Aintree Betting Tips for Grand National Day on Saturday 13th April

Grand National day is here and our Aintree day 3 tips cover all seven races from Liverpool, starting at 1.20pm.

We have asked Ciaran Murphy for his tips and predictions for all the races including the Grand National itself and the other six races on the card.

WARNING – most bookies will turn off their sign up offers ahead of the Grand National so if you need an account with any of these bookies, open one today to get the best offer.

 

1.20

West Balboa won this race last year but conditions were very different and she is 6 pounds higher this time round. Although I am loathe to write off a Skelton runner in a big handicap, at 5/1 in a competitive field, I will be looking elsewhere. After his hurdles debut, you wouldn’t have believed that JOHNNYWHO (8/1) would finish the year running in a handicap hurdle off 136. He has heavy ground form and I am backing him to make hay having run in Graded races on his last 2 outings. Market support for Fine Margin would be interesting based on the form of his second-place effort at Haydock in November when he had subsequent grade 1 winner Crambo in behind. 

Tip: Johnnywho – 8/1 with Coral.

 

1.55

The first chance to see how the most expensive national hunt horse ever sold, Caldwell Potter, has acclimatised to his new home in Ditchheat. Conditions are sure to suit with his heavy ground win at Christmas but the form of that race hasn’t exactly been enhanced by those in behind since. Instead, I am going to back his former stable mate BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD (2/1) to bounce back from a Mares novice hurdle that was not run to suit. There was plenty of talk coming from the Elliot Yard that this horse could win the Ballymore and that was when Caldwell Potter was in the yard. I think they have a good handle on how she rates in comparison and as such, the early market confidence is significant. The soft conditions won’t be an issue and she is the NAP of the day for me. Jimmy Du Seuil rates as the main danger, with good form being just beaten by Asian Master (giving 7 pounds) and only finding Ballyburn too good at Cheltenham. 

Tip: Brighterdaysahead (NAP) – 2/1 with Coral.

 

2.30

I think that Anthony Honeyball may have the winner here…. I’m just not sure which of his entrants it will be. SAM BROWN (14/1) won this race 2 years ago, and with the jockeys claim, is just 2 pounds higher here. He will handle conditions and earned his rating with a last time out win (albeit in a veterans chase). The big negative is his age but with recent application of headgear, he hasn’t seemed to lose enthusiasm. 

His other runner is a novice but is 9 years of age. KILBEG KING (12/1) would actually appreciate any drying ground and put up a respectable performance in softer-than-ideal conditions in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. He beat The King of Ryehope on his previous start and is now Over twice the price of that rival (3 pounds worse off for a 3 length margin). His last run in a double figure field was a win in a 25-runner handicap hurdle at the Punchestown Festival so he won’t be inconvenienced by the larger field. 

Tip: Sam Brown (ew) – 14/1 with William Hill (4 places)

Tip: Kilbeg King (ew) – 12/1 with BetVictor (4 places)

 

3.05

Robcour have opted not to send Teahupoo or Irish Point over, perhaps a vote of confidence in HIDDENVALLEY LAKE (17/2). Last time out, he was well-backed and impressively saw off his rivals on Heavy Ground in the Boyne Hurdle. He didn’t take to fences on seasonal debut but prior to that he was well fancied in the Albert Bartlett last year and can be forgiven for that run given its proximity to his previous run at Clonmel (that form with Monty’s Star also reads well now). Sire Du Berlais loves this time of year but his best performances have come on spring ground which he won’t get here. 

Tip: Hiddenvalley Lake (7/1 with Ladbrokes)

 

4.00

Read my thoughts on the Big one Here with a prediction for who will finish in the top 4.

The Ultima at Cheltenham has been used as a warm-up race for the last 2 winners of the race, while the 2021 winner Minella Times prepped by coming second in both the Paddy Power Handicap Chase and the DRF 2 ½  mile Handicap chase (both at Leopardstown). MEETINGOFTHEWATERS (10/1) has ran in all 3 of these this season, winning the Paddy Power on soft ground and running a blinder as a staying on 3rd on Heavy ground at Cheltenham.

Owner Paul Byrne knows how to lay one out for the race (Noble Yeats was in his care before a last minute switch to Robert Waley Cohen) and this year, he has sold to JP McManus. He certainly isn’t buying a social runner. Even though he is represented by both I am Maximus and Capodanno, I think Mark Walsh may choose to ride the 7-year-old, certainly a positive as he has been second in the race twice on Any Second Now.

David Mullins said in a Cheltenham Preview that this could be a Gold Cup Horse. If that’s the case, he has to go close off just 10st 7.

Tip: Meetingofthewaters – 10/1 with Coral.

 

5.00

DJELO (12/1) ran a strong race in the Turners at Cheltenham and drops back to 2m HERE where on his last visit, he beat Master Chewy over Course and Distance. Given his trainer, he should handle the soft conditions and has a strong each way chancs, although I would like to see her horses in slightly better form (just 1 win in her last 20 runners). Found a Fifty looks very solid at the top of the market and would certainly be preferred to Etalon and Hercule Du Seuil. 

Tip: Djelo – 12/1 with Coral.

 

5.35

The festival ends with a bit of a whimper in a weak-looking Grade 2 contest. Mister Meggit has been impressive in 2 bumper wins but this a race that in the last 2 years has thrown up 18/1 and 28/1 winners and so I won’t be steaming in at  9/4 albeit that he is certainly the most likely winner. A chance is taken on TRIPOLI FLYER (12/1) who had the well touted Kingston Pride and second fav here Castle Ivers behind when winning an all weather bumper last time out. He was also deemed worthy of an entry to the Champion Bumper and could give Paddy Brennan a fairytale ending to his career. 

Tip: Tripoli Flyer – 12/1 with Coral.

 

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