Friday 7th April 2017

Defi Du Seuil & Buveur D’Air, the Triumph Hurdle winner & Champion Hurdle winner both won as they should have at Aintree yesterday. There were never really any anxious moments for the big hitters that might have lumped on the double. I would love to see these two horses take each other on in next seasons Champion Hurdle.

Lizzie Kelly gave Tea For Two a grand ride in the Betway Bowl, an early faller in Cheltenham Gold Cup, Kelly got a good tune out the Nick Williams horse and claimed a big race win.

We should of had a nice winner in the Foxhunters with Balnaslow. Normally given a handy ride and despite jumping off in the first 4 or 5 Balnaslow drifted towards the rear of the field but was always travelling and jumping so well. 3 out Balnaslow was nearer last than first and must have made up a good 30 lengths to get involved. The horse was flying at the finish and would have won in another 50 yards. The EW money came back with a 2nd place but a good priced winner should have been had.

A really tricky day at Aintree this afternoon, it looks very tough.

In the 1:40 I’ve taken a chance on the Lucinda Russell trained Sky Khan at a big price of 16-1 EW.

Recent form isn’t great but not long ago Sky Khan was rated 140 odd. This time last year Sky Khan was running big races at Cheltenham, Aintree & Punchestown finishing 3^rd 4^th & 5^th. Sky Khan comes into today’s race fresh and runs off a rating of 130. This looks to be his time of the year and  the horse could be well handicapped. He’ll either run a big race or show little. At odds of 16-1 we don’t need much on to find out.

I’ve also backed Rather Be, 12-1 EW. Hampered and fell at Cheltenham through no fault of his own. 136 could be a nice opening rating, he could be a lot better than that.

Sub Lieutenant is hard to get away from in the Melling Chase at 3:25.

2^nd behind the likes of Sizing John & Un De Sceaux on his last two starts, that form is the best on offer by some way in this line-up. A repeat effort of his two previous starts should be good enough. God’s Own looks the danger, he always run well around Aintree and was unlucky at Cheltenham, going nicely until hitting 2 out in the Queen Mother.

Sub Lieutenant looks the best value favourite of the day at odds of 100-30.

The Topham Chase is one of my favourite races of the Aintree meeting. Two things are required to win this, firstly you must race handy and secondly jump like Pegasus. Gold Present priced at 11-1 covers both of those angles and he’ll do for me.

I’ll also be cheering on Seafood for obvious reasons, he'll run his race and give you a decent spin.