11 lbs since.

 

KAUTO STONE (33/1 Ladbrokes) was the ante-post tip for this race having been ridden very aggressively of late in better quality races.  A mark of 145 should be well within his capabilities and these fences often spark horses back to life.

 

You Must Know Me (25/1 Stan James) is another with course form, finishing 4th in the Grand Sefton.  He stayed on well all the way to the line on that occasion and off just a 2lb higher mark should go well.

 

Lost Legend (14/1 bet365) wouldn’t win any prizes for consistency but he showed his ability winning at Kempton last time out in a competitive handicap.  If in a similar mood again he could go well off a light weight. 

 

Another with very little to carry is Dunowen Point (16/1 Ladbrokes) who was the subject of a few shrewd nibbles a couple of weeks ago when the betting first came out.  He was fourth in this race last year off an 8lb higher mark before looking badly in need of the run having shown up well for a long way here in December when sent off favourite for the Grand Sefton.  Two dismal efforts since temper confidence but he might enjoy himself more back on a course he likes.

 

3.40 Betting Tip – KAUTO STONE (E/W) (33/1 Ladbrokes)

 

 

 

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4.15 Aintree

 

The Sefton novices hurdle over 3m rounds out the coverage with potential chasers in abundance.

 

Capote (12/1 BetVictor) will find this a very different test to his pair of wins this season.  Those came in small fields and on very different ground.  It's hard to know exactly what he achieved with those victories but one can't help but think there is a lot more to come.

 

Killala Quay (6/1 William Hill) enjoyed being back on a sounder surface in the Neptune at Cheltenham on his most recent outing after pulling up in desperate ground at Warwick previously.  The way he came up the hill at Cheltenham would suggest he will find this trip suitable and he merits respect.

 

Seeyouatmidnight (10/3 bet365) has improved rapidly this season to score on all three starts over hurdles, most recently in a Grade 2 at Haydock.  They have all been with plenty of cut in the ground however and, although he won a point to point on good, the horse he beat half a length that day was beaten off 79 in a handicap at Uttoxeter just a couple of weeks ago.

 

TISTORY (14/1 William Hill) has a lot to find on official ratings here but looks an intriguing each-way prospect.  He showed massive improvement for better ground at Doncaster last time when sauntering home over shorter.  That wasn't much of a contest and he is unproven over this trip but he is very lightly raced for a seven year-old.  His first run in this country in March 2012 saw him win a NHF race at Ludlow giving 3lbs and a beating to Court Minstrel who is currently rated 147 over hurdles.  That level of ability and lack of a Cheltenham run make him a massive each way player.

 

4.15 Betting Tip – TISTORY (E/W) (14/1 William Hill)

 

 

 

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