Aintree Day 2 Lucky 31 Tips – Race by Race Betting Tips for Friday 9th April

Day two of the Randox Grand National Festival, a.k.a. Ladies’ Day, features four Grade One races, plus the Topham Chase over the National fences, all of which are being shown live on ITV Racing.

As ever, we’ve tried to look beyond the obvious for ‘bang for your buck’ selections that would make up a nice lucky 31 bet. As ever, there are some great sign-up offers to get today and one of the SBK risk free £20.

 

2:20 Betway Top Novices’ Hurdle

Any News was well supported, but unseated his rider before the race really began in earnest, on his latest start at Kelso. He doesn’t have a vast amount to find with the best of these and, having swerved the Cheltenham Festival, arrives here fresher than most. An extended two miles on a flat, sharp track should be right up his street and, with drying ground not a problem, he remains open to significant improvement after just three starts over obstacles.

Selection: Any News (5/1 with 888Sport)

 

2:50 Betway Mildmay Novices’ Chase

As far as official ratings are concerned, Silver Hallmark has 14lb to find with Cheltenham Festival winner Chantry House but, if his early season form with Fiddlerontheroof is to be believed, there may not be that much between the pair. Fiddlerontheroof beat Silver Hallmark by a head, at level weights, in a beginners’ chase at Exeter in November, but the latter opened his account over fences at the second time of asking, in a Grade Two novices’ chase at Haydock in January. He hasn’t been seen in public since, but arrives here a fresh horse and, with further improvement likely, must have a sporting chance.

Selection: Silver Hallmark (14/1 with 888Sport)

 

3:25 Marsh Chase

Despite a propensity to jump left on that right-handed course, Dashel Drasher has become something of an Ascot specialist in recent months. However, Jeremy Scott’s 8-year-old has plenty of winning form elsewhere, over hurdles and fences, and deserves a chance to show what he is capable of away from the Berkshire venue. Strictly speaking, he has 6lb to find with Politologue, but could conceivably be better still going left-handed, so looks decent value at the odds on offer.

Selection: Dashel Drasher (11/2 with 888Sport)

 

4:05 Randox Topham Handicap Chase

The second race of the week over the Grand National fences and one in which it is hard to escape the claims of topweight Ibleo. Venetia Williams’ 8-year-old has been raised 3lb for finishing third in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, which isn’t ideal, but otherwise has plenty going for him. He has yet to win beyond 2 miles 1 furlong, but only weakened close home when second on his sole attempt over 2 miles 4 furlongs at Huntingdon in early March, so stamina is unlikely to be an issue. He has also jumped around Ascot, Cheltenham (twice) and Sandown without the semblance of a mistake, so these idiosyncratic obstacles could play to his strengths.

Selection: Ibleo (12/1 with 888Sport)

 

4:40 Doom Bar Sefton Novices’ Hurdle

Bravemansgame was put firmly in his place by Bob Olinger in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but it’s doubtful if many of his rivals could muster that level of form and he can make his first attempt beyond 2 miles 5 furlongs a winning one. He had previously completed a hat-trick with the minimum of fuss, making all to win the Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury, impressively, by 10 lengths. The third horse that day, The Glancing Queen, subsequently finished a rallying fifth in the Parnell Properties Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle to give the form some context and Bravemansgame looks a decent bet to resume winning ways.

Selection: Bravemansgame (13/8 with 888Sport)

 

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