Chris Wright's Aintree tips: Friday

Apr 4 2008

FOLLOWING his stunning performance in the Queen Mother Champion Chase it is hard to see anything beating Master Minded in this afternoon’s John Smith’s Melling Chase (3.10pm).

Paul Nicholls’ five- year-old made previous champion Voy Por Ustedes look ordinary as he trounced him by 19 lengths in the two-mile Grade One feature. Alan King’s seven- year-old clearly isn’t and re-opposes again.

He may get a bit closer now stepped up to 2m4f, but Master Minded jumped and travelled so well at Cheltenham and looked as if an extra four furlongs wouldn’t have made any difference. If Voy Por Ustedes couldn’t beat him at his favourite Prestbury Park track, it is unlikely he can at Aintree. Monet’s Garden would have pushed him hard if he hadn’t gone for yesterday’s totesport Bowl, in which he was a disappointing fourth of five in yesterday’s totesport Bowl behind Our Vic. But without last year’s winner it looks like the favourite will score again.

Tazbar has been very impressive this season and rates the nap in the Citroen C5 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (2.35pm).

Keith Reveley rates his six-year-old as the best horse he’s trained and the evidence on his three wins at Newcastle, Doncaster and Haydock back that up.

He missed Cheltenham to be aimed at this and the form of his wins was backed up with Donald McCain junior’s Whiteoak’s success at the Festival.

Tazbar just beat that rival a short-head at Doncaster over an inadequate two miles. But Tazbar showed staying was his forte at Haydock last time and he can win again and put himself in the picture for next year’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

Previous form over the Grand National fences is usually preferable and Howard Johnson’s Theatre Knight can use it to good effect in the John Smith’s Topham Chase (3.45pm).

The 10-year-old was second in this 2m5f contest 12 months ago behind Dunbrody Millar, who has claims of bringing up the double as well.

Theatre Knight has also finished third and fourth in the Grand Sefton Chase in the past two seasons over course and distance. He can keep up his fine record over the fences and finally score a deserved success.

Albertas Run should make it four wins in a row in the John Smith’s Mildmay Novices’ Chase (2pm). A winner over hurdles at this meeting 12 months ago he was impressive when winning the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham last time.

On his current form it is hard to see anything to stop him bringing up the four-timer in today’s 3m1f Grade Two contest.

Kings Euro hasn’t been out of the first two in his career. And Tim Vaugham’s lightly- race eight-year-old looks capable of keeping up that sequence in the totepool Handicap Chase (4.55pm).

The bold-jumping ex point-to-point horse was second to The Real Deal at Uttoxeter last month and he continues to run well after just well after just seven starts, three over fences, in the past two seasons.

Others of interest are Captain Cee Bee, who can add to his Cheltenham Festival win in the Littlewoods Direct Imagine Appeal Top Novices’ Hurdle (4.20pm) and Alan King’s Call Me A Legend in the John Smith’s Mares Only Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (5.30pm).

AINTREE (Day Two):

2pm Albertas Run

2.35pm Tazbar (NAP)

3.10pm (John Smith’s Melling Chase) Master Minded

3.45pm (John Smith’s Topham Chase) Theatre Knight

4.20pm Captain Cee Bee

4.55pm Kings Euro

5.30pm Call Me A Legend.