Aintree Friday Tips: Day 2 Grand National Meeting Selections From @RoadCheltenham

The 2025 Grand National meeting kicked off in perfect fashion for @RoadCheltenham with his bet in the first race IMPAIRE ET PASSE bolting up in the Manifesto. Hoping to keep the momentum rolling into Day Two, here are his Friday best bets with some nice prices available...

13:45 Aintree - Mildmay Novices' Chase

A tentative selection, DANCING CITY is worth another chance after finishing down the field at Cheltenham. He was going relatively well before making a mistake three out and he quickly dropped out of contention, though he was given an easy time of things in the latter stages of the race.

He was two from two over fences before his Festival flop and I can see him bouncing back to form at the first time of asking. He won three Grade 1s over hurdles last season – one of which came in the Sefton Novices Hurdle at Aintree 12 months ago.

Paul Townend takes the ride and I’m quietly confident that he can get the best out of his mount in the opener on Friday afternoon. He’d almost certainly appreciate some cut in the ground but he’s not an absolute mudlark and he should be capable of running a big race.

14:20 Aintree - William Hill Handicap Hurdle

A real disappointment in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham, KOPECK DE MEE looked in dire need of the experience and he’ll benefit from the services of Mark Walsh in the saddle at Aintree on Friday afternoon. It’s hard to believe that that run was anywhere close to his true running.

French form doesn’t always translate but Kopeck De Mee’s form ties in with some real nice types and I’d expect to see a much improved performance here. Most of his form in France was on soft ground so it’ll be interesting to see if he can step up and go well in what looks like a competitive renewal.

There are plenty of unexposed types in the field here and there’s always a chance that you might bump into one. He’s worth an each way play for me, but it’s hard to be as bullish as I was pre-Cheltenham.

14:55 Aintree - Top Novices' Hurdle

Romeo Coolio is a warm favourite for this race but Gordon Elliott is 1-32 over the past fortnight and I’m happy to try and take him on. The one I’ve landed on is TRIPOLI FLYER and he will relish the quicker surface at Aintree on Friday – it could be rattling quick with no rain in the forecast.

Tripoli Flyer won the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices Hurdle by over seven lengths back in February and he had a few nice types in behind. He’s 3-4 over hurdles, with his sole defeat coming on hurdles debut at the hands of talented novice Jurancon. This is a big jump up in class but he’s got scope for improvement.

He was beaten by stablemate Horaces Pearl in the Grade 2 Aintree bumper last season and he clearly likes a flat track so hopefully he can go well in this race. It’ll be interesting to see if he’s well supported before the off or if Romeo Coolio is strong in the betting.

15:30 Aintree - Melling Chase

A small but select field go to post for the Grade 1 Melling Chase and JONBON is the one that they all have to beat. While he flopped when odds on at Cheltenham last month, it would be a huge surprise if he was to fall short – especially in a small field and the 2m4f trip will be right up his street.

El Fabiolo is inconsistent at best while Matata and Protektorat are surely not quite up to standard over this trip. The race is Jonbon’s to lose and he is priced accordingly, but I’ll be keeping an eye out for any distance betting as I can see him pulling clear of his rivals up the Aintree straight.

Jonbon is a nine-time Grade 1 winner and victory number 10 looks likely. Having said that, we all thought he was a shoo-in at Cheltenham and look what happened there...

17:15 Aintree - Hallgarten And Novum Wines Handicap Hurdle

Tripoli Flyer may well have franked the Dovecote form earlier on the card and I’m hoping that the form of that race is booted twice on Friday as CELTIC DINO looks to have a great chance in the finale on Friday. He looked like a potential star earlier in the campaign and he’s ran credibly in Graded races at Aintree and Kempton the last twice.

He heads here relatively fresh after skipping Cheltenham and I’d say he could have a fair bit in hand off his current mark of 132. Dylan Johnston takes a handy 3lbs off though Sam Thomas has now gone 39 days since his last winner over jumps.

Afadil is often well supported in these big field handicaps but he has won just four of his 21 hurdle starts and I’d be inclined to look elsewhere. Washington is another who has the talent but he’s unreliable and is hard to back.