Grand National week is here with the big race on Saturday, but before we get there I have picked out some value selections for the first day. A little like Cheltenham some horses will have multiple entries, so with bookies not yet going non runner no bet we take a chance on the selections actually running in the races. However you could get some value early doors so bet at your own risk.
On Thursday at 2:20 there is the Juvenile Hurdle over two miles. Apple's Shakira is entered and is favourite ante post, she will be on a recovery mission after pulling like a train at Cheltenham. She stayed on well to finish fourth and will be a massive threat if she settles better. Redicean opposes again from that Triumph Hurdle and there is every possibility this flat track may suit him better. We Have A Dream missed Cheltenham and will come here a fresh horse, quietly fancied for the Triumph he would be my idea of the winner. We go for some value though and that looks like Nube Negra, he ran well in the Fred Winter and he may come on for that race. He travelled well and I see more progress with more racing. At 10/1 I hope he can run to a place at least but it will be a tough ask to win possibly. Malaya is a very consistent filly and has finished in the first two places in her last 8 races. This might be a little hot for her but so she should run a good race again.
In the Betway Bowl Might Bite will be a warm order, and as long as he is over his Gold Cup exertions he should win easily. Bristol De Mai is back from a break having not raced since disappointing in January. Soft ground will be in his favour as he needs it, but I still can't have him at any price after his last two runs. Definitely Red will be a popular bet for the locals and his connections, he has a lot on his plate to reverse placings with Might Bite from Cheltenham where he was beaten a distance. Double Shuffle runs well here and this is usually his time of year, however it is usually with better ground that suits him here. He could still outrun his price and place at 14/1. Clan Des Obeaux is another one of Paul Nicholls' consistent performers, finishing first or second in three runs this year. The value in the race if he turns up will be Balko Des Flos, he has the profile of an improver and no more so then winning the Ryanair beating Un De Sceaux. Henry De Bromhead has brought a large string over and 13/2 would be a big price if he does run.
Buveur D'Air is a short price for the Aintree Hurdle and as the double winner of the champion hurdle he deserves to be odds on. He had hard race last time to hold Melon by a neck and that may have taken a lot out of him and this race comes soon enough. L'Ami Serge and The New One are quality horses in there own right but have little chance of beating the hot pot. I think old boy My Tent Or Yours should run a cracking race having missed the Champion Hurdle at the last minute, he could well give his owner two live chances. At 40/1 Old Guard is a big price, he will come here without having had a hard race recently unlike most of the others. That break will of done him good and with freshness on his side he could run a big race. I really think some of the others may struggle with those hard races at the Festival in March especially if the ground is soft or heavy.
In the Foxhunters at 4:05 I like the chances of Grand Vision. Sixth in the corresponding race at the Festival he isn't a big price but some value at 6/1. His form figures of 121 before Cheltenham show he is very consistent and I'd be amazed if he finished outside the places.
In the Red Rum Handicap at 4:40 Le Prezien bids to follow up his win in the Grand Annual. He finally put it all together when storming home in March and fully justifies being head of the betting. He is not one to put your house on though so he has to be taken on. I expect Diego Du Charmil has a good opportunity here, he was going well when coming down at Ascot last time. He is a consistent performer and 8/1 is a fair price and could see him running a place. I was with King's Socks at Cheltenham and thought he ran a solid race without looking likely to win. With another low weight at 10-9 I will probably get involved again and this only being his third run in Britain he might have some more improvement. I Have to be with Gino Trail this time. He finished second to Le Prezien in the Grand Annual giving him 2lbs, this time he gets four pounds. A six pound swing for four and a half lengths brings him right into the mix. He is double the price at 12/1 and that seems massive to me, Kerry Lee has her horses in good order and he is a model of consistency with form figures of 311212. I cannot see him out of the first four, with usual pilot Jamie Moore already booked.
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