Aintree tips for Sunday: God’s Own to land hat-trick in Old Roan

God’s Own to land Old Roan spoils

Sunday’s certainly not a day of rest for horse racing punters as a fascinating seven-race card at Aintree, headed by the Old Roan handicap chase (3.50), breathes life into the schedule.

Previous course and distance winner God’s Own is taken to land the spoils. The Tom George shaped grafter was seen finishing last season with a flurry, scoring back-to-back wins at Aintree and Punchestown. The first of that run came in the Grade One JLT Melling Chase over track and trip when getting the beating of nearest rival Al Ferof by a comfortable margin, despite going off at double-figure odds. A slight error when going right in the run-in made things closer than they should’ve been that day, but it did little to affect the outcome.

That eye-catching effort was followed up, less than three weeks later, when doing the business in the Champion Chase at Punchestown over a shorter trip, leading home a talent-laden field, including the Ruby Walsh ridden Vautour who started as odds-on favourite. There were some big names in behind too, ensuring it’ll be a long time before we see God’s Own written off quite so readily again.

Those results mean punters have waited with real optimism for his return and with a CV of 17 top-three finishes, including seven wins from 23 starts, there’s still more expected of this horse who has taken no less than three Grade One prizes to date. Claims are boosted by the presence of Adrian Heskin in the saddle, and although the horse enjoyed a great working relationship with Paddy Brennan previously, he has been left in good hands with Heskin who is more than capable of taking up the slack.

Perform backed to live up to his name

A race prior and 15-runners are expected to post for the 3.15 handicap hurdle disputed over the 2m 4f trip. Of the field, Perform is expect to get involved.

Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson team up with this seven-year-old gelding who has already proven his worth at this venue and over this trip. With two career starts to date, we’ve already spotted real progress and, after getting a debut spin around Uttoxeter last March, he showed what he had learned with a winning C&D performance 12 months ago.

He may not have been seen on course since but the win would have done our selection to harm whatsoever and, having matured over the year, he’s fully expected to pick up where he left off. The Hobbs stable have been plugging away in decent form of late and the right result here would come as no surprise to experts.

Team Skelton’s Born Survivor is rated as the main danger having won two of his three starts, but this will be the five-year-old’s first visit to Aintree and that has to go down as a negative.

Aintree tips for Sunday
1.40 – Ghost River
2.10 – One Cool Scorpion
2.45 – Double Ross
3.15 – Perform
3.50 – God’s Own
4.25 – Zanstra
5.00 – Black Sam

Related

You’ll find more horse racing betting opportunities on our dedicated page.