Grand National meeting Day Two part two
Published:Fingal Bay was unfortunate to miss Cheltenham, but he can show the racing world what they missed in the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle.
14:40 – Triangular @ 8/1
Prior Aintree form offers a big advantage in the Topham Chase and Frankie Figg and Always Waining are two to keep on side given their success at the track, but Triangular could prove the pick of the favourites.
He has gone up in the ratings since a dominant victory at Newbury, but looks up to the necessary improvement to triumph again.
Bai Zhu is one that could surprise at a big price as his bold jumping suggests that he could be well suited to the Aintree fences and has won off a higher official rating than his current mark previously.
16:15 – Fingal Bay @ 11/8
Fingal Bay’s victory over Simonsig now stands up as even greater form given the way the grey bolted up in the Neptune at Cheltenham and on the basis of this he will take a lot of beating.
However, if the injury that ruled him out of the Festival has not cleared up, there will be some challengers believing that can provide an upset in a race that has thrown up some underdog winners in recent years.
Harry Topper will have no problems seeing out the trip and his defeat to Brindisi Breeze is respectable form, while Hawkes Point is largely unknown and warrants respect from the Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh combination.
16:50 – Rajnagan @ 40/1
Perhaps the toughest race on the card to call, with It’s A Gimme and Orsippus both on weights where they can compete for victory.
Saphir River appeals at a big price especially with Paul Carberry on board, but an even bigger outsider Rajnagan could steal the show off a light weight.
The horse is a strong traveller and particularly capable on left-handed tracks, which could be behind is below-par efforts of late.
17:25 – Doyly Carte @ 7/1
The fact that four-year-olds have won four of the last seven runnings of this is not a good omen for Call Me A Star, while Eleven Fifty Nine is fancied to take revenge in any case after encouraging numerous problems last time.
However, of the four-year-olds, Hidden Lite and Flementine both looked to have ability when winning on their only starts, but Doyly Carte can triumph if repeating the ease of her debut victory.
She was caught short under a penalty last time, but has a nice weight here and looks a force.
