Jane Mangan’s William Hill blog: Impaire will be hard to Passe

Aintree, Thursday

It’s looking like we’re going to have proper soft to heavy ground for the three days at Aintree, so I think that plays into the strengths of Grey Dawning in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase (1.45pm) for the Skeltons. Throughout the week there is going to be a theme of the Trainers’ Championship, and Dan Skelton’s charge may well just get the upper hand to Willie Mullins’ Il Etait Temps and Ginny’s Destiny, who Grey Dawning has already got the better of at Cheltenham. Considering his pedigree, he should really relish these conditions and I expect him to confirm his superiority over Ginny’s Destiny.

In the 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (2.20pm), I’m keen on Kargese. There’s only six declared and it’s all about what shape they turn up in. Who knows how Nicky Henderson’s horses are going to run this week? That’s the big thing, when it comes to Sir Gino and Shishkin.

Kargese is a filly who has answered every call this year. She’s a tad keen, but I think that Paul Townend can switch her off in a small field. I expect her to be very difficult to beat here – her form is there for everyone to see. I think if Townend can ride her a little bit more patiently, she will take all the beating.

The William Hill Bowl (2.55pm) is fascinating now we have the novice Corbetts Cross thrown in the shark tank instead of staying in quieter waters. I don’t know whether his form stacks up to Gold Cup standard, but we’ll certainly find out here.

Shishkin would arguably have to be nearly at his best to repel the challenges and so I prefer Gerri Colombe. He hasn’t had a hard year with this being his fourth run of the year. He won at Aintree last year in a hack canter and this could be the same.

The William Hill Aintree Hurdle (3.30pm) is up next and there is 140 grand up for grabs! Bob Olinger has been kept specifically for this and is currently the market leader but I think the younger legs of Impaire Et Passe might prevail.

I think he’s much better than what we’ve seen of him so far this season. It was very tactical when he got beaten in the Hatton’s Grace which probably didn’t suit. He wasn’t good enough to beat State Man but that’s no mean feat as State Man is the current Champion Hurdler. I think Impaire Et Passe would have gone close to winning that race had he run there. The ground will be fine on what I think is his optimum trip.

The Red Rum Handicap Chase (4.40pm) is one that I’m going to go outside the usual. Unexpected Party, Saint Roi and Path D’Oroux all had a hard race at Cheltenham so I’m going to go a little bit further down in the bracket and go for each-way prospect in Whiskeywealth.

Terence O’Brien’s Answer To Kayf ran very well in the Martin Pipe and the trainer does well with his small squad. Whiskeywealth is in the form of his life winning over both hurdles and fences recently. When he won at Gowran Park he proved that he can handle heavy conditions, while John Shinnick is back on and is very good value for his 7lbs. The horse is in superb form and will welcome every drop of rain that falls.