Jane Mangan’s William Hill blog: Aintree Grand National Festival Day Two selections

William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan returns with her selections for Day Two of the Grand National Festival at Aintree, featuring four Grade One races.

Aintree, Friday

We start with the Grade One Mildmay Novices’ Chase (1:45pm). Ben Pauling’s Handstands is the favourite, and he is the one I am opting for in the opener. His run at Sandown, beating subsequent Arkle winner Jango Baie, is a standout piece of form in the context of this race. He’ll appreciate the better ground, and the trainer has earmarked this race for him since February. Caldwell Potter will go out in front and set a nice gallop, which should suit Handstands. Back up to three miles should be no issue, and I really like his chances.

The William Hill Handicap Hurdle (2:20pm) over two-and-a-half miles is quite the puzzle to solve. Impose Toi has been treated very fairly by the handicapper; he only received a rise of four pounds for finishing second in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival. He is sure to be competitive again. I’m opting for one at a bigger price though in Western Walk for Jonathan Sweeney and Brian Hayes. He hit the front way too soon at Naas the last day, and a return to more conservative tactics will see him to better effect this time around. A patient ride will suit each-way punters, and I think he provides the value in this race.

The Grade One Trust A Trader Top Novices’ Hurdle (2:55pm) over two miles looks a tricky affair. Ten runners go to post, and I fancy Salvator Mundi this time around. I’ve never really warmed to the horse, but I thought that despite the fact he pulled hard throughout in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, he ran a good race in the circumstances. The smaller field should help, with Paul Townend back aboard. If he can settle better, he can run a huge race and upset the odds.

The Grade One Melling Chase (3:30pm) looks like the perfect opportunity for Jonbon to get back on track. He did incredibly well to finish second in the Champion Chase after that error. He is my idea of the winner here. There are lots of question marks over the other horses. El Fabiolo was disappointing last time. There is no doubt that, on his day, he is up to the class of Jonbon, but he is unreliable, and I can’t see him beating the favourite this time around.

The Topham Handicap Chase (4:05pm) is often a race where you want to look for a type who has experience over the unique fences, but this time around I’m going for a more progressive, younger horse in Bad. His two wins at Kempton have shown how progressive he is. He’s gone from a rating of 125 to 140, and I believe there is still more to come. He’s a lovely jumper who should appreciate the drying conditions, and I think he will take a lot of stopping if he takes to these fences.

The Grade One Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (4:40pm) has a field of 15 runners. For me, it doesn’t look like the most vintage of Grade Ones. I’m asking myself if there is a future champion in here, as there isn’t a truly established type, but there are several unexposed horses who can make a splash in this grade in time. One of those is Mister Meggit. He is a dual bumper winner and won his maiden here. The step up in trip shouldn’t be an issue for him, and I think the drying conditions will suit. The Hemmings family have had many great days at Aintree, and I think he can run a big race for them here.

The final race on the card is a handicap hurdle (5:15pm) for conditionals, and it’s quite the puzzle. I fancy Hamsiyann here. He has a huge chance with the light weight of 10 stone and two pounds, with Maxine O’Sullivan taking another handy three pounds off. He won well at the Cheltenham November meeting off a mark of 111. He runs off 10 pounds higher here but subsequently ran in a three-mile Musselburgh handicap, which didn’t suit, being by Lope De Vega. Back down to two miles, he should be very hard to beat.