Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from the opening day of the 2024 Aintree Festival.
AINTREE BEST BETS DAY 1 THURSDAY
Race 1 MANIFESTO NOVICES’ CHASE (Grade 1)
No4 GREY DAWNING
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
GREY DAWNING tackles the two-and-a-half-mile opener as a first choice from three engagements at the meeting. Potentially the best horse the Skeltons have ever trained, the seven-year-old remains at the trip over which he beat GINNY’S DESTINY at Cheltenham. As well as confirming his superiority over that rival he can also resist the challenge of Arkle Trophy third IL ETAIT TEMPS in what promises to be a thriller.
Prediction: 1st GREY DAWNING, 2nd Il Etait Temps,3rd GINNY’S Destiny
Race 2 ANNIVERSARY 4YO JUVENILE HURDLE (Grade 1)
No5 SIR GINO (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
A health scare prompted Henderson to skip the Triumph Hurdle with SIR GINO, even though the unbeaten gelding’s blood tests and scopes came back with acceptable readings. With other high-profile horses in the stable clearly not 100 per cent it was almost certainly the right thing to do, and the talented gelding can with a victory in this equivalent of that Festival race endorse the high esteem in which he’s held by his trainer and all at Seven Barrows.
KARGESE travelled best for much of the way in that juvenile championship only to give best to Majborough on the run-in. She rates the main threat to the Nap ahead of fellow Irish challenger NURBURGRING.
Prediction: 1st SIR GINO, 2nd Kargese, 3rd Nurburgring
Race 3 AINTREE BOWL CHASE (Grade 1)
No6 GENTLEMANSGAME (Each Way)
Trainer: Mouse Morris – Jockey: D O’Keeffe
GERRI COLOMBE found only the champion Galopin Des Champs his master in the Gold Cup and is entitled to head the market for the Aintree equivalent. He has few miles on his racing clock and could wipe the floor with these, especially if SHISHKIN underperforms. The latter had to bypass the Festival but if on his A-game can mix it with the best of them, as he showed when successful here 12 months ago.
CORBETTS CROSS is a very interesting novice stepping up the class ladder following a resounding triumph in the National Hunt Chase last month. He needs respecting, but if there‘a to be a clean sweep in the race for the Irish, GENTLEMANSGAME can also play a part. The grey was coming off a long break when pulling up in the Gold Cup, though he jumped and travelled well for a long way. Chasing’s blue riband was only his fourth outing over fences, and while it was too much after his niggling problems, this game-winner of the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby looks too big at 25-1 not to have a small interest.
Prediction: 1st GENTLEMANSGAME, 2nd Gerri Colombe, 3rd Corbetts Cross, 4th Shishkin
Race 4 WILLIAM HILL AINTREE HURDLE (Grade 1)
No7 LUCCIA (Each Way)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: James Bowen
Irish Champion Hurdle 1-2 BOB OLINGER and IMPAIRE ET PASSÉ form a major stumbling block for the home contingent in a fascinating contest, and collectively the pair will take out the lion’s share of betting handle on the contest. While Bob Olinger has been kept on ice since January, his compatriot had earlier chased home the shadows of two champions in Teahupoo and State Man.
I respect the claims of both, one that makes great appeal at her price is LUCCIA. She proudly carried the Seven Barrows flag into an honourable third in the Champion Hurdle and steps up in trip with a big chance of bettering it, and I think she can. If ever she’s going to stay it’s on a track like the Mildmay course, and her trainer could not be happier with her.
Prediction: 1st LUCCIA, 2nd Bob Olinger, 3rd Impaire Et Passe
Race 5 RANDOX FOXHUNTERS’ OPEN HUNTERS’ CHASE
No18 SPYGLASS HILL (Each Way)
Trainer: R Pallas – Jockey: Mr James King
SPYGLASS HILL repelled a talented foe when scoring from Iskander Pecos on debut for his trainer at Haydock. He’d proved a fine servant for a top Irish stable previously, is a good jumper and one that promises to go a long way in the hunter-chase division, even at the age of eleven. Furthermore, the second horse endorsed the form when winning at Ludlow last week.
Another veteran that can challenge in the first of three races run over the Grand National fences is BENNYS KING. The 13-year-old likes to get on with things, and showed he is no back number by coming home unchallenged at Leicester.
The JP McManus-owned IT’S ON THE LINE seemed to run in snatches before rallying for a minor cheque in the Cheltenham Foxhunters and will need to smarten up his act of he’s to recoup the heavy losses sustained on him that day.
Prediction: 1st SPYGLASS HILL, 2nd Bennys King, 3rd It’s On The Line
Race 6 CLOSE BROTHERS RED RUM HANDICAP CHASE
No4 PATH D’OROUX (Each Way)
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell – Jockey: Keith Donoghue
Several that clashed on the Grand Annual are back on duty in a race that remembers a Liverpool immortal. UNEXPECTED PARTY landed what can only be described as an old-fashioned gamble when leaving some underwhelming form a long way behind to triumph in the Cotswolds.
He’s greatly respected for the Skeltons, but at the revised weights PATH D’OROUX can turn the tables. The seven-year-old travelled strongly throughout at the Festival and is capable of making up the near six lengths he has to find with his conqueror. He retains the cheekpieces that appeared to work well for him, and I hope his jockey can leave his challenge late.
HELTENHAM has been winning with what seems bundles in hand and is suited by a strongly run race in which he can pick off his foes in the latter stages. He’s a must for all exotic wagering on this. IRISH BLAZE is a novice with limited experience but could shake apples from the tree if coping with the cut and thrust of the contest.
Prediction: 1st PATH D’OROUX, 2nd Unexpected Party, 3rd Heltenham, 4th Irish Blaze
Race 7 GOFFS NICKEL COIN MARES’ STANDARD OPEN NH FLAT RACE (Grade 2)
No12 SPECULATRIX (Each Way)
Trainer: Gordon Elliott – Jockey: Jack Kennedy
Irish mares are carded to dominate the concluding bumper, and while the Mullins favourite BABY KATE is entitled to respect, there could be much better value in the once-raced and unbeaten SPECULATRIX. Elliott saddled a similar type to finish second in the Festival Bumper and this Gigginstown-owned daughter of Risk At All is ready to step up to the plate.
DIVA LUNA was an eye-taking winner of her latest start for Ben Pauling who thinks she can get into the argument. It won’t be a surprise if she does, while if there’s a roughie that could outperform its price NALA THE LIONESS could be the one. She’s trying to shed her maiden tag at a high level, but her trainer is enjoying a hot streak.
Prediction: 1st SPECULATRIX, 2nd Diva Luna, 3rd Baby Kate, 4th Nala The Lioness
