Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from the opening day of the 2024 Aintree Festival.
RANDOX HEALTH GRAND NATIONAL BEST BETS ANTREE DAY 3 SATURDAY
Race 1 WILLIAM HILL HANDICAP HURDLE
No6 CUTHBERT DIBBLE (Each Way)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
A tough opener to skirt our way round, but the puzzle may be resolved by CUTHBERT DIBBLE. Twiston-Davies sees the six-year-old as one of the best long-term prospects at Grange Farm and his record in bumpers and hurdles is one of almost constant success. He’s the winner of four of his last six starts, and following a belated return to the fray this season he recently posted a creditable third to Monmiral in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham. MONMIRAL reopposes on disadvantageous terms and is probably not as likely to run his race than the selection. GWENNIE MAY BOY and the 2023 winner WEST BALBOA catch my eye from the Skelton stable and especially the former, who looks to be on the March in terms of progression. The novice JOHNNYWHO is also respected.
Prediction: 1st CUTHBERT DIBBLE, 2nd Gwennie May Boy, 3rd West Balboa, 4th Johnnywho
Race 2 TURNERS MERSEY NOVICES’ HURDLE (Grade 1)
No2 CALDWELL POTTER
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Harry Cobden
CALDWELL POTTER needs to buck a trend if he’s to take the spoils in this, but I think he can. He’s the most expensive jumpshorse sold at public auction, and worrying for connections is that horses of similar ilk have in the past mainly struggled to match up to their towering price tags. However, following his move to Ditcheat from Gordon Elliott the gelding has been working in good style to suggest a more than 100-day absence won’t faze him. I think he can start repaying the 740,000 euros John Hales paid for him at the main expense of BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD. The latter found Golden Ace too hot to handle in the mares’ race at the Festival, but will enjoy stepping back up in trip. ILE ATLANTIQUE ran well even though beaten a long way into third by Ballyburn in the Gallagher at Cheltenham and could be destined for another minor cheque.
Prediction: 1st CALDWELL POTTER, 2nd BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD, 3rd Ile Atlantique
Race3 WILLIAM HILL HANDICAP CHASE
No5 CREBILLY (Nap)
Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill – Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr
One of the biggest gambles at last month’s Festival, CREBILLY in the end had to play second fiddle to Shakem Up’Arry in The Plate. The JP McManus-owned novice is 3lb higher but will surely benefit from stretching out to this longer trip for connections who rarely leave the meeting empty-handed. The one he might have to fear most is THE KING OF RYEHOPE, who is unexposed over this trip, and after a very good run in the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot will enjoy returning to handicap company. He has all the hallmarks of a plot. TWIG has 4lb more to carry than when second in the Ultima Handicap Chase but that rise looks fair and he should again take home a slice of the cake. At the base of the weights I also like CRUZ CONTROL, who needed to be woken up to score at Newcastle last month but responded to run out a clear-cut winner, and land an on-course gamble In the process.
Prediction: 1st CREBILLY, 2nd The King Of Ryehope, 3rd Twig, 4th Cruz Control
Race 4 JRL GROUP LIVERPOOL HURDLE (Grade 1)
No5 DASHEL DRASHER (Each Way)
Trainer: Jeremy Scott – Jockey: Rex Dingle
Aintree’s equivalent of the Stayers’ Hurdle has a wide-open look to it although FLOORING PORTER showed with his second to Teauphoo at the Festival that he’s back in his comfort zone returned from hurdles from fences. The bold front runner sets the standard on that evidence, although SIRE DU BERLAIS makes only a third outing of the campaign and was an eye-catcher when just out of the money in the same race. The 2023 winner loves this course, and looks to have been laid out for the race. If there’s a recent improver with more to offer then HIDDENVALLEY LAKE is a candidate. His return from fences resulted in success in the Boyne Hurdle, and he’s respected. CRAMBO and DASHEL DRASHER need to bounce back from heavy defeats in the Stayers’ but it’s possible the latter can. It might be dangerous to think he’s in the last chance saloon, and if he takes away a cheque it wouldn’t surprise me.
Prediction: 1st DASHEL DRASHER, 2nd Flooring Porter, 3rd Sire Du Berlais, 4th Hiddenvalley Lake
Race 5 RANDOX HEALTH GRAND NATIONAL HANDICAP CHASE
No10 MAHLER MISSION (Each Way)
Trainer: John McConnell – Jockey: Ben Harvey
CORACH RAMBLER ran one of his career-best races to stay on into third behind Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup. These conditions are more extreme than is ideal for the pride of Scotland, but as a horse that can bring the ‘Aintree factor’ to the table he can again be involved. The best-backed horse in the field is MEETINGOFTHEWATERS who heads a strong team for Willie Mullins. He’s earned in all but one of his starts since joining his trainer, and warmed up for this with a very good third behind Chianti Classico in the Ultima. KITTY’S LIGHT would be box office if he can prevail from his place at the foot of the weights. The Bet365 Gold Cup and Scottish National winner is yet to show his real form in 2024, but if within hailing distance of the leaders turning for home could outstay them. It would be a fairytale result for his small stable. PANDA BOY is closely matched with Meetingofthewaters on the book and hails from a Grand National-winning stable. The grey tends to make the frame rather than win, and might be looking at another place payout. LIMERICK LACE won the mares’ chase at Cheltenham and while still a novice, needs respecting. Irish runners are everywhere you look and in selecting MAHLER MISSION as the main pick I strongly believe John McConnell’s horse has the strongest claims. Going well when falling in last season’s National Hunt Chase, the eight-year-old has received kid glove handling from his trainer to race just twice this season. After chasing home Datsalrightgino in the Coral Trophy connections refused to be tempted by a shot at the Gold Cup. They know that with luck in running this bold jumper can turn their dreams into reality.
Prediction: 1st MAHLER MISSION, 2nd Kitty’s Light, 3rd Meetingofthewaters, 4th Corach Rambler, 5th Panda Boy, 6th Limerick Lace
Race 6 MY PENSION EXPERT MAGHULL NOVICES’ CHASE (Grade 1)
No6 MASTER CHEWY (Each Way)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
FOUND A FIFTY has found only one to beat him in both the English and Irish Arkles and sets a high bar for his rivals to aim at. The Gordon Elliott-trained favourite should enjoy this track and have no issues with the going. In a race where I want to get involved, he’s a must for all exotic permutations but there is better value away from him. MATATA made a good fist of trying to wire the Arkle only to run out of puff up the final hill. He will again set a hot pace along with NICKLE BACK but this should set things up for a closer and that horse is MASTER CHEWY. He was making headway when departing two out at Cheltenham when the fall was no fault of his own, he met it perfectly only to crumple on landing. His overall form is also strong, and it surprises me that he’s a bigger price than his stablemate.
Prediction: 1st MASTER CHEWY, 2nd Found A Fifty, 3rd Matata, 4th Hercule Du Seuil
Race 7 WEATHERBYS NHSTALLIONS Co.UK STANDARD OPEN NH FLAT RACE
No10 MISTER MEGGIT (Each Way)
Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill – Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr
You normally need to be a relative of Houdini to jump out of jail in the concluding bumper but this year could prove different. That’s because MISTER MEGGIT has looked in two wins in bumpers that he might be out of the ordinary. He hardly came out of third gear in those Carlisle and Doncaster successes, and when it comes to the moment he needs to engage top, there’s no telling what he will find. He’s completely dominating the market but can complete a hat-trick at the main expense of MA SHANTOU and VALGRAND.
Prediction: 1st MISTER MEGGIT, 2nd Ma Shantou, 3rd Valgrand
