Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Aintree selections - Thursday


This Aintree meeting always presents a bit of a conundrum. Four weeks have passed since the Cheltenham Festival (most years it's only three). To what extent can we expect Cheltenham form to be repeated? Will the main protagonists have had time to recover from their exertions last month? Add to that the fact that the courses are markedly different and you have a number of unknowns to throw into the melting pot.

In the 3.10 I'm sticking with Katchit. This might be one trip to the well too many, but I'm prepared to take the risk following his impressive win in the Triumph Hurdle. Liberate, who finished second to Katchit at Cheltenham, is the top rated horse on both Racing Post ratings and official handicap ratings in the 4.55. He's the selection in that race; the quicker ground should suit.

The first race at 2.00 has six runners and looks a rerun of the World Hurdle in which Black Jack Ketchum fell early on. On decent ground I predict Black Jack Ketchum, with McCoy on board, will win but he's not a horse I'd take a short a price about.

The Betfair Bowl at 2.35 only has five runners but looks trappy. Turpin Green has run well at this course in the past and, following his decent third in the Gold Cup, could spring a surprise.

1 comment:

GeeDee said...

If only all my selections had had a season like Katchit has... Sent off the even money favourite, he obliged by four lengths and now heads off for a well earned rest.
In contrast 2/1 favourite Liberate looked in trouble a long way out, eventually finishing fifth.
Black Jack Ketchum (7/4 favourite)flattered to deceive and showed he has no stomach for a fight, capitualting tamely to finish a well beaten second to Mighty Man.
9/2 chance Turpin Green finished last of the five runners; jockey Tony Dobbin reported that the race had come too soon after Cheltenham.