Three big talking points
1. Another Vautour De Force? After being pulled from the Gold Cup — rightly, many would argue — Vautour romped to victory in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham last month and will go off as 1/4 favourite in a field of just six in the JLT Melling Chase at 3.25pm.
The Rich Ricci seven-year-old already heads Al Ferof (8/1) on Ryanair and King George form while Vibrato Valtat‘s (20/1) connections will be keen to see what their mount can do having fallen four out while travelling well behind Vautour last month.
Gods Own (16/1) was forgotten about in the Sprinter Sacre fairytale at Prestbury Park and is not without his chances here while Clarcam (28/1) and Somersby (66/1) make up the field.
2. Mist-er Brightside. The weather may not have been great lately but that’s likely to suit 12/1 shot Bennys Mist better than most in the 2m 5f Topham Chase at 4.05pm.
The Venetia Williams-trained horse has won once and placed twice in six outings around Aintree and is at his best when the going is challenging.
While Village Vic will go off as the 10/1 favourite, he is coming off the back of a disappointing performance at Cheltenham where he trailed home ninth of 15 behind Vautour having made a mistake three out.
Bishops Road (12/1), who just missed out on the Grand National field, is the biggest threat while Dare To Endeavour — who finished second here earlier this season — could be a nice each-way bet at 25/1.
3. Limin-easy does it. Annie Power has shown she can beat the boys and the Willie Mullins camp is confident the lightly-raced Limini (6/4) can do the same.
Another in the Ricci colours, the five-year-old posted an impressive win in Dawn Run Mares’ Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham but will take on the geldings and a Grade One field for the first time in the 2.15pm Top Novices’ Hurdle.
Buveur Dair (2/1) is seen as her closest challenger and comes into Aintree on the back of a third placed finish behind Altior in the Supreme Novices’ at Prestbury Park.
Nap of the Day
Blaklion 11/4 in the Betfred Midway Novices’ Chase at 2.50pm. Nigel Twiston-Davies is currently operating at a 32% strike rate and the RSA winner should have no trouble appearing again so soon.
There’s no doubt that Un Temps Pour Tout (7/4) was impressive in winning the Ultima Handicap Chase last month but looked a horse whose season revolved around winning that one.
An each-way fancy
We’ve already outlined the reasons to fancy Bennys Mist at 12/1 in the Topham Chase so we might as well stick with him here.
Accumulator
Vautour‘s prohibitive odds would mean a treble of Limini, Blaklion and the Ryanair winner pays about 10/1.
However, if you’re looking for something a little more generous, swap Vautour for Ballydine (9/2) in the Grade One Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at 4.40pm and a treble with the other two pays about 50/1.
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