Day 2 of Aintree’s Grand National Festival commences from 1.45, and there’ll be action aplenty with the Topham on offer among seven excellent races in Liverpool this afternoon.
Local interest is once again apparent, with Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore hoping to find the winners' enclosure once more, having avenged a narrow defeat last year by capturing yesterday’s Red Rum Handicap Chase courtesy of Dancing On My Own’s excellent showing.
Action at Aintree this afternoon begins with the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase (1.45)
There is no local representation, with Gordon Elliott’s Gerri Colombe a short price favourite, having been previously unbeaten before narrow defeat to The Real Whacker in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase last month. Davy Russell rides, for what could be one of the Youghal jockey’s last ever Graded winners.
Local representation is also few and far between in the Grade 3 William Hill Handicap Hurdle (2.20), though there is a ride for Rachael Blackmore aboard Lucy Wadham’s Martello Sky, while a horse called Fennor Cross could also well attract some Déise interest.
De Bromhead and Blackmore will hope to once again prove the winning combination in the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle (2.55) when the JP McManus-owned Inthepocket, takes on Gordon Elliott’s Found A Fifty.
“Inthepocket ran very well in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham”, said Blackmore.
“He travelled well for me and he kept on well to finish fourth, just over six lengths behind Marine Nationale. This looks like a very competitive race, as you would expect for a Grade 1, but none of the first three home in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle are running.
Inthepocket seems to have come out of Cheltenham well. I think that he is a horse with a big future, he has lots of potential. He travels well and he jumps well and I hope that he can run a big race.”
The Marsh Chase gets underway at 3.30, where Joseph O’Brien’s Fakir D’oudairies bids for a third consecutive win in the race, with the Paul Nicholls pair of Pic D’orhy and Hitman providing competition in chief.
The Grade 3 Topham Handicap Chase (4.05) has a full field of 29 runners, 3 of whom come from the Knockeen arsenal.
Blackmore rides Upping The Anti, while Darragh O’Keeffe lines up on Gin On Lime and Shane Fitzgerald will take a valuable 3lbs off Gigginstown-owned Epson Du Houx.
“He was unlucky to be brought down at the second last fence in the Carrickmines Handicap Chase at Leopardstown on his penultimate run, when I thought that he was going to go well”, Blackmore said of her mount. “We were just behind the winner Lieutenant Command at the time, and I hadn't gone for him yet.”
“He ran well the last day too behind Flame Bearer in the Grade 3 Pierce Molony Memorial Novice Chase at Thurles. He was no match for Flame Bearer, but Flame Bearer won the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Fairyhouse on Sunday, and Upping The Anti stayed on well to take second place behind him.”
“Hopefully he will take to the fences. You never know for sure until they jump them, but I think that he will take to them all right. He has the right profile for the race, he is still on an upward curve, and hopefully he can get a little bit of luck in-running.”
Two Cheltenham Festival winners will go head to head in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (4.40) in the form of Iroko (Martin Pipe Hurdle) and Stay Away Fay (Albert Bartlett).
Action on day two concludes with more local interest in the Amateur Riders Race, as Dungarvan’s Niall Houlihan rides recent Wetherby winner Albert’s Back for Michael & David Easterby.
A full field of 40 has been declared for Saturday’s Aintree Grand National, including De Bromhead’s Ain’t That A Shame and Gabby’s Cross.
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