All eyes will be on Aintree, this Saturday. Can Seymour Biz pick the winner, in the world’s most-watched horse race?
We have the biggest betting weekend of the year this weekend as the Grand National circus rolls into town at Liverpool this week. There are also some high class supporting acts as well as the main event, we have some of the stars of Cheltenham turning up here, as well as some of the unlucky losers. I have covered the big race extensively in previous columns so will just précis that contest here, there are howevever some excellent races in the supporting cast at which there is some value to be found, so I will look at these to provide this weeks Lucky 15.
Firstly we have the Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at 2.25 and Black Op looks to have an excellent chance to take this contest. Tom George’s charge ran second to Samcro at Cheltenham but he was a clear five lengths in front of the third and he should be expected to take this race as his consolation prize. Among his opponents here he has Nicky Henderson ‘s On The Blind Side, this horse skipped Cheltenham having a reported setback after winning at Sandown in December. He has won on the course but that was a small race way back in last October and must have a chance here, as he is unbeaten this season. To look beyond this leading pair in the betting, I like one of Henderson’s other horses, Whatswrongwithyou who is a dual winner this term he was third last time at Sandown in March and can improve on that here.
The next race to give us any value is at 3.40, the Betway Handicap Chase, where Thomas Patrick heads the betting, Tom Lacey’s charge won convincingly at Newbury in March gaining revenge on Dawson City after being beaten at Exeter. However there are better contenders here and the one I like is Ibis Du Rheu from Paul Nicholls’s yard, he made a bad mistake at the last at Cheltenham last and although he may not have won he would have finished a lot closer to Mr Whitaker than he did. As a a live outsider there is Antony, trained by Gary Moore, he hasn’t won since October 2016 but hasn’t found suitable going since and could run into place at a nice price.
At 4.20 we have the Ryanair Stayers Hurdle with Sam Spinner at head of the betting, he tried to make all at Cheltenham last time, but was unable to keep up the gallop and was headed between the last two and unable to quicken over the last 150 yards. On a flat track like Aintree he is even more vulnerable than he was that day, there are some speedsters who will look to take him down. One of those is Wholestone who was in front of him that day, he did not have the pace of the front two that day but had enough for Sam Spinner and that could well be the case again. Old Guard could be a good outsider and have chance of a place, he won at Fontwell last time beating Lil Rockefeller where the conditions were similar to those he will find here.
As to the Randox Grand National at 5.15, I have covered that fully elsewhere on this site and the selection is Blaklion with Total Recall, Warriors Tale, Seeyouatmidnight and I Just Know as second choices.
Lucky 15 Tips
2.25 Black Op
3.40 Ibis Du Rheu
4.20 Wholestone
5.15 Blaklion
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Contact Seymour Biz, with your own thoughts, tips and questions, at the following address: ahroberts99@yahoo.com