In addition to his Grand National tipPaul Ferguson fancies Aintree runners Simsonsig in the 1.45 and Chapoturgeon at 3.25. Compare odds and bet
Last year Nicky Henderson provided us with a Grand National day treble in the first three races and it looks as though the trainer could repeat the trick this afternoon.
Brilliant Arkle winner Sprinter Sacre will be sent off at prohibitive odds in the Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase, but he’s one to watch and savour, whilst Oscar Whisky could easily repeat last year’s victory in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle over his optimum trip.
He had a tough race behind Big Buck’s in the World Hurdle, however, and he is much shorter odds than when successful in what looks a weaker race 12 months ago.
Of the trio Simonsig (1:45) is the most solid, despite his fairly short odds. The grey oozed class when winning the Neptune at Cheltenham and Cotton Mill, who ran out when losing the battle with him two out, ran well for a long way yesterday.
The six-year-old simply looks in a different parish to this lot and it will be very disappointing if he can’t follow in the hoof prints of stable-mate Finian’s Rainbow, who completed the Cheltenham-Aintree double yesterday.
Later on the card Chapoturgeon (3:25) can land the John Smith’s Handicap Chase for Paul Nicholls and David Johnson, with the grey heading back in to handicap company when he could have run in Thursday’s Fox Hunters.
Runner-up in the Foxhunter at Cheltenham last month, he earlier slammed Cloudy Lane (winner of Thursday’s contest) by 16 lengths at Newbury and the drying ground is very much in his favour here.
Still only eight, he is just 3lbs higher than when winning the Jewson at Cheltenham back in 2009 and can record another success for the meeting’s leading jockey Ruby Walsh.
I’m heading down to Wembley this morning for the FA Cup semi-final so will be taking a day off on Sunday, but I’ll be back on Monday as usual – enjoy the weekend’s sport.
Saturday’s selections:
1:45 Aintree: Simonsig (1/2 Coral)
3:25 Aintree: Chapoturgeon (4/1 Paddy Power / BetVictor)
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Last Year’s Tips Included 40 Leading Prospects: £499.80 profit to a level £10!
- AL FEROF won Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 10-1
- BENSALEM won Stewart Family Handicap 5-1
- BOBS WORTH won A Bartlett 15-8, 4/4 for year
- CAPTAIN CHRIS won Arkle Trophy 6-1
- FIRST LIEUTENANT won Neptune Investment 7-1
- (plus Grade 1 in Ireland 16-1)
- JAMES DE VASSY won Lanzarote Hurdle 8-1
- LONG RUN won King George 9-2, Gold Cup 7-2
- OSCAR WHISKY won Aintree Hurdle 6-1
- Peddlers Cross (Fighting Fifth Hurdle)
- Medermit (Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase)
- FINIAN’S RAINBOW (Maghull Novices’ Chase)
- WISHFULL THINKING (Manifesto Novices’ Chase)
