Aintree Day 2 Tips: @RoadCheltenham's Friday Fancies

It’s Ladies Day at Aintree and I’m back with my NAP, Next Best and Longshot on Day 2 at the Grand National Festival. Writing this following declarations on Wednesday, here’s to hoping I’ll have already backed a winner or two on Day 1!

So without further ado, here are my three leading fancies on Friday’s card – including a strong NAP in one of the Grade 1 races. As always, wishing readers the very best of luck on Ladies Day and hopefully it’s a profitable one for you all!

NEXT BEST

13:45 Aintree - William Hill Handicap Hurdle

Up 2lbs for finishing second in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham, HOT FUSS looks primed to go one better at Aintree and the return of David Bass in the saddle is a huge positive.

The step up in trip at Cheltenham was a huge help and 2m4f around Aintree should be right up his street. He’s a strong travelling type and Bass, one of the strongest jockeys in the finish, clearly gets on well with Tom Dascombe’s runner.

His form ties in with the likes of Wilful, Alexei and Mondo Man and he could be thrown in off a BHA mark of 132. It’ll be interesting to see if he can produce the same level of form as at the Festival as he’s a huge danger if he turns up in fine fettle.

NAP (BEST BET)

15:30 Aintree - Melling Chase

I’m expecting HEART WOOD to follow up his Ryanair Chase success with victory in the Melling Chase on Friday afternoon, with just six rivals lining up to oppose him. Henry de Bromhead’s runner sets the standard and he could be too strong here.

There are a few unknowns in the race – with Grey Dawning dropping back in trip while the talented yet fragile Gidleigh Park would probably be my alternative play. Having said that, I’m not sure either can beat Heart Wood if he brings his best form to the table.

I was thrilled to see the Henry de Bromhead runner prevail after previously falling short at Grade 1 level and hopefully he can follow up here. Now rated 168, he has the rating to win this event and 6/4 seems like a fair price to me.

LONGSHOT

16:05 Aintree - Topham Chase

An impressive winner of this race 12 months ago, GENTLEMAN DE MEE bids to give JP McManus another success in the race. I suggested in November that a return to Aintree may well be the plan and he’ll run off a BHA mark of 158 – just 3lbs higher than when winning last year.

It doesn’t look the strongest renewal of the Topham Chase to my eye and you’re taking a chance on Madara handling the Grand National fences if you’re backing him at a short price. He is the obvious danger based on his Cheltenham victory in March.

He is 2-2 at Aintree and all six of his victories have come in February, March or April. The conditions in spring seem to suit him down to the ground and he is a fantastic each way play at the prices. Write him off at your peril.