Aintree Grand National Meeting Day 2

Sir Gino gave us a bit to play with on Day 2 of the Grand National meeting.

Two bets placed today, Kateira in the 2:20 and Firefox 2:55.

Kateira has clearly been aimed at this race all season, second in the Grade 1 Novice at Aintree last year, that form is red-hot and the best in this race by a mile.

A pipe opener took place at Kempton 27 days ago to blow the cobwebs away, Kateira will be fit and ready to go whilst the ground will be fine. She's the pick of Harry Skelton, who had three others he could have chosen. She's well handicapped off 136 and should go very close.

Bookies are paying 6 places, at odds of 5-1, she can be backed EW.

Firefox looks the value bet in the Novice Hurdle. I'm not so keen backing horses that ran at Cheltenham, but plenty went wrong for Firefox and I don't think he had a hard race.

I expect Firefox to be ridden different in this and perhaps even force the running rather than the hold up ride given at Cheltenham which didn't work. Jack Kennedy will bid to run the finish out of Mystical Power who didn't get up the hill at the festival.

I can't see beyond the top two in the betting, priced at 5-2, Firefox looks the one to be with. That's a fair price and perhaps a bit big.