Aintree Day Two: Friday Festival Tips and Best Bets

Aintree Day Two: Friday Festival Tips and Best Bets

The Grand National meeting rolls on and Friday's card at Aintree is loaded with Grade 1 action. Good to soft going suits a broad range of profiles today, and with seven races across the card there are angles to exploit in the big handicaps as well as the Pattern events. Tomorrow the boxing world gets its own festival with Tshikeva vs Riakporhe and three other big fights on the card, but for now the horses have the floor. Here is how the races look.

1:45 — William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)

Twenty-two runners over 2m4f in a proper Aintree pot. The field is deep but the angles are clear enough if you know where to look.

Indeevar Bleu (9/2, William Hill / Unibet) is the pick here. Olly Murphy has been firing at a solid 10/29 clip over the past fortnight and this horse ticks every box for this assignment. His Boxing Day win came over course and distance on good to soft, he has a 4-7 record at this trip, and the step up from 2m transformed him. He has been absent since with further wind surgery, so there is an element of unknown, but progressive horses returning from breathing ops often improve again. Sean Bowen is a top booking. The 9/2 is fair rather than generous for a horse who looks made for this race.

Wellington Arch Each-Way (15/2, Unibet / PricedUp Bet) is a serious each-way player. He won this race last year and arrives on the back of a smooth Uttoxeter success on soft, going one better than 12 months ago at the same track. His current mark reflects that progress but Jonjo O'Neill Jr is an Aintree specialist and this horse clearly loves coming here to run a big race. Each-way at 15/2 with five places at 1/5 is outstanding value.

Favour And Fortune Each-Way (8/1, Bet365) ran third in this race last year and second in the Formby in 2023 over the same course. Alan King's yard is ticking over at 3/16 but this horse's affinity with the track is a genuine angle. At 8/1 with five places, the each-way return is compelling in a race as open as this.

2:20 — William Hill Mildmay Novices' Chase (Grade 1)

Eight runners for the Grade 1 over 3m1f and this race revolves around the debate between Salver's raw talent and the form horses from the Cheltenham Festival.

Salver (7/2, Bet365) is the selection. Gary and Josh Moore have a sharp 7/42 record over the fortnight. This horse destroyed Doyen Quest at Sandown and Windsor, and then ran a scorcher at Cheltenham under terrible conditions, finishing third in the Brown Advisory after getting little help in running. The key point is the likely pace scenario: this field has enough front-runners that Salver, who needs a solid gallop to come from the rear, should get exactly what he wants. The 3m1f trip has been queried but his stamina seemed limitless at Sandown. Best price is 4/1 with William Hill. Taken at 7/2 Bet365.

Wendigo Each-Way (13/2, William Hill / Coral) deserves serious each-way consideration. He fell at the last in the Brown Advisory when six lengths down, still running on, and prior to that won the Newbury Grade 2. He stays, jumps well enough, and the 13/2 represents genuine each-way value in an open Grade 1 with only eight runners making the each-way terms tight but still worthwhile at that price.

2:55 — ThatPrizeGuy Top Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)

Six runners and the market is dominated by the odds-on Sober Glory, who is a worthy favourite. The question is whether the price is right.

Sober Glory (4/6, Unibet / Spreadex) is the most likely winner. His record of 7-9 speaks for itself, he loves making the running, and his Supreme second at Cheltenham was better than the bare form given the interference on the run-in. The 4/6 is as short as it gets for a novice hurdler and there is no serious each-way case at those odds.

For those wanting a betting interest, Baron Noir (7/2, Betfred / Boyle Sports) is the value play. Alan King's charge ran at the back of the field in the Supreme and fared best of those with that racing style, which is precisely what he will do here. The 7/2 is workable and he is progressive on good to soft.

3:30 — JCB Melling Chase (Grade 1)

The highlight of the day. Heart Wood arrives as the Ryanair winner and goes off a short price, but the race has real depth.

Heart Wood (5/4, Bet365) is the class horse and the Ryanair win by ten lengths was a performance that demands respect. The De Bromhead yard is ticking at 4/44 over 14 days, which is quiet, but this horse has improved sharply this season. He ran well in the Mildmay at this meeting in 2024 so the track holds no fears. At 5/4 there is limited betting interest unless you need a bet.

Grey Dawning Each-Way (4/1, William Hill / Betfred) is the each-way play with a genuine angle. He drops back from the Gold Cup trip, which appeared to find him out late on, to a 2m4f distance where he won a Grade 1 at Cheltenham Festival. First-time cheekpieces are a fascinating gear change for Dan Skelton, who rarely makes those moves without purpose. He is 4/1 in a seven-runner field where the place terms offer genuine value. This is the most interesting race on the card.

Gidleigh Park Each-Way (4/1, Bet365) is fresh, ran a fine second at Ascot in the autumn, and the mistakes at Ascot in January look like a one-off after wind surgery. The course and distance form from last season's Manifesto is directly relevant. Harry Fry's yard is running at 2/8 but this horse arrives ready. At 4/1 the each-way case is strong in a seven-runner Grade 1.

4:05 — Randox Topham Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)

Thirty runners over the National fences at 2m5f. Chaos is baked in. Focus on horses who have proven themselves over these unique obstacles.

Madara Each-Way (9/2, William Hill / Unibet) is the form pick. The Skelton yard has been bang in form at 11/48 and this horse won the Cheltenham Plate three weeks ago by an easy margin. The 10lb penalty is steep, but he won off 158 and carried it well. He is seven years old, lightly raced, and Harry Skelton rides. The unknown is the National fences on a first attempt, but a horse this good in a handicap tends to handle most challenges. Six places at 1/5 odds makes the each-way case irresistible at 9/2 in a thirty-runner field.

Gentleman De Mee Each-Way (17/2, William Hill / Unibet) is a course specialist who WON this race twelve months ago. He is only 3lb higher than that winning mark, the going suits, and the Mullins yard has a strong record at this meeting. His season has been below-par but it was identical last year. Each-way at 17/2 in a 30-runner field with six places is precisely the bet this race was made for.

Ile Atlantique Each-Way (13/2, Ladbrokes / Unibet) is Paul Townend on a Mullins horse who followed Heart Wood home over 2m7f two starts ago. The jumping has been inconsistent but Townend straightens out horses. Mullins has targeted this race and the combination of trainer record and jockey booking makes this worth including in an each-way combination at 13/2.

4:40 — Oddschecker Sefton Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)

Thirteen runners over 3m½f and this race sets up perfectly for a horse who was unable to get into it at Cheltenham.

No Drama This End (7/2, William Hill) is the most interesting runner in the field. Paul Nicholls has him in the highest regard, he won a Grade 1 and two Grade 2s on his first three starts over hurdles, and his Albert Bartlett run was essentially void, a slow start meaning he was always playing catch-up on a track that rewards front-runners. Nicholls has specifically targeted this race and switched to the flatter, more galloping Aintree track. Sam Twiston-Davies takes over. At 7/2 this is a proper betting proposition.

Mondoui'boy Each-Way (11/2, Unibet / PricedUp Bet) was fourth in the Albert Bartlett racing prominently throughout, which is a completely different profile to the winner Johnny's Jury who came from the clouds. On this flatter track, prominent racers tend to get rewarded. Ben Pauling's yard is at 5/28 but this horse has been the stable star. Each-way at 11/2 with four places makes sense.

Dalston Lad Each-Way (9/1, Unibet) arrives fresher than most having skipped Cheltenham. The Skelton yard is firing, three wins from three since the cheekpieces went on, and the Grade 2 win at Haydock over 3m was convincing. A horse who arrives fresh and has won going to the front is always a threat in a staying novice hurdle.

5:15 — Debenhams Handicap Hurdle (Conditional Jockeys')

Twenty-two runners in the conditional riders' handicap. Deep field, wide open, keep stakes sensible.

Wreckless Eric Each-Way (10/1, Unibet / Spreadex) returned to form in cheekpieces when second in the Imperial Cup at Sandown. The key detail is that twelve months ago he was disappointing at this meeting over 2m4f, but today drops back to 2m½f which is much more his trip. The O'Neill yard is quiet at 2/25 but the horse's profile over the right trip in the right headgear stands up. Five places at 1/5 odds at 10/1 is a strong each-way proposition.

Rubber Ball Each-Way (11/1, Unibet / Spreadex) is worth including each-way after his trainer specifically reported to the stewards after the Imperial Cup that he wants a flatter track and a quicker surface. He gets both today. The Neil King yard has a 1/3 recent record and this is a well-timed run to a race that fits. At 11/1 the each-way case is excellent.

Today's NAP