Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from the Aintree Grand National Festival on 10 April 2025.
AINTREE
Race 1 WILLIAM HILL HANDICAP HURDLE
No12 HOT FUSS (Each Way)
Trainer: Tom Dascombe – Jockey: David Bass
The Day 2 action kicks off with a very open handicap hurdle. It’s reflective of a challenging card for punters as there are many runners in with a genuine winning chance and if we can find even one winner should could cover all investments. One that might give us a good run for our money is HOT FUSS. The dual purpose performer has contested a couple of prized handicaps on the Flat but his recent jumps form stands up to close inspection. His effort to chase home Air Of Entitlement at the end of the Martin Pipe at the Festival suggests he’s in the frame of mind to again get into the thick of the action at the finish. INDEEVAR BLEU has few miles on his racing clock and needs to be taken seriously on this seventh career start over hurdles for top connections. His career has been affected by breathing problems, but as the winner of a bumper and three hurdles including over this course and distance on Boxing Day he is a player. Last year’s winner WELLINGTON ARCH showed his well being with a Uttoxeter delivery on his third start of the campaign which if repeated brings him right into the mix while the mare JOYEUSE has yet to win this season but might prove dangerous operating with cheek pieces added.
Prediction: 1st HOT FUSS, 2nd Indeevar Bleu, 3rd Wellington Arch, 4th Joyeuse
Race 2 WILLIAM HILL MILDMAY NOVICES’ CHASE (Grade 1)
No4 JORDANS CROSS (Each Way)
Trainer: Anthony Honeyball – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
It’s hard to put your pen through the names of the eight contenders for this equivalent of the Brown Advisory Chase. SALVER finished third in that race, and as the two that beat him are not in opposition he deserves to start favourite. WENDIGO was in fifth place and held when falling in the same race while GOLD DANCER defied his long odds to chase home Meetmebythesea at a respectful distance in the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase with REGENT’S STROLL in third. MIAMI MAGIC looked assured when landing the odds in a Newbury novice chase that bodes well for his ability to get the trip and enters calculations but the value lies with JORDANS CROSS at a double figure price. He’d delivered on three of his first four starts over fences before fading at the end of the Jack Richards, but back on a park course and with the drying ground in his favour he can spring a minor shock.
Prediction: 1st JORDANS CROSS, 2nd Miami Magic, 3rd Salver
Race 3 THATPRIZEGUY TOP NOVICES’ HURDLE (Grade 1)
No1 BARON NOIR (Nap)
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
SOBER GLORY traded very short in running before eventually being overhauled by Old Park Star in the Supreme Novices’ and is entitled to start at prohibitive odds on that evidence. The multiple scorer should give it his best but there could be logic in opposing him with the upwardly mobile BARON NOIR. The Nap scored at Uttoxeter and Kempton before finishing as well as anything, in fourth in the same contest. He was short of room after jumping the second last but stayed on strongly up the final hill, while he’s had a less exacting season and of the pair is the one that can improve. The Skelton runner SINNATRA finished fifth after paying the price for racing freely in the early stages, and he can’t afford a repeat of that.
Prediction: 1st BARON NOIR, 2nd Sober Glory, 3rd Sinnatra
Race 4 JCB MELLING CHASE (Grade 1)
No4 JPR ONE (Each Way)
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell
GREY DAWNING reverts to two and a half miles after a solid effort to finish fourth in the Golden Cup. The grey has yet to win here, but that could change with the help of first time cheek pieces. HEART WOOD proved a worthy winner of the Ryanair Chase on the back of which he’s fully entitled to start favourite. A repeat performance might be good enough but there could be some value in backing outsider JPR ONE, whose jumping in front in that race was a joy to behold. He gradually weakened over the final couple of fences but on a first run over these obstacles, and back on a park course he should close the gap and could turn the tables.
Prediction: 1st JPR ONE, 2nd Grey Dawning, 3rd Heart Wood
Race 5 RANDOX TOPHAM HANDICAP CHASE
No18 BOOSTER BOB (Each Way)
Trainer: Olly Murphy – Jockey: Sean Bowe
A cracking renewal of the historic Topham, run in memory of longtime racecourse owner Mirabel Topham. MATATA is a fascinating addition in that he’s a bold jumper that likes to run close to the pace. He will have a real cut at the fences and in spite of his big weight can get involved. Dan Skelton’s MADARA landed some hefty bets on only a third outing of the season in the Festival Plate in which he was followed home by WILL THE WISE. The pair reoppose on different terms but I fancy the former to come out on top again. Willie Mullins has a trio of runners with ILE ATLANTIQUE is main arrow. The eight-year-old remains unexposed as a chaser and has been freshened up since his mid division finish in the Leopardstown Chase. The 2025 winner GENTELEMAN DE MEE posted a seasonal best when placed in a Graded chase at Thurles and any further market support for this JP McManus-owned runner would be of interest.
For the win however the advice is BOOSTER BOB who strikes me as a well handicapped entity who is going to enjoy the task in front of him. The seven race winner enjoys racing on a left handed course and after being nursed into contention couldn’t strike a blow and was held when falling at the final fence in the Plate. This is a whole different ball game and should see this willing gallop in the shake-up.
Prediction: 1st BOOSTER BOB, 2nd Matata, 3rd Madara, 4th Ile Atlantique, 5th Will The Wise 6th Gentleman De Mee
Race 6 ODDSCHECKER SEFTON NOVICES’ HURDLE (Grade 1j
No6 KRIPTICJIM (Each Way)
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell
NO DRAMA THIS END underwhelmed when held up at the Festival and will surely be ridden closer to the pace considering the different ground conditions. He had rattled off an impressive harpy-trick of successes prior to that, and a big run in the offing under a different jockey. Harry Cobden switched to the unexposed TALK TO THE MOON who is unbeaten over hurdles and looked very decent when making all to take out a race at Newbury. Joseph O’Brien’s ZEUS POWER came back off a break to finish an excellent third in the Turners at Cheltenham and he’s one that should definitely benefit from the quicker terrain. One that looks overpriced however is KRIPTICJIM, who ran better than his final placing of sixth indicates in the Albert Bartlett at the Festival, and can turn the tables on the winner JOHNNY’S JURY.
Prediction: 1st KRIPTICJIM, 2nd Talk To The Moon, 3rd Zeus Power, 4th No Drama This End
Race 7 DEBENHAMS CONDITIONAL JOCKEYS/AMATEUR RIDERS HANDICAP HURDLE
No3 WRECKLESS ERIC (Each Way)
Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill – Jockey: Benjamin Macey
WRECKLESS ERIC was hampered at a crucial stage in the Imperial Cup, but for which he might easily have won. His stable rarely go far wrong with their handicappers at this meeting and on just a fifth outing of the season he warrants the greatest respect. WANDERING EGO regularly attracts support and is one to be with after a bloodless Huntingdon triumph but now back in a handicap for Olly Murphy. POURQUOI PAS PAPA is consistency personified and enters calculations with good claims following his fourth on handicap debut in the juvenile handicap hurdle at the Festival. Any cash for CHARLUS would be of interest in consideration of his connections, while SHERMINATOR might head the market following successes in each of his completed starts for Harry Fry. Patrick Mullins is an eye taking jockey booking for him.
Prediction: 1st WRECKLESS ERIC, 2nd Wandering Ego, 3rd Sherminator, 4th Pourquoi Pas Papa, 5th Charlus
