2m1f (2m209y) Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo)
The market thinks Selma De Vary will reverse Cheltenham form because she didn’t get a clean run, but such thoughts can be expensive and I’d say she definitely shouldn’t be a shorter price than MAESTRO CONTI or Minella Study, who beat her that day. I’m tempted to back both, but the Skelton horse appeals as the more progressive of the two and is a shade of value at 4/1 in a race where he really ought to be favourite. MANGE TOUT skipped Cheltenham altogether and her owners have pointed her here instead of last weekend at Fairyhouse. She’s strong in the market and I have her a 5/1 chance which is a point shorter than the market. Her form prior to a heavy ground defeat at the Dublin Racing Festival – which can be excused – gives her every chance here and she gets weight from the geldings.
1pt win Maestro Conti @4/1, 1pt win Mange Tout @6/1, 13:45 Aintree, Thursday
3m1f (3m210y) (Mildmay) Racing Welfare Bowl Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+)
If he doesn’t get pulled because of the ground, SPILLANE’S TOWER is the bet here after skipping the Gold Cup. Jango Baie ran a huge race to be second at Cheltenham but ran a shade flat at Aintree after his Arkle success last season and has to be vulnerable to fresher legs. Spillane’s Tower has good form on a sounder surface so I’m not sure what the obsession with soft ground is for him, and his most recent run in the Cotswold Chase was a career best. Any price around the 5/1 mark is very fair in what could be a match race because I give Impaire Et Passe, Pic d’Orhy and Protektorat no chance.
1pt win Spillane’s Tower @5/1, 14:55 Aintree, Thursday
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