Nick Luck
Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Aintree Grand National Festival Day Two best bets
William Hill ambassador Nick Luck previews the second day of the Aintree Grand National Festival.
JAZZY MATTY must surely go well in the Friday opener at Aintree (1.45). Very well treated over hurdles by comparison to his chase mark, he arrives here in his typically robust Spring form, having narrowly failed to bring up a Cheltenham hat-trick. Conditions should be just about perfect, and he’ll appreciate the big field and searching pace.
SALVER can build on his good Cheltenham run by taking the Mildmay (2.20). Three miles and a furlong will still take a bit of getting – particularly if the rain comes – and there is more than one highly suspect stayer in here. Not so the selection, who is a very strong galloper, will enjoy this track more, and remains open to a bit of improvement.
BARON NOIR is a possible alternative to Sober Glory in the Top Novices (2.55). He did by far the best of those held up off the pace in the Supreme, and isn’t short of a turn of foot for this track. Alan King has always held him in the highest regard, and he can play a big part here.
GIDLEIGH PARK is a tentative suggestion to outrun his odds in the Melling (3.30). He performed outstandingly last year when – light on experience – he made course specialist Impaire Et Passe pull out all the stops. His run at Ascot behind Jango Bale was superb and, for all his ailments and inability to take loads of racing, he is a very slick operator on his day.
MADARA remains well handicapped, and will be a mighty tough nut to crack in the Topham (4.05). He was capable of running very close to this mark for his previous trainers, and there is every chance he’s not done improving for the Skeltons. Croke Park and Lisnamult Lad have each way possibilities at bigger odds.
MONDOUI’BOY could be the answer to the Sefton (4.40). Fourth in the Albert Bartlett, that finishing position does scant justice to the merit of his performance, as he’d probably had a sighter of the front way too soon. Ridden somewhat more patiently here, he’ll have a big chance of reversing the form.
HARRY LOWES might be one of the better handicapped horses in training, and can take the finale under Tristan Durrell (5.15). I’ve been pretty taken with him since Exeter in the autumn, and feel he’s been marking time getting ready for a bigger target in the interim. Notwithstanding that, even his defeats at face value have worked out well enough to give him a chance, and you can expect a decent surge of improvement.
