MIGHTY MAN can continue his love affair with Aintree with a third win in the last four years in the opener, the John Smith’s Liverpool Hurdle (2pm).
The Henry Daly-trained nine-year-old has a 100% record in three runs at Aintree and is sure to go close to keeping that up in the Grade Two extended three-mile contest he won so well in 2006 and 2007.
After a lengthy injury absence, he ran superbly to finish fifth in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle behind Big Buck’s at Cheltenham. That will have put him spot on for today and he can turn the tables on that rival.
With his Cheltenham conqueror Zaynar not at Aintree, WALKON can land the John Smith’s Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle (2.35pm).
He may go off favourite, not least because Liverpool supporters are sure to wade on, but that is because he ran really well in the JCB Triumph Hurdle when he was only just touched off by Nicky Henderson’s winner.
Both horses look to have a big future, but Alan King’s four-year-old can gain compensation in the short-term today.
All eyes will be on Denman in the day’s feature race, the totesport Bowl (3.10pm), but it may pay to go for EXOTIC DANCER to turn the tables on the Paul Nicholls star.
Denman was second to Kauto Star in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last time following his well-documented problems. But just a few lengths back was the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Exotic Dancer.
The nine-year-old is always consistent in Graded races, but probably doesn’t win as often as he should. But he landed this 3m1f Grade Two contest two years ago, and was third last year. He has looked much better this season than last. If he is on the form of his Lexus Chase victory he can get the better of Denman on this flatter track, which should allow him to come late to triumph.
In the first race over the National fences, the John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase (3.45pm) last year’s winner Christy Beamish could easily follow up despite his fall at Cheltenham last time. But MCEVOY looks an ideal horse for this race. He likes to be up with the pace and front-runners tend to do well in this.
Charlie Swan sends the lightly-weighted VALAIN for the John Smith’s Handicap Chase (4.20pm) and he must have a decent chance. He ran well for a long way when seventh in the Grand Annual Chase at Cheltenham and should be at home on this flatter track and good ground.
The Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle (5.30pm) has been a race for outsiders with 50-1 and 25-1 chances winning recently. With that in mind it might pay to take a chance and two who are in double figure odds are WHINSTONE BOY and Sunnyhillboy with preference for the former.
In Aintree’s newest race, the John Smith’s Manifesto Novices’ Chase (4.55pm) can go to CHAPOTURGEON, who looks superb in winning at Cheltenham last time.
AINTREE (Day One):
2pm Mighty Man
2.35pm Walkon
3.10pm (totesport Bowl) 1 EXOTIC DANCER 2 Denman 3 Albertas Run
3.45pm (John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase) Mcevoy
4.20pm Valain
4.50pm Chapoturgeon
5.30pm Whinstone Boy (NAP)
