The Scottish Grand National has been a graveyard for favourite backers in recent years with horses towards the top of the handicap generally worth avoiding. However, like the Grand National last weekend, this looks a much stronger renewal with class novices coming up against seasoned-staying veterans and we have a…
1pt ew Ch'tibello @8/1, 15:00 Ayr
There’s no star name in competiton for the Scottish Grand National, with The New One not making the trip. Easy Aintree winner Ivan Grozny makes a quick reappearance in a bid to seal Willie Mullins his first British Trainers’ Championship, but even with his jockey’s 3lb claim he’s no value…
0.75pt win Tulius @15/2, 0.25pt win Bossy Guest @40/1, 16:30 Newmarket, Wednesday
It’s good to have flat racing back at its Newmarket HQ this week, with Guineas trials aplenty and many horses making their seasonal bows. It may be a warm, sunny day in England but there’s been a lot of rain about and even though the official going was upgraded from…
2016 Grand National Tips (Update): 1pt EW Gallant Oscar @18/1, 0.75pts EW Morning Assembly @25/1, 0.5pt EW Ucello Conti @33/1
Following our tips on Silviniaco Conti (12/1) and O’Faolains Boy (40/1 – now a non-runner) earlier in the week, we have three more selections for the 2016 Crabbie’s Grand National. The best part of a decade has passed since an Irish-trained horse won the Grand National. That was 2007 winner…
1pt win Bellshill @10/1, 1pt win Tomngerry @16/1, 16:40 Aintree, Friday
Probably the weakest Grade 1 on Friday’s card at Aintree is the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle won last year by World Hurdle-winner Thistlecrack. A field of 16 have come together devoid of any real lofty reputations, with the favourite Ballydine there almost entirely because of his narrow defeat Barters…
Aintree Acca: L'Ami Serge, Cue Card and Annie Power
Thursday’s excellent Aintree card hosts four Grade 1s, with short-priced favourites a theme of the day. Some deserve their skinny odds so it looks like a good day for an accumulator, with the opening two-mile novices’ chase 3/1-the-field and looking as good a race as any to kick one off. Nicky Henderson’s L’AMI…
1pt win Diego Du Charmil @11/1, 1pt win Romain De Senam @20/1, 14:15 Aintree
Cheltenham Festival form is a dangerous thing at Aintree, as the two tracks are very different and the close proximity of the meetings means lots of horses leave their best behind at Prestbury Park. Festival winners are often priced like bankers, as the fields are generally smaller and there’s more substance to the form book…
2016 Grand National Tips: Silviniaco Conti @12/1, O'Faolains Boy @40/1
Saturday’s Grand National at Aintree is the best known of all British horse races, not because it is the highest class race over jumps – it’s a handicap – but because nothing else in the calendar really comes close to recreating its theatre. A typical renewal is devilishly tricky to call,…
1pt forecast: 1st Top Gamble, 2nd Sizing Granite, 15:55 Fairyhouse, Tuesday
British Champion Jockey-elect Richard Johnson flies over for the ride on Kerry Lee’s Top Gamble, the 5/4 favourite for this Fairyhouse Grade 2 chase. That’s a tip in itself, but the market’s seen it coming and he’s very short. Top Gamble brushed aside 2015 Champion Chaser Dodging Bullets when last seen…
Fairyhouse Monday each-way doubles: Sutton Place and Value At Risk/Gwencily Berbas
The 16:20 at Fairyhouse looks wide open, with the favourite Dedigout 10 years old and there to be shot at after an underwhelming seasonal reappearance. Second favourite Taglietelli ran very well at Cheltenham in the Pertemps Final, shouldering top-weight, and has a highly-consistent profile. However, this might come too soon…