FIVE-STAR GRAND NATIONAL MEETING: Daqman sorted the Grand National wheat from the chaff yesterday. Now he checks out the five other big-money feature races at the three-day Aintree meeting. Look out each day for ‘hidden horses’ and lays logic.
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GOLDEN START TO AINTREE CARDS
⭕ 2.55 Aintree, Thursday (Golden Miller Chase, £140k) STATS: seven winning favourites in the last nine. TRAINERS (10 years): Paul Nicholls 4, Nicky Henderson 2.
Stage Star (Paul Nicholls) will be popular but Aintree form, PL4 (pulled up, last of five, 4th of five). Not won since 2023 chase sequence of 12111, including the Cheltenham Golden Miller (soft).
⭕ 3.30 Aintree, Thursday (Aintree Hurdle, £140k) Constitution Hill tries to redeem himself after a fall four out in the Champon Hurdle. Won this race in 2023.
⭕ 3.30 Aintree, Friday (Melling Chase, £140k) STATS: Four winning favourites in the last five years.
TRAINERS: Paul Nicholls 2, Joseph O’Brien 2, Willie Mullins 2.
Jonbon (Nicky Henderson) goes for a repeat after beating Conflated last year on soft. Aintree form: 111 (two on good to soft).
⭕ 4.05 Aintree, Friday (Topham Trophy, £84k) LAYS LOGIC: no winning favourites in the decade: 20-1 (twice), 22-1 and 50-1 SPs. TRAINERS: Nicky Henderson (2), Willie Mullins (2).
Arizona Cardinal beat James Du Berlais a length in this last year. They meet on the same terms but the going may not be so soft. Third last year was Grand National hope, Kandoo Kid.
⭕ 3.05 Aintree, Saturday (Liverpool Hurdle, £140k) TRAINERS: Gordon Elliott (2), Nicky Henderson (2)
Teahupoo and The Wallpark were second and third in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham. Strong Leader won this last year from Buddy One and Hiddenvalley Lake.
ARROW TO HIT TARGET
⭕ 3.37 Musselburgh: Flat action this afternoon from Scotland and one of the more appealing races on the card is this class 3 handicap.
Archie Watson’s Spartan Arrow arrives fit from a winning run on the all-weather at Wolverhampton and can follow-up on his third start for the yard since joining from the Crisford’s stable.
He’s generally been campaigned at a higher level than this and was a notably good third in a class 2 York handicap last May. He still remains relatively lightly raced and might have too much class for these.
Paddy’s Day is on an admirable winning run of four in a row but now needs to pick up on the turf a full 15lb higher and he is only 1-20 on the grass.
BOND MEETS THE DUKE
⭕ 4.43 Musselburgh: The closing sprint handicap is by far and away the most competitive race on the card.
A couple I like against the field are Royal Duke and Jamie Bond who both seem to be back on winning marks.
Royal Duke is a season ticket holder here and won over this trip last October. He went close again in November and despite the break the market signs on Betdaq Betting Exchange are fairly positive for a big run.
Jamie Bond won at Catterick on the flat back in 2023 after which he was rated 75 but he’s now on just 56 and ran a good race at Newcastle three weeks ago.
Henery Hawk has been running better on the all-weather but is 0-18 on the turf.
TUCO NAPPED FOR FOUR-TIMER
⭕ 4.55 Southwell: Tuco Salamanca is taken to notch up a four timer after collecting wins at Kempton, Wolverhampton and Newcastle.
He looks a totally different performer since wind surgery and the latest penalty is unlikely to stop him judge by the way he won at Newcastle last month.
DAQMAN’S BETS on Betdaq Betting Exchange
3.37 Musselburgh (win 10)
BET 3.3pts win SPARTAN ARROW
4.43 Musselburgh (both win 20)
BET 2.7pts win ROYAL DUKE
BET 2.8pts win JAMIE BOND
★ 4.55 Southwell (win 10, nap)
BET 10.0pts win TUCO SALAMANCA
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