On Ladies' Day, a tip for the Topham (4.05) run over two miles five - and the National fences.
At the time of writing 29 are set to face the starter at 4.05; Pour Les Filles, Jipcot, The King Of Prs, Primoz, Indiana Jones and Excello all race from out of the handicap.
The going remains good to soft on both the Mildmay and National courses.
Favourite Madara won the Racing Plate Handicap Chase at Cheltenham 31 days ago in the manner of a horse some way ahead of his handicap mark; Will The Wise, seven and a half lengths away in second, may have finished slightly closer had he not jumped markedly right at the first, hampering a number of rivals in the process.
In behind were O'Moore Park (sixth), Boombawn (ninth), Peaky Boy (twelfth), Jipcot (thirteenth), and Booster Bob (fell at the last when a placed finish appeared a distinct possibility, after being carried right around the home turn).
The handicapper has reacted by raising Dan Skelton's charge ten pounds to a mark of 150; the last market leader to oblige was joint favourite Gwanako in 2008.
If I've read the formbook correctly, Keith Donoghue put up two pounds overweight on Will The Wise at Cheltenham; with the revised ratings and three pound claimer Conor Stone-Walsh now in the saddle, Gavin Cromwell's charge looks to have his chance of reversing placings.
In the past ten years Willie Mullins has trained the winner on three occasions: Cadmium (2019); Livelovelaugh (2021) and last year Gentleman De Mee; this year he saddles Ile Atlantique - the choice of Paul Townend - Gentleman De Mee and O'Moore Park.
At Tramore on New Year's Day Il Atlantique finished some way behind Heart Wood in second but some way ahead of Croke Park in third and Gentleman De Mee in sixth. Next time at the Dublin Racing Festival he made a mistake two out and weakened off the home turn when eighth behind Backmeorsackme, with O'Moore Park twelfth and Croke Park thirteenth.
Gentleman De Mee won off a mark of 155 last year (Lisnamult Lad second, The King Of Prs eighth, Soul Icon ninth, Excello fourteenth, and Eldorado Allen seventeenth) while 2023 winner Bill Baxter tries again and looked to have benefitted from wind surgery when second to King Of Answers at Kelso eight weeks ago.
Boombawn, fourth off 153 in the Old Roan behind Hitman in the autumn, was sent off an 80/1 shot for the Racing Plate; he runs off 146 here and won a handicap hurdle race at this track in 2023.
Back in November I tipped Coming Up Easy for the Paddy Power Gold Cup won by Panic Attack.
Henry De Bromhead's charge raced prominently but made an absolute howler three out and was pulled up; he hasn't seen a racecourse since. In a rushed interview just before the off at Cheltenham the trainer seemed to indicate soft ground wouldn't be ideal so I imagine connections won't want to see much more rain.
Top weight Il Est Francais will forever be remembered for the way he destroyed his field from the front in the 2023 Kauto Star at Kempton. He nearly repeated the trick in the 2024 King George but made a mistake at the last and was collared by Banbridge on the run-in.
This season he has been pulled up twice, behind Jango Baie at Ascot and The Jukebox Man (et al) back at Kempton. Wind surgery since may have helped but, to date, he has shown his best form in this country on a right-handed track.
Confirmed front runner Mahons Glory showed his liking for these fences when finishing fourth behind Colonel Harry in the 2025 Great Sefton and then, four weeks later, fifth behind Twig in the Becher; he goes off a career high mark of 139.
The one I like and will chance is Prairie Wolf who has shown improvement this season particularly in his last two runs - I'm hoping there's more to come - and who now goes off a career high mark of 141; his ninth at Cheltenham on Trials Day is forgiven as the yard was out of sorts around that time.
His third behind Booster Bob over an extended trip in the Sir Peter O'Sullevan Memorial at Newbury in November suggests the pair are closely matched.
Connections have opted to come here rather than go to Ayr next weekend and he has been supported in the market this evening; in a recent Straight from the Stable article [RP Weekender 28.01-01.02.26] Joel Parkinson said, 'Two miles on good to soft ground is perfect for him.'
Prairie Wolf is the each-way suggestion, 12/1 at the time of writing with bet365, Betfred and Coral all paying six places.
4 comments:
My system out has a rather skewed look for the Topham [ratings to follow in further comments].
The market is bullish about Prairie Wolf so hopefully he puts on a bold show.
Tight for time, I've let my system pick me four at bigger odds for Friday:
13:45 - Fingle Bridge
14:55 - La Conquiere
16:05 - Viroflay
17:15 - Gooloogong
Enough to keep me interested.....but less certain of any return ;-)
Good luck!
TW
Aintree Day 2
10-Apr-26 13:45 AINTREE
No,Rating,Horse,Tissue
16,167,Jazzy Matty,11/2
17,0,Emid'io Pepe,13/2
04,153,Fingle Bridge,18/1
03,147,Indeevar Bleu,20/1
20,157,Trustintimes,25/1
12,153,Hot Fuss,25/1
22,156,Sir Galahad,25/1
07,147,Wellington Arch,25/1
08,149,Act Of Authority,25/1
10,145,Swindon Village,28/1
05,145,Joyeuse,28/1
19,143,Top Jimmy,28/1
11,152,Jet To Vegas,28/1
06,145,Fiercely Proud,33/1
18,148,Ballykinlar,33/1
13,150,Bowmore,50/1
02,149,Rambo T,50/1
09,143,Captain Teague,50/1
14,152,Faivoir,50/1
01,149,Favour And Fortune,50/1
15,152,Fiveonefive,50/1
21,147,Ike Sport,66/1
10-Apr-26 14:20 AINTREE
No,Rating,Horse,Tissue
03,172,Gold Dancer,11/4
07,170,Salver,4/1
06,163,Regent's Stroll,8/1
08,162,Wendigo,8/1
05,163,Miami Magic,10/1
02,162,Doyen Quest,14/1
04,154,Jordans Cross,14/1
01,154,Crest Of Fortune,28/1
10-Apr-26 14:55 AINTREE
No,Rating,Horse,Tissue
03,155,Sober Glory,9/4
06,155,La Conquiere,4/1
01,149,Baron Noir,6/1
02,147,Sinnatra,6/1
05,148,Storming George,10/1
04,146,Starting Fifteen,14/1
10-Apr-26 15:30 AINTREE
No,Rating,Horse,Tissue
03,183,Heart Wood,3/1
05,180,L'eau Du Sud,9/2
07,181,Solness,11/2
02,177,Grey Dawning,6/1
04,176,Jpr One,11/1
06,166,Saint Segal,12/1
01,166,Gidleigh Park,16/1
10-Apr-26 16:05 AINTREE
No,Rating,Horse,Tissue
14,181,Viroflay,10/1
07,169,Madara,14/1
04,174,Ile Atlantique,18/1
06,176,Croke Park,25/1
18,170,Booster Bob,25/1
16,175,Conflated,25/1
19,171,Mahons Glory,25/1
23,171,Teddy Blue,25/1
10,170,Will The Wise,28/1
28,166,Primoz,28/1
02,171,Matata,28/1
30,168,Excello,28/1
26,168,Jipcot,33/1
12,171,Soul Icon,33/1
08,170,Boombawn,33/1
15,168,Prairie Wolf,33/1
17,168,O'moore Park,50/1
21,168,Peaky Boy,50/1
09,172,Eldorado Allen,50/1
22,170,Bill Baxter,50/1
05,170,Hitman,50/1
11,167,Addragoole,50/1
20,169,Lisnamult Lad,50/1
13,166,Coming Up Easy,50/1
01,170,Il Est Francais,50/1
03,165,Gentleman De Mee,66/1
24,165,Pour Les Filles,66/1
25,165,Theatre Native,66/1
27,162,The King Of Prs,100/1
29,161,Indiana Jones,200/1
10-Apr-26 16:40 AINTREE
No,Rating,Horse,Tissue
05,158,Johnny's Jury,3/1
12,155,Zeus Power,5/1
07,151,Mondoui'boy,7/1
09,146,Seaniecon,14/1
02,143,Dalston Lad,14/1
06,140,Kripticjim,16/1
08,144,No Drama This End,18/1
13,144,Good Girl Kathleen,25/1
01,141,Catchintsavo,28/1
11,127,Talk To The Man,33/1
04,138,Harbour Island,33/1
03,141,Frankie John,50/1
10,140,Shadow Paddy,66/1
10-Apr-26 17:15 AINTREE
No,Rating,Horse,Tissue
18,159,Gooloogong,13/2
07,162,Litleangel Duseuil,9/1
11,146,Sherminator,14/1
20,147,Pourquoi Pas Papa,16/1
09,150,Static,20/1
19,149,Star Of Guiting,25/1
13,151,Melon,25/1
12,143,Harry Lowes,25/1
03,145,Wreckless Eric,25/1
22,144,Afadil,25/1
16,140,The Mighty Celt,25/1
05,145,Rubber Ball,25/1
02,141,Captain Ryan Matt,28/1
14,140,Wandering Ego,28/1
17,143,Mr Mcloughlan,28/1
06,147,Charlus,28/1
15,148,Hamsiyann,33/1
01,142,Laafi,50/1
04,142,Last Kingdom,50/1
10,141,Ehteyat,50/1
21,142,No Ordinary Joe,66/1
08,136,Wild Bill Hickok,200/1
TW
Will watch with interest, TW.
Good luck!
Many thanks for providing these ratings, TW.
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