Friday Horse Racing Tips: Raceolly's Best Bets For Day 2 Of Grand National Festival At Aintree

Fresh from tipping up 16/1 and 13/2 winners on Thursday and bagging a couple of profitable placed selections as well, Raceolly is back with his tips for Friday's action at Aintree on day two of the Grand National meeting...

13:45 Aintree - 20 Years Together, Alder Hey & Aintree Handicap Hurdle

I’m taking another chance on one I backed at Cheltenham in this in BROOMFIELD BURG. He had excuses there after being fancied, but stumbled badly and lost his position, not having a chance to get back on terms there after. Six-year-olds have a good record in this winning four of the last nine (no race in 2020 due to lockdown) and also hits the stats on rating and having had a recent run. Won a point to point on first start so step up in trip could be ideal and was sent off 11/4 fav for the Betfair Hurdle before that Cheltenham effort but wasn’t seen to best effort in that off a slow pace either. Good efforts on flat tracks prior to Cheltenham too so could be seen to better effect on the flat Aintree course. 

14:20 Aintree - Betway Top Novices' Hurdle

VINA ARDANZA ran a huge race to go down by a neck in a Grade 3 last time on just his second hurdle start and represents 2019’s winning yard in Gordon Elliott. Five-year-olds have won nine of the last 19 renewals of this although none of the last four (no runners last year, 3rd and 4th in 2019, 2nd and 3rd in 2018 and unplaced in 2017). Ireland has won the last two runnings and Vina Ardanza is improving with every run and already rated 4th best in the race at 141 on official ratings. Ran within the last 30 days which is a bonus judging on recent runnings also, 17 of the last 18 also did. 

15:30 Aintree - Marsh Chase

SCEAU ROYAL might be a double figure age now, but he’s still has good as ever and skipped Cheltenham to come here for this after a little break. Form after a break of more than 50 days since arriving here in Britain reads 201311261112. Doesn’t hit many of the trends in recent years but Alan King won this a few times with Voy Por Ustedes and horses aged 10 and older won this for four years on the bounce between 2003-2005 although they haven’t won it since despite 26 attempts with just the seven places. Step up in trip is interesting here on last few runs and gave 6lbs to two reopposing shorter priced rivals here who he’s better off with now, finished two lengths behind Funambule Sivola and beat Hitman by two lengths.

16:05 Aintree - Randox Topham Handicap Chase

VIA DOLOROSA is very interesting in this and overlooked somewhat despite solid previous form here. Finished a good 4th in the Grand Sefton in November and was running a massive race in the Becher when being unfortunately brought down, that Becher Chase effort was off 1lb higher and back-to-back wins in March put him back up the handicap for attempts at this and the Scottish National. Pulled up when chance had gone at Ayr and not messed about with so quick turnaround shouldn’t be a problem and experience around here is always handy (11 of the last 17 winners had previous form over the fences). 10-year-olds and above have won this race eight times over the last 19 years and three of the last five.

16:40 Aintree - Cavani Menswear Sefton Novices' Hurdle

SKYTASTIC catches the eye in this being unbeaten in four starts and with potentially further improvement now upped in trip. Six-year-olds have won 11 of the last 19 renewals and skipping the Cheltenham Festival is a huge advantage for this with 14 of the last 21 winners having avoided Cheltenham before winning this. Skytastic’s win at Doncaster has worked out well with plenty of winners coming out of that race and he showed another side at Ascot last time when grinding out a win over one that was thought of as good enough to run in the Ballymore at the Cheltenham Festival when giving him 5lbs. Sam Thomas is having a fantastic season with a 20% win rate after 19 winners from 96 runners and a further 24 places and a good partnership with Sam Twiston Davies with the two boasting a 24% win rate when joining forces.

17:15 Aintree - Park Palace Ponies Handicap Hurdle

FAIVOIR might have top weight in this, but that’s not been a burden over the years with the top weight winning this three times over the last 11 years. His run in the County Hurdle can be forgiven as the race wasn’t ran to suit and before that finished a good 3rd in the Morebattle at Kelso off this handicap mark. Interestingly three of the last 10 winners of this came from the County Hurdle and all of them were beaten, also ticks the age stat being seven-years-old with eight of the last 11 aged between five and seven. Interestingly nine of the last 11 winners were rated 130 or higher which would eliminate all but four in this.