A quick post with a suggestion for the Foxhunters' Chase on the first day of the Grand National meeting.
The going on both the Mildmay and National courses is described as good to soft.
The opening juvenile hurdle (1.45) sees five from last month's Triumph Hurdle renew rivalry: Maestro Conti (second at Cheltenham); Minella Study (third); Selma De Vary (fourth); Wolf Rayet (eighth); and Indian River (tenth).
The first three named look closely matched; Aintree may suit Minella Study more than Maestro Conti.
25 have been declared for the Foxhunters' Chase (3.30) run over two miles five furlongs and the National fences.
Four weeks ago in the Princess Royal Challenge Cup - run 40 minutes after the Gold Cup over the Gold Cup trip - Barton Snow held Its On The Line a neck, with Music Drive third, Golden Sun fourth, Take All eighth and Gracchus De Balme, stablemate of the winner, pulled up.
Favourite Barton Snow remains unbeaten in five chase starts under rules.
He came to the last with the proverbial 'double handful' at Cheltenham last time and, despite a mistake, held Its On The Line and Mr Derek O'Connor a neck - although he wasn't doing an awful lot in front.
Its On The Line won the 2024 renewal of this race run on heavy ground; connections will be keen to reverse the latest Cheltenham form.
On official ratings Unexpected Party is the best horse in the field, rated 147, two pounds clear of Barton Snow (145) and seven clear of Its On The Line (140).
Dan Skelton's grey was last seen in February, winning the Walrus Open Hunters' Chase at Haydock, easily accounting for Take All.
The first three from last year's Walrus - My Drogo, Gracchus De Balme and Jet Plane, finished fourth, first and second respectively in this race last year; rated 142, My Drogo was the best horse to contest that renewal.
Winner Gracchus De Balme went on to claim the 65th running for the Horse & Hound Cup at Stratford at the end of last May and wasn't seen out again until the middle of January. He ran well to a point at Cheltenham last time; despite his stablemate heading the market, I'm hoping last year's winner can build on his latest effort.
Gracchus De Balme is the each-way suggestion, at the time of writing 20/1 with both bet365 and Coral who are paying five places.
I note that connections of Gaboriot - third over these fences in the 2024 Grand Sefton and second in the 2025 renewal - have opted to try a first-time visor; stable form remains the concern, with just one winner from 24 runners in the past fortnight.
4 comments:
09-Apr-26 15:30 AINTREE
No,Rating,Horse,Tissue
14,149,Its On The Line,7/1
22,153,Unexpected Party,15/2
03,147,Barton Snow,10/1
09,149,Fan De Blues,16/1
11,145,Golden Son,18/1
12,143,Gracchus De Balme,18/1
17,146,Lets Go Champ,18/1
18,144,Music Drive,20/1
21,141,Thunder Rock,20/1
19,138,Snipe,25/1
15,139,Java Point,33/1
20,141,Take All,33/1
16,136,Joker De Mai,50/1
08,141,Famous Clermont,50/1
24,140,Willewonga,50/1
10,128,Gaboriot,50/1
01,131,A Jet Of Our Own,66/1
07,138,Fairly Famous,66/1
02,125,A Moments Madness,100/1
04,137,Densworth,100/1
06,130,Enqarde,100/1
25,122,Hollywood Harmon,100/1
13,125,Great Notions,100/1
05,135,Empire De Maulde,100/1
23,111,Whats The Solution,200/1
Gracchus De Balme must have every chance and will hopefully give you a good spin for your money. Unexpected Party, Its On The Line, Fan De Blues and Barton Snow head the system ratings, I'll give the race a miss betting wise.
09-Apr-26 16:40 AINTREE
No,Rating,Horse,Tissue
13,163,Javert Allen,6/1
03,160,Brookie,12/1
08,150,Highlands Legacy,12/1
06,158,Jasko Des Dames,12/1
07,160,Sans Bruit,14/1
15,157,Palamon,14/1
09,156,Ryan's Rocket,16/1
12,159,Grain D'oudairies,16/1
02,159,Hercule Du Seuil,16/1
05,150,Stencil,16/1
14,158,Dr T J Eckleburg,18/1
01,152,Inthepocket,20/1
11,153,Wonleg,20/1
04,151,Boothill,33/1
10,147,Petit Tonnerre,50/1
My bet for Day 1 is Javert Allen in the Red Rum chase. JA tops the system ratings and the system suggests conditions should suit, he's dropped 2lbs in the handicap, back down to 2 miles, first time cheek pieces might eek out a bit more, not a lot of juice in his price but I stepped in EW @ 17/2 4 places.
Good luck!
TW
Good luck with Javert Allen, TW. My brother goes to the track tomorrow; gave him a 'cheat sheet' - only to be used in exceptional circumstances - but I missed out the Red Rum Chase. Will watch with interest.
Good luck with that 'cheat sheet'.
Here's the rest of Day 1 system output:
09-Apr-26 13:45 AINTREE
No,Rating,Horse,Tissue
05,160,Maestro Conti,11/4
06,158,Minella Study,5/1
10,156,Selma De Vary,5/1
07,153,Winston Junior,17/2
09,145,Mange Tout,14/1
03,144,Indian River,20/1
01,139,Ammes,25/1
04,141,Lord,25/1
02,133,Aqua Bleu,25/1
08,143,Wolf Rayet,33/1
09-Apr-26 14:20 AINTREE
No,Rating,Horse,Tissue
04,173,Lulamba,13/8
03,170,Koktail Divin,7/2
01,168,Blueking D'oroux,5/1
02,163,Jax Junior,17/2
05,159,Mambonumberfive,10/1
09-Apr-26 14:55 AINTREE
No,Rating,Horse,Tissue
02,183,Jango Baie,15/8
04,181,Protektorat,9/2
03,180,Pic D'orhy,9/2
05,176,Spillane's Tower,13/2
01,167,Impaire Et Passe,7/1
09-Apr-26 16:05 AINTREE
No,Rating,Horse,Tissue
06,185,Brighterdaysahead,6/4
02,173,El Fabiolo,13/2
05,169,The New Lion,15/2
07,174,Golden Ace,17/2
01,168,Alexei,9/1
04,165,Potters Charm,16/1
03,162,Lucky Place,20/1
09-Apr-26 17:15 AINTREE
No,Rating,Horse,Tissue
15,159,Ti'mamzel,10/3
02,157,Burds Of A Feather,9/2
12,148,Peace Belle,14/1
16,145,Tiktok Casey,18/1
13,142,Princess Day,18/1
14,132,Seven Stars,18/1
06,142,Kiltybo,25/1
08,133,Lennon Grove,28/1
07,133,Ladies Day,33/1
20,119,Roxy Russet,50/1
10,129,Nan's Choice,50/1
19,132,Martini Majesty,50/1
11,122,One Dimensional,50/1
05,125,Fairy Park,66/1
18,132,It Would Be You,66/1
09,133,Midnight Musical,100/1
04,135,Emerald Quest,100/1
03,123,Divine Diva,100/1
01,130,Brave Lady,100/1
17,108,Billey Shiftit,200/1
Many thanks, TW.
Confirms a couple of opinions. I have Ti'manzel as the one to beat in the bumper - provided she acts in the ground and handles the prelims.
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