Aintree Day 2 Betting Tips for Friday 12th April

The Grand National meeting is here and our Aintree day 2 tips cover all seven races from Liverpool, starting at 1.45pm.

We have asked Adam O’Brien for his tips and predictions for all the races including the Melling Chase and the Sefton Novices Hurdle.

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

 

1.45pm – Mildmay Novices Chase

A cracking little race kicks off day 2 and although we only have a field of 6, they all have a chance, and I wouldn’t be surprised if any of them were to win. Strong handicap form is what these horses bring into the race with all of them having question marks against them at graded level. Inothewayurthinkin and Chianti Classico arrive here on the back of winning the Kim Muir & Ultima handicap chases at Cheltenham whilst Heart Wood skipped Cheltenham after bolting up at the DRF over a slightly shorter trip. Broadway Boy comes into this fresher than the rest having missed Cheltenham due to a small setback whilst Iroko & Giovinco ran in the graded races but were well beaten. I’m siding with Heart Wood who I believe can take the step up to Grade 1 level. He will love the ground and I can see further improvement coming from a further step up in trip.

Back Heart Wood win only 6/1 (Bet365).

 

2.20pm – Handicap Hurdle

A competitive handicap hurdle over 2m4 is next and I’m going to the Martin Pipe handicap hurdle at Cheltenham as the form line for this contest. Ocastle Des Mottes (5th) and Whats up Darling (6th) reoppose here and my preference goes to the latter at the prices. Only ½ length separated them 4 weeks ago and they take each other on again off the same terms. I think good things will come of the horses from that race so I’ll be with them until I think otherwise. My selection has ran eye catching behind some good animals so far this season and I’m hopeful he can win a prize here.

Back Whats Up Darling 14/1 Bet365 (6 Places).

 

2.55pm – Top Novices Hurdle

Finally, a Grade 1 with 8 runners which gives us slightly better each way terms. The Supreme Novices form will be tested here as the 2nd, 3rd and 5th will go to post. Mystical Power is the right fav due to him finishing 3 ½ lengths ahead of Firefox in that race but I would have doubts about him on the ground and in a battle. I think Firefox can turn that form around with Mystical Power and I think he will be the 1st past the post of all the horses that ran at Cheltenham. But I think the winner of the race will be Dysart Enos. The Fergal O’Brien mare was a non-runner on the day of the mares novice at Cheltenham due to being lame in what was a cruel blow to all connected to the horse. She now arrives fresh and that could be the difference in this competitive race. She’s unbeaten over hurdles and won at the meeting last year where she beat Mares Novice winner Golden Ace. That is great form and I cannot see how the boys can give her 7lb.

Back Dysart Enos EW 5/1 William Hill (3 places).

 

3.30pm – Melling Chase

One of the races of the week sees the first 3 home in the Ryanair (Protektorat, Envoi Allen & Conflated) taking on last year’s winner (Pic D’Orhy) with a Tingle Creek winner (Jonbon) in between. Even though it’s a competitive contest, I am strong on last year’s winner Pic D’Orhy. He put up a great performance in last year’s renewal and his form this year reads 121 in graded races with the 2nd coming to 2nd Banbridge whilst giving him 3lb on ground that would have been perfect for the winner. I’m surprised my selection is as big as he is and with doubts over the Henderson yard, I’m willing to take Jonbon on. My horse arrives fresh and has little to prove going into it.

Back Pic D’Orhy win only 10/3 Bet365.

 

4.05pm – Topham Chase

Another race over the national fences with 25 runners involved making it a very competitive contest. We often get big priced winners of the race and with good each way terms on offer, I’m happy to take a swing at a bigger price. You can make a case for a few but my selection is Sandy Thomson’s charge Empire Steel who has a good profile for the race. A brilliant record on soft/heavy gives him every chance here (barring the ground doesn’t dry out too much before Friday) and he should outrun those odds.

Back Empire Steel EW 25/1 Coral (6 places).

 

4.50pm – Sefton Novices Hurdle

Another cracking race on offer where the Albert Bartlett 2nd and 3rd reappear here alongside the horse who went off fav for that race but disappointed. That form will be put to the test but I’m happy to swerve those horses due to the gruelling race they would have had in tough conditions. I like 2 horses who had small setbacks and had to miss Cheltenham in Shanagh Bob and Croke Park, with preference to the latter. There would have been a good chance that the Albert Bartlett winner wouldn’t have even turned up if Croke Park was fit due to the horses having the same owner/trainer. I believe Gordon thinks Croke Park is a better horse than Stellar Story and if that proves to be correct then he must have a huge chance of winning here. My selection has been crying out for a step up to 3 miles and he finally gets his chance.

.Back Croke Park EW 8/1 Bet365 paying (3 places).

 

5.15pm – Handicap Hurdle

The County Hurdle at Cheltenham was a race I really liked from a form point of view and it’s another race I’ll be backing horses from. 5th that day was Afadil who was only beaten 5 lengths after travelling well and just slowed near the line on the heavy ground. The ground being heavy here would dampen my confidence slightly and I’d be praying that the ground dries out well throughout Thursday and Friday to give him the better chance. A race for amateur riders, the Paul Nicholls horse will have Freddie Gingell on board and I’m taking that as a positive, especially as he rode him in the race at Cheltenham. He is a great EW price at time of writing and can’t see him out of the places.

Back Afadil EW 12/1 bet365 paying (5 places).

Follow Adam on Twitter for more racing insight.

 

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