Paul Ferguson has three selections for us on Thursday; Buveur D’Air 15:25, Burning Ambition 16:05 and Minella Melody 17:15 all at Aintree. Compare odds and bet.
The Grand National meeting gets underway today and BUVEUR D’AIR (3:25) is fancied to land the Aintree Hurdle, which is one of four Grade 1s on the opening day.
He arrives here on the back of a fall in the Champion Hurdle, but provided that hasn’t left a mark, I would expect him to bounce back on a track which clearly suits. As well as winning this race two years ago, he won the 2016 Top Novices’ Hurdle and he has upwards of 8lbs in hand on the field, on official ratings. Faugheen could be right at home over this intermediate trip, but if he forces the pace then there is a chance that the race will be set up perfectly for the selection.
The first race of the week over the Grand National fences is the Randox Health Foxhunters’ Chase, in which BURNING AMBITION (4:05) is taken to score under last year’s winning rider, Derek O’Connor. The eight-year-old failed to stay in last year’s Cheltenham equivalent and has, therefore, been aimed at this extended 2m5f contest ever since.
He warmed up for today by winning smoothly over 2m3½f at Down Royal and he might just have more speed than his main market rivals.
The concluding Grade 2 mares’ bumper looks a really strong renewal and the betting ought to reflect this. One who might be overlooked in the market is the Kelly Morgan-trained Timetochill who will appreciate the decent ground (should it be a dry night), but preference is for MINELLA MELODY (5:15) who has impressed on both starts to date.
Her form wouldn’t be as strong as several of those in opposition, but she looked smart when winning her Point-to-Point by 10 lengths and she did it very nicely when landing a Gowran bumper by 12 lengths. She was partnered by Patrick Mullins that day and he once again takes the ride, and although it is more a case of visual impression with her, she is taken to take the step up in class in her stride.
Thursday’s selections:
3:25 Aintree – Buveur d’Air; 10/11 bet365
4:05 Aintree – Burning Ambition; 11/2 William Hill
5:15 Aintree – Minella Melody; 3/1 Unibet
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NB. All odds shown are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change.
