4th April – 6th April 2019
UK Racing experts, Timeform, preview each and every race of the 2019 Grand National.
Go where the value is for the Aintree Festival on the Betfair Exchange.
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Otherwise, enjoy their Grand National tips for the 2019 meeting.
Gaskells Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (1) 3m149y – 11.45pm
Betting Strategy
Sire du Berlais came out on top in a hotly-contested Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival, and given there’s more to come from him over staying trips, he’s worth keeping onside with an excellent value conditional now taking over in the saddle. Poker Play bagged a big prize at Uttoxeter 3 weeks ago and must enter calculations, along with Coolanly and the likeable Theclockisticking.
BACK (WIN) – Sire du Berlais
Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (1) 2½m – 12.25AM
Betting Strategy
One For Rosie ran a blinder off top weight in the EBF Final at Sandown, and looks well worth a crack at this level with the prospect of more to come. Brewin’upastorm sets the standard on his fourth in the Ballymore at Cheltenham, while Angels Breath could easily bounce back. Umbrigado remains unexposed and isn’t one to be underestimated, either.
BACK (WIN) – One For Rosie
Doom Bar Maghull Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (1) 1m7f176y – 1AM
Betting Strategy
Us And Them had no chance with Duc Des Genievres in the Arkle, particularly as he was asked to come from a long way back in a race where things didn’t really go his way, so he looks capable of gaining some reward for his consistency in the absence of that rival. Clondaw Castle, who shaped well back in fifth that day, is the main threat ahead of the less-exposed Destrier.
BACK (WIN) – Us and Them
Ryanair Stayers Hurdle (Liverpool) (Grade 1) (1) 3m149y – 1.40am
Betting Strategy
Apple’s Jade wasn’t herself in the Champion Hurdle but her record suggests she’s unlikely to stay down for long and she stands out on form if recapturing the level of her three wide-margin Grade 1 wins this season. Sam Spinner was very much back in his game when second in the Stayers’ at Cheltenham and is a clear next best. Last year’s runner-up Wholestone has each-way claims again.
BACK (WIN) – Apple’s Jade
Betway Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (1) 3m210y – 2.20AM
Betting Strategy
Debece will find this a lot more competitive than the 2 small-field events he’s won in this sphere but he remains with potential as a chaser and has gone well on both previous appearances at this meeting. Fellow novices Mister Malarky and Kildisart head the dangers having acquitted themselves well in Grade 1 company at the Cheltenham Festival.
BACK (WIN) – Debece
Randox Health Grand National Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (1) 4¼m74y – 3.15AM
Betting Strategy
Gordon Elliott runs a record-breaking 11 and his Jury Duty gets the verdict. He was as good as ever when making a successful return at Down Royal and seems set for a huge run. Tiger Roll will be one of the shortest-priced favourites ever as he bids for back-to-back wins and is sure to be thereabouts with a clear round. Lake View Lad and Walk In The Mill are the pick of the home contingent.
BACK (WIN) – Jury Duty
Pinsent Masons Handicap Hurdle (Conditional Jockeys’ And Amateur Riders’) (2) 2m103y – 4.20AM
Betting Strategy
Flashing Glance was value for a bit extra when scoring at Ludlow last time so could still be ahead of his mark after a 4 lb rise. He gets the vote but there are any number of dangers in a very competitive finale, headed by West To The Bridge, Lord Yeats and Whatmore, whose strong-travelling style suggests he could be well suited to the demands of this race.
BACK (WIN) – Flashing Glance
Devenish Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (1) – 11.45pm AEDT
Betting Forecast
2.75 La Bague Au Roi, 4.33 Glen Forsa, 6.5 Kalashnikov, 8.5 Bags Groove, 10 Spiritofthegames, 13 Mengli Khan
Betting Strategy
Glen Forsa made a most uncharacteristic error at the fourth in the Arkle, but he’s well worth another chance judged on his convincing defeat of Kalashnikov in the Kingmaker at Sandown in February. La Bague Au Roi has been faultless over fences this season and is unlikely to give up her unbeaten record in this sphere without a fight. Sound-jumper Bags Groove shouldn’t be underestimated, either.
BACK (WIN) – Glen Forsa
Doom Bar Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) (1) – 12.20am AEDT
Betting Forecast
2.5 Pentland Hills, 3.25 Band of Outlaws, 7 Fakir d’Oudairies, 13 Christopher Wood, 23 Adjali, 23 Fanfan du Seuil, 41 Beat The Judge, 41 Song For Someone, 126 Statuario
Betting Strategy
Triumph Hurdle winner Pentland Hills has taken extremely well to this discipline and can make it 3 from 3. Band of Outlaws looks more than capable of making his presence felt at this level on the evidence of his impressive Fred Winter victory. Fakir d’Oudairies is probably ready for a step up in trip now, so Christopher Wood, who has won both his starts with plenty up his sleeve, makes up the 3.
BACK (WIN) – Pentland Hills
Betway Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) (1) – 1.25am AEDT
Betting Forecast
2.1 Buveur d’Air, 7 Melon, 8 Faugheen, 12 Supasundae, 19 Ch’tibello, 19 Verdana Blue, 21 Silver Streak, 34 Summerville Boy, 41 Brain Power
Betting Strategy
Buveur d’Air has perhaps lost some of his lustre this season, but he’s normally a very fluent jumper and this is a good chance for him to regain the winning thread in a race he landed in 2017. Melon goes up in trip, while stablemate Faugheen drops back from 3m and they appear to be the main dangers given their excellent placed efforts at Cheltenham
BACK (WIN) – Buveur d’Air
Randox Health Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase (2) – 2.05am AEDT
Betting Forecast
6.5 Road To Rome, 7 Burning Ambition, 8.5 Ucello Conti, 11 Kruzhlinin, 17 Seefood, 17 Top Wood, 17 Wonderful Charm, 23 Bear’s Affair, 23 Mr Mix, 23 Road To Riches, 23 Sir Jack Yeats, 26 Balnaslow, 34 Dineur, 34 Greensalt, 34 Mr Mercurial, 51 Pass The Hat, 67 Asockastar, 67 Coastal Tiep, 101 Champagne West, 101 Shimla Dawn, 301 Crazy Jack, 301 Gallery Exhibition, 301 Just Cause, 301 Never Complain, 301 Numbercruncher, 301 Shantou Magic, 301 Starkie
Betting Strategy
The one that stands out as having much more to offer in this sphere is Burning Ambition, who won with more in hand than the official margin suggests last time, and looks an up-and-coming force in the division. Ucello Conti was given too much to do at Cheltenham last time and looks a live danger, while Road To Rome also needs respecting.
BACK (WIN) – Burning Ambition
Red Rum Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (1) – 2.40am AEDT
Betting Forecast
9.5 Brelan d’As, 10 Eamon An Cnoic, 11 Azzuri, 12 Lady Buttons, 13 Diego du Charmil, 13 Whatswrongwithyou, 15 Forest Bihan, 15 Theinval, 17 Moon Over Germany, 17 R’evelyn Pleasure, 19 Movie Legend, 21 Adrrastos, 23 Cracking Find, 26 Mcgroarty, 34 Molineaux, 41 bar
Betting Strategy
A typically competitive renewal with the narrow vote in favour of the really likeable Lady Buttons. Phil Kirby’s mare impressed with victories over hurdles/ fences earlier this campaign and was far from disgraced in the Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham last time. Diego du Charmil will find this is much more suitable than recent assignments and is feared, along with Whatswrongwithyou and Brelan d’As.
BACK (WIN) – Lady Buttons
Goffs UK Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat (Grade 2) (1) – 3.15am AEDT
Betting Forecast
7.5 Minella Melody, 9 Misty Whisky, 10 Miss Heritage, 10 The Glancing Queen, 15 Emmas Joy, 15 Timetochill, 17 Daylight Katie, 19 Farne, 23 Mrs Hyde, 23 Whitehotchillifili, 23 Who What When, 26 Kissesforkatie, 29 Eyren, 34 Eyes Right, 34 Hawthorn Cottage, 41 Giving Back, 41 Shantewe, 51bar
Betting Strategy
Minella Melody has a touch of star quality about her, running out an easy winner of a point before a facile success when sent off odds-on for a Gowran bumper last month. She’s sure build on that and is taken to progress beyond Miss Heritage, who sets the standard on her Carlisle romp, and The Glancing Queen, who was better than the result when fifth in the Champion Bumper.
BACK (WIN) – Minella Melody
Merseyrail Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (1) 2½mv – 11.45pm
Betting Strategy
Tedham emphatically built on the promise of his qualifying runs when making a successful handicap debut at Wincanton in January, and with the form of that race well advertised since, a 6 lb rise underestimates this progressive performer. Brio Conti and Canardier shaped well when fourth and fifth respectively in the Coral Cup last month and they head the opposition.
BACK (WIN) – Tedham
Betway Top Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (1) 2m103y – 12.20pm
Betting Strategy
Itchy Feet’s third-placed finish in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham is the best form on offer, and assuming all is well with him physically (reportedly bled) he will take some stopping. Aramon was a shade disappointing in that race but his narrow defeat to Klassical Dream reads well, while Precious Cargo is the unknown quantity who deserves a shot at this level.
BACK (WIN) – Itchy Feet
Betway Mildmay Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (1) 3m210y – 12.50pm
Betting Strategy
Topofthegame impressed with his jumping when winning the RSA in good style at the Cheltenham Festival last month and looks open to further improvement after just 3 starts over fences this season. Lostintranslation may again have to settle for second spot in a Grade 1, while Chris’s Dream looks best of the others.
BACK (WIN) – Topofthegame
JLT Chase (Melling) (Grade 1) (1) 2m3f200y – 1.25pm
Betting Strategy
Politologue proved much too game for the strong-travelling Min when edging out that rival in this race 12 months ago and he is taken to repeat the feat having looked as good as ever when second to Altior in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Waiting Patiently arrives here fresh after a light campaign and is the obvious threat.
BACK (WIN) – Politologue
Randox Health Topham Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (1) 2m5f19y – 2.05pm
Betting Strategy
Peregrine Run boasts an excellent strike rate as a chaser and is arguably still getting better so, on the back of a satisfactory prep run over hurdles, he gets the nod in a typically competitive renewal of this event. Janika will probably be contesting graded races next term, so he makes obvious appeal once more and Ballyhill’s improved jumping of late suggests he could get involved.
BACK (WIN) – Peregrine Run
Doom Bar Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (1) 3m149y – 2.40pm
Betting Strategy
Champ’s winning run came to an end when runner-up in the Ballymore at the Cheltenham Festival but he lost nothing in defeat to such a promising rival and sets the standard here over a trip he’s bred to stay. Dallas des Pictons looks up to this level given how he shaped in the Martin Pipe, while the unbeaten Emitom shouldn’t be out of place in this grade, either.
BACK (WIN) – Champ
Weatherbys Racing Bank Standard Open National Hunt Flat (Grade 2) (1) 2m209y – 3.15pm
Betting Strategy
Mcfabulous produced one of the best bumper performances of the season when coming clear at Newbury last month and holds outstanding claims. Unbeaten Irish mare Santa Rossa is the big danger on form, though it’s worth bearing in mind that this race has a habit of throwing up a big-priced winner and Hazm could fit the bill this year.
BACK (WIN) – Mcfabulous
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UK Racing experts, Timeform, preview each and every race at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival.
