Aintree Racing Tips: Magnificent Min and classy Corton on day two
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After an explosive first day’s racing at Aintree, there’s plenty more to look forward to on day two in Liverpool.
An exciting seven-race card features the Mildmay Novices’ Chase, Topham Handicap Chase and the Melling Chase, where Min will go up against Balko Des Flos and Politologue.
We’ve previewed all of the day’s equine exploits below…
1:45 Alder Hey Children’s Charity Handicap Hurdle – Storm Home
A field of 20 will contest the opening race of the day where Storm Home is tipped to do just that.
Colin Tizzard’s runner is looking for a hat-trick at Aintree after a pair of Class 4 successes at Taunton and Wincanton.
He’s a progressive sort and should be able to handle the trip based on breeding and past runs. The ground is also in his favour as he steps into Handicap Company for the first time.
2:20 Top Novices’ Hurdle – Global Citizen
Global Citizen is the favourite for this one and he’s the favourite for a reason.
Ben Pauling’s runner was top of the class in the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle last time out at Kempton and can continue his progression here in Grade 1 company.
He’s won three from four over the distance. If the ground continues to dry out at Aintree, it’s hard to see the six-year-old getting beat.
2:50 Mildmay Novices’ Chase – Black Corton
In terms of strength in depth, this is surely the race of the day.
Terrefort, Elegant Escape, Coo Star Sivola, Ms Parfois and Black Corton will all fancy their chances over the 3m1f distance.
But it’s the latter of the quintet that gets the nod from us.
Paul Nicholls’ star didn’t run to his best at Cheltenham and will be helped here by the sharper ground and lack of an uphill finish.
Jockey Bryony Frost knows how to get the best out of the seven-year-old. She’ll partner the son of Laverock once more as the pair go for their seventh win in nine starts together.
3:25 JLT Melling Chase – Min
Only Altior and Simply Ned have proved too good for Min since he joined Willie Mullins in 2015.
And we don’t think Balko Des Flos will add to that list.
The Dublin Chase winner was comfortably the best of the rest in the Queen Mother Champion Chase last month.
There was no shame in finishing runner-up to the unassailable Altior at Cheltenham. Especially when he kept Politologue (who runs here) 16l behind.
Min is the classiest runner in the race and should prevail on his Aintree debut.
4:05 Topham Handicap Chase – Rathlin Rose (each-way)
The last two winners of the Topham Chase have come at 50/1 and 22/1. So it could pay to look further down the market in this one.
Rathlin Rose will go off a fair mark of 133 and looks to have a game each-way chance.
David Pipe’s raider has been first past the post on two of his last three runs including in the Class 2 Veterans’ Handicap Chase at Ascot last time out.
He should enjoy the ground at Aintree and has the ability to outrun his odds in a big field.
4:40 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle – Roksana (each-way)
Horses that ran in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham don’t tend to perform well on Merseyside.
Roksana missed the Festival in favour of a Grade 2 tilt at Newbury. She won that convincingly from the upcoming Kalahari Queen and can continue her upward trajectory here.
Dan Skelton’s raider should be able to handle the step up into this company and is fancied to act off a nice weight. The ground is also in her favour.
5:15 Weatherbys Racing Bank Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race – Chanceanotherfive
Keith Dalgleish’s runner has the form claims to mount a challenge in the final race of the day after running well at Musselburgh in February.
The six-year-old finished runner-up that day which bodes well here.
He’s one of the more experienced charges in the field and that should hold him in good stead amid his 19 competitors.
Brian Hughes will partner the son of Dubai Destination for the third time.
All Odds and Markets correct as of date of publication
