14:20 “BETWAY TOP NOVICES’ HURDLE” – THIRD TIME LUCKI
6th in the County Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last month.
Was very competitive before fading very late on, only 3 lengths behind eventual winner Belfast Banter.
His best results have come on flat courses and although Belfast Banter won at Cheltenham, it takes a special horse to do the Cheltenham/Aintree double.
Favourite Dusart was last seen beating Soaring Glory at Newbury in November, over the same two mile trip but it wasn’t ran at pace.
The pace here should be brisk just like the County Handicap at Cheltenham with Alex Hales’ charge, For Pleasure, being a keen front runner.
The flat galloping nature of Aintree however means there is less concern about Third Time Lucki tiring very late on.
14:50 “MILDMAY NOVICES’ CHASE” – CHANTRY HOUSE
Won an eventful renewal of the Marsh Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham last time out with Shan Blue 12 lengths back in 5th.
as mentioned before, Cheltenham/Aintree double winners are rare but this horse might just be one.
This horse has won three out of four starts and the one he lost was because of novicey jumping in his second outing over fences.
In the Marsh last month, he avenged this defeat beating Fusil Raffles by 3 lengths, with high quality names Chatham Street Lad and Asterion Forlonge also finishing in behind.
The jumping has been tidied up and to sum up his quality, in last year’s Supreme finished 3rd behind eventual Arkle champion and multiple graded winner over fences Shishkin.
Also in that race finished ahead of Heaven Help us, who won the Coral Cup at Cheltenham last month.
The quality is there and should justify favouritism with Shan Blue likely to be involved late on.
15:25 “MARSH CHASE (MELLING CHASE)” – POLITOLOGUE
The winner of this race in 2018.
Last seen when finishing 7 lengths 2nd to First Flow in the Clarence House Chase over two miles one furlong.
The race was run at a ridiculous pace on stamina sapping soft ground and this horse went with the pace all the way.
First Flow ultimately had first run late on but this horse kept on until just before the last fence.
After that excellent show of stamina and having missed Cheltenham should be in the picture here.
Trainer Paul Nicholls also picked up a double on day one so is in fine form so far at Aintree.
16:05 “TOPHAM HANDICAP CHASE” – HUNTSMAN SON
Last time out was 6th to The Shunter at the Cheltenham Festival last month over two and a half miles.
The runner-up from the Red Rum Handicap Chase yesterday, Sully D’oc Aa, finished a length behind Huntsman Son in that race at Cheltenham by 1 length in 8th.
Carribean Boy was also in 7th by a similar margin and the differences in the handicap is relatively similar.
This horse was last victorious at Wetherby in October last year, beating Two For Gold well by 51/2 lengths.
The Aintree fences should suit this horse’s ability to put in a big jump and he is one, of only a few horses in the field, who will truly appreciate the ground being good-soft.
16:40 DOOM BAR SEFTON NOVICES’ HURDLE – STREETS OF DOYEN
Was 3rd last time out in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham last month.
finished 12 lengths behind the winner Vanillier, but the winner was exceptional in the finish uphill and Streets Of Doyen kept on well in 3rd.
This horse has an advantage over the majority of this field, because he has won multiple races over three miles.
Won at Cheltenham last October, ahead of Polish who went on to win a competitive class two hurdle at Newbury.
Even more impressive than that, had a victory over Flooring Porter, who he beat by 5 lengths at Gowran Park last October.
Flooring Porter is now the Champion Stayer after winning the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.
Although not without a chance, favourite Bravemansgame has been stepped up to this trip for the first time after finishing 3rd last month at Cheltenham, behind bright prospect Bob Olinger.
I think he is more suited to a fence going forward however, and Streets Of Doyen has some pretty impressive scalps under his belt already.
Hawkinsport 