Tom Scudamore’s Aintree tips for Friday
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Former jockey and Coral ambassador Tom Scudamore previews all seven races from the second day of Aintree’s Grand National meeting and gives us his best bet for each one.
Not an original selection but I do think Gerri Colombe is the one to beat here.
I thought he was unlucky not to win at Cheltenham when just held off by The Real Whacker but I do think he’ll make amends here.
I do respect Complete Unknown as he looks a very progressive horse, and Paul (Nicholls) always targets this meeting, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he ran a big race.
This is a ferociously competitive handicap hurdle and as you’d expect there’s plenty you can make a case for.
It’s difficult to know what Cheltenham will have taken out of him but I do like Sam Thomas’ horse Good Risk At All.
He ran a solid race in the Coral Cup and I think this sharper track will play to his strengths, so provided he’s come out of that race OK I can see him going close in this.
I was disappointed with Luccia at Cheltenham but if there was a reason for that below-par effort, then you’d have to give her a chance.
Having said that, Inthepocket ran a cracker in the Supreme, and he looks like he could have even more improvement to come, so Henry De Bromhead’s horse is the one I’ll side with.
Another really tough race to call and although I’d certainly respect Millers Bank, the one I’m going side with is Mouse Morris’ horse French Dynamite.
He does have a habit of finding one or two too good but he’s always threatened to win a big one and I think the best of his form gives him a really solid chance.
I wouldn’t rule out Fakir D’oudairies but even at the age of eight, I’d question whether he’s quite the horse he has been in recent years.
This is so so competitive but I really liked how Al Dancer won the Grand Sefton here back in November and I think he could follow up in this.
He really took to the fences that day and although conditions will probably be quicker this time, the national course is usually the softest part of the track and I think everything looks set for another big run from him.
I’d definitely respect Stay Away Fay but he had a hard race at Cheltenham and the Albert Bartlett is certainly not for the faint hearted, so for that reason I’ll side with Maximillian.
He skipped to Cheltenham to come straight here and he actually beat Stay Away Fay at Doncaster on his last run in January, so I can see him confirming that form for the Donald McCain team.
I did hear Jamie Codd say he wouldn’t bother coming over for the sake of it so the fact he’s here to ride Go Dante looks like it’s a tip in itself for me.
Having said that, the one I’ll go for is my fellow Coral ambassador Joe Tizzard’s runner JPR One. I was impressed with how he won at Taunton after such a long absence.
