Your UK racing tips for Friday 12 April 2024 come your way from the second day of the Aintree Festival.
AINTREE FESTIVAL – DAY TWO
Race 2- INTHEWATERSIDE 10/1
INTHEWATERSIDE can strike a blow for Paul Nicholls in the trainers’ championship in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle.
The six-year-old can take advantage of getting weight from all bar Making Headway in the 22-runner field.
Making Headway finished fourth at Sandown last month. Fitting of first-time cheekpieces may bring about improvement and shouldn’t be ignored.
Hat-trick-seeking Boombawn commands respect following a success at Kempton, while stablemate Kateira cannot be ruled out having run nicely when fourth behind the just mentioned in that Kempton event.
Race 3- MYSTICAL POWER 13/10
MYSTICAL POWER can see Willie Mullins back in the winner’s enclosure in the Trustatrader Top Novices’ Hurdle.
The five-year-old was beaten for the first time under rules in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham but should have learned a bit more from that run and can come out on top here.
Firefox reopposes but should again find Mystical Power too good, while the Fergal O’Brien-trained Dysart Enos will look to make it seven out of seven on the racecourse after a late setback scuppered her Festival run.
Race 4- JONBON 15/10
JONBON can get back to winning ways in the My Pension Expert Melling Chase.
Nicky Henderson’s eight-year-old was sent off the 1-4 favourite in the rescheduled Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham in January but was beaten a neck by Elixir De Nutz after a lacklustre round of jumping that included a telling blunder four fences from home.
Jonbon was then withdrawn from the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival after a disappointing run in form from Henderson’s stable.
He will go into the race fresher than his rivals as he attempts two and a half miles for the first time, with the trip likely to suit.
Protektorat will provide the chief danger after his win at the Festival in the Ryanair Chase, although Envoi Allen and Conflated reoppose hoping to reverse the form while Paul Nicholls’ Pic D’Orhy is also a live hope after skipping the Festival.
Race 5 – SHAKEM UP’ARRY 13/2
SHAKEM UP’ARRY can make it a 2024 treble as he tackles the Grand National fences in the Randox Supports Race Against Dementia Topham Handicap Chase.
Ben Pauling’s charge can back up a pair of Cheltenham wins on soft and heavy ground in January and March respectively.
Race 6 – DANCING CITY 11/2
DANCING CITY can make it a successful trip across for Irish Sea for Mullins by landing the Cavani Sartorial Menswear Sefton Novices’ Hurdle.
He finished a seven-and-a-quarter-length third behind Stellar Story and The Jukebox Man when stepped up to three miles for the first time in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
His race was lost when hitting the final flight, but he can reverse the form with The Jukebox Man as he can learn from that error and earn another British winner for Mullins.
