Ladies' Day - Aintree 2011

Very quick notes bashed out very quickly for Aintree's Friday card which has also been marketed as Liverpool's Ladies' Day...

The feature Melling Chase (3.05) sees ten face the starter. Albertas Run won the Ryanair at Cheltenham and is priced up favourite to take the second leg of this double for the second year in succession. The key to Jonjo O'Neill's horse is decent ground  - the going is officially described as good to soft, good in places. Those brave enough to oppose are spoilt for choice as a case can be made for a few. On official ratings both Master Minded and Somersby have the beating of the market leader but neither has won over the distance; Ruby Walsh has said on a couple of occasions that Master Minded needs cut underfoot these days while Somersby was tapped for toe at Cheltenham - he may appreciate an extra half mile here but he may not appreciate this speedy track. There's also a school of thought that says Kalahari King can gain revenge over his Cheltenham conqueror on this flat track with a furlong less to run.  French Opera has won over this course and over the distance and rates a speculative each-way play priced at 11/1 with Coral this evening.

I was disappointed to see The Giant Bolster unseat Rodi Greene in the RSA at Cheltenham. Tom Scudamore takes the ride in the 2.30 after Greene subsequently displaced a bone in his neck when parting company with 50/1 shot Diamond Twister at Lingfield. The Giant Bolster had started sluggishly at Cheltenham and hadn't looked the fastest previously but connections think they have a Gold Cup horse in the making. This fast track wouldn't be certain to suit, a comment that applies to likely favourite Wayward Prince. Robinson Collonges never went a stride at Cheltenham but doesn't look guaranteed to stay the trip at this level while Master Of The Hall finished a tired sixth in the RSA but would be a danger to all if fully recovered. The talented Quito De La Roque who has won five of his nine starts is respected but all those victories have come on soft / heavy ground. That being the case, I'll take an each-way interest in Sheena West's well-regarded Golan Way who comes to this fresh.

Back In Focus would be of interest in the 4.15 if the ground were soft while Kilcrea Kim is dropped to handicap company in the 4.50 but makes little appeal in an event with 21 opponents. If pressed for a selection in the concluding mares' race on Ladies' Day, I'd give Tante Sissi the nod - in the Weekender Alan King rates Tante Sissi his strongest chance of the day.