14:25 – Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – Walking On Air
This horse was last seen winning a novices’ hurdle at Newbury, pulling away emphatically and was a similar path Nicky Henderson’s star two miler, Shishkin, took in 2020. This horse however, gave Cheltenham a miss so goes into this race fresh and will get good ground which can only benefit his speed. He will face tough competition from multiple graded winners with more form to reference. Nicky Henderson said he missed Cheltenham because he wasn’t ready and is a “big baby” but he could be anything. This horse is fresh and appeared to have excellent finishing speed last time out and could be a lightly raced, quality horse.
15:00 – Poundland Maghull Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) – Edwardstone
Edwardstone is the reigning Arkle winner and has been the star novice two miler this season. Currently on an unbeaten run of five wins, with four at graded level, this horse has shown exceptional consistency all season. His trainer Alan King has said he has no concerns ahead of the race after giving the horse a two month break after Christmas. He already holds form where he finished ahead of For Pleasure and Third Time Lucki who run here. The most threatening rival here is Gentleman De Mee but he doesn’t have the leading form claims of Alan King’s stable star. This is a great chance for him to complete a rare Cheltenham-Aintree double.
15:35 – JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) – Thyme Hill
Thyme Hill won last year’s renewal of this race and comes into this race as a very respectable runner-up of the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month. With the likes of Clan Des Obeaux, Ahoy Senor and Fakir D’oudairies all claiming victory so far at the festival, course and festival form is at a premium. If Flooring Porter turns up at his best the reigning Stayers’ Hurdle champion will take some beating, but he can be quirky and Thyme Hill only has about 3 lengths to make up based on the Cheltenham form. He also has form ahead of many of the runners here, from last year’s renewal of this race and the Stayers’ at Cheltenham.
16:15 – Betway Handicap Chase (Grade 3) – Killer Kane
This horse has made five starts this season but has won both starts since the application of a tongue-tie in February. He was last seen achieving a career best by winning a listed success at Sandown last month. He comes into the race carrying the 2nd lowest weight in the race and the jumping test at Aintree will suit this horse if his last run was anything to go by. He faces tough opposition in winner at grade one level Shan Blue, but he will be carrying 1 stone 3lbs more than Colin Tizzard’s runner and is winless since Boxing Day last year. Shan Blue has been competing at a higher level than this horse, but this horse showed a lot of promise at Sandown. He also has a win over the three mile trip which makes this horse less of an unknown quantity.
Randox Health Grand National Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
Longhouse Poet
This horse made a good impression when winning an ungraded event at Gowran Park in January. Escaria Ten, Death Duty, Coko Beach, Brahma Bull and Class Conti all finished in behind and all run here. His best results have come over long distances, having run twice over trips that were three miles one furlong and he won both. He will carry 11lbs more than Death Duty here who is a well fancied runner for Gordon Elliott but the winning margin when they last met was over 20 lengths in this horse’s favour whilst 6lbs worse off in the weights. Longhouse Poet also has form ahead of Run Wild Fred, another fancied runner, in a beginners chase in December 2020. Longhouse Poet has had two months off the racecourse and will be relatively fresh. His last run he finished a disappointing 7th of nine runners in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan. This is a race that Tiger Roll often won in the build up to the Grand National and although he lost, this will have acted as a good prep-run for Martin Brassil’s runner. The return to a longer trip and fences will suit his strengths and he is in with a great chance in the big one.
18:20 – Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open NH Flat Race (Grade 2) – Henri The Second
This horse was last seen winning a listed NH flat race at Ascot in December. The race produced two smart winners in Authorised Speed and Top Dog, with many of the others finishing in the places in their following races. Paul Nicholls has kept this horse fresh with a three month lay off. Paul Nicholls told Betfair that he could be his best chance on the day but has stated that if the ground gets too good it could be a worry. Henri The Second has followed the same path this season as Nicholls’ Knappers Hill, who completed the hattrick last season and this horse has a good chance of emulating that success.
Hawkinsport 