Friday 13th May 2016

Gran Maestro makes his seasonal debut this evening in the 7:05 at Aintree. Granny as we call him is a character, he’s a bit of a lad and does what he wants, but talented. If he was human I thing Gran Maestro would be a top rapper in a Los Angeles club!

Tonight’s race is of a really good standard with some smart horses lining up.

Saint Charles owned by J P McManus was backed very heavily in the Supporting Greatwood Hurdle last time and finished 5^th on ground that wouldn’t have suited. Before that he ran Thistlecrack to 3 lengths. Mad Jack Mytton looked like he was going to win at the Aintree Festival until coming down and then ran very well in a hot handicap at Sandown. The top weight War Sound won the Swinton Hurdle last year and General Ginger remains in very good form for Harry Fry.

The race will take a lot of winning but Gran Maestro would be in the shake up if performing to the level of his Summer Hurdle win last year. Note he’s now higher in the weights though.

Plenty of his owners are making the journey and 80’s pop band Deacon Blue are playing after racing. The fixture is a sell-out and it will be a nice way to start the season.

If Danzeno runs in a straight line just once and gives his all, he’ll win a huge race as mentioned on here the other day. The horse is super talented but a little quirky. Danzeno was beaten just over a length in the Clipper stakes but finished on the bridle, he’s a horse you just have to follow as one day everything will come together.