Ahead of Ladies Day Friday at Aintree, the in form tipster has four selections from the second day card at the Grand National Festival fixture
Shoot for the Moon in the Grade 1 Oddschecker Sefton Novices’ Hurdle. MOON ROCKET (4.40) has finished runner-up in Grade 2 races in his two starts since winning twice in novice hurdles earlier in the season.
Those second places behind Yellow Car and Battle Born Lad – who both ran well in the Albert Bartlet Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham – came in small fields. This strong stayer is likely to be better suited by this more competitive contest. Have 1pt each-way at 12-1. Sky Bet is paying five places.
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WRECKLESS ERIC (2.20) is going to love the step up to 2m4f in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle. He stormed up the hill when beaten just half-a-length in the Imperial Cup at Sandown last month.
His Cheltenham victory in November also came thanks to a strong finish and he wouldn’t have to improve much for the distance to have a huge chance on ground that he likes. Have 2pts each-way at 10-1. Sky Bet is offering seven places.
GRANDEUR D’AME (4.05) beat a decent field on his return to action at Chepstow and he couldn’t have gone much closer when runner-up at Cheltenham in January.
He finished last of the finishers in the Ultima Chase at the Cheltenham Festival but he simply didn’t stay the 3m1f distance under patient tactics.
Alan King’s runner is much better over the shorter trip of the Topham Chase and his usual prominent style of racing is a help over the Grand National fences. Have 1pt each-way at 25-1.
JACK HYDE (5.15) looked nicely treated for his handicap debut. He was a bit keen when third behind German Derby winner Palladium at Huntingdon in January.
The form of that race worked out really well and he didn’t have much trouble landing a couple of Southwell novices’ hurdles.
He barely broke sweat to beat another previous winner, Escapologist, over 2m4f three weeks ago. The return to 2m in a strongly-run race should be perfect.
His trainer Fergal O’Brien could hardly be in better form and, in Jack Hogan, he has one of the top conditional jockeys in the saddle. Have 1pt each-way at 11-1. Most bookies are going five places.