Tag: Theinval

Aintree Friday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Day 1 of the Grand National provided its usual share of thrills and spills, unfortunately including our selection Arctic Fire crashing out at the last in the Aintree Hurdle. On The Fringe spared us from a complete whitewash but it would have been so much better had Call The Cops held on in the last.

Friday’s card, dare I say it, looks even tougher at first glance. The first race is a wide open two and a half mile handicap. I was taken by the style of Theinval when he won at Kempton on similar ground and he just about gets the vote at a tempting 11-1. Pearl Swan and Snake Eyes are others to note but you could probably make a case for half of the field.

I’ll probably bring the Nicky Henderson stable to a grinding halt but I fancy Cardinal Walter to run well in the second as well. I was surprised when he was beaten by Qewy at Newbury but this quicker surface could see the form turned on its head.

If there is a “good thing” on Friday, it is probably Saphir Du Rheu. He was runner-up in the World Hurdle and now has a second tilt at a chasing career having fluffed his lines at Kempton last time. He is the class horse of the race but you wouldn’t want to take too short a price.

The Melling Chase is a real cracker with Sire De Grugy, Don Cossack and Champagne Fever heading the field. Champagne Fever was bitten by a stable companion on his journey over for the festival so missed the Queen Mother Champion Chase. I believe that two and a half miles is probably more his trip anyway.

The Topham Chase looks almost impossible to solve but I’m going to take a stab with Bless The Wings for Gordon Elliott. The stable had a first day double and this one is very well weighted with Darna on previous form. Likewise, Mouse Morris has his table firing on all cylinders so Alpha Des Obeaux looks overpriced in the 4.40. He was second to Doucan last time out, admittedly without getting the Supreme Hurdle winner off the bridle, but this looks wide open.

Finally, Paul Nicholls can continue a fine meeting for the stable with Persian Delight in the closing bumper. He cruised home in a poor race on his debut but is highly regarded at home.

Theinval 1.40 @11-1 Bet365

Cardinal Walter 2.15 @8-1 Paddy Power

Saphir Du Rheu 2.50 @7-4 Totesport

Champagne Fever 3.25 @10-3 Coral

Bless The Wings 4.05 @22-1 Ladbrokes

Alpha Des Obeaux 4.40 @18-1 Bet365

Persian Delight 5.15 @4-1 Paddy Power

Tara can spark Sandown double for Nicholls

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Sandown warms up for Saturday’s Tingle Creek Chase card with six races on Friday opening at 12.50 with a juvenile hurdle.

The form horse here has to be Baraka De Thaix after his fine third in the Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham last month. He made a bad mistake at the second last but stuck on gamely up the hill behind Golden Doyen. There aren’t many better four-year-olds on the scene at the moment and David Pipe’s grey should score.

The one I fear most is the Andrew Balding-trained newcomer Storm Force Ten. He was a decent handicapper on the flat, winning a good prize at the Chester May meeting. If he transfers that form to the jumps, he could make up into a decent prospect in the famous Waley-Cohen colours of Long Run.

The Grade 2 Winter Hurdle has attracted only five runners but four of them are unbeaten over hurdles. Nicky Henderson’s Vyta Du Roc is the obvious favourite after winning at Cheltenham last time but I am more taken with Tara Point. The grey is a daughter of Kayf Tara and has not been off the bridle to win her two starts for Paul Nicholls. It won’t be plain sailing with Ordo Ab Chao and Shantou Bob also in the field but Tara Point looks worth a bet at around 3-1.

The Nicholls and Twiston-Davies combination could make a quick return to the winners’ enclosure in the following handicap chase with Black Thunder. He was a promising novice last season and put up an excellent effort when second at Ascot in the United House Handicap Chase. He had the subsequent Hennessy Gold Cup third Merry King behind him that day.

He was beaten fair and square by Corrin Wood at Warwick last season but I am not convinced that he was at his best in the heavy ground. He looked far happier at Ascot last time and can make his fitness count against the McCain horse who is having his first run since the RSA Chase in March.

The final race on the card looks booked for Henderson’s Theinval who escapes a penalty for a win in a Conditional Jockeys’ race at Kempton last time. That was a big improvement on his first run, a common theme with Henderson’s horses this season. The one I fear most is Coup De Grace who ran on well to finish fourth at Cheltenham in a competitive handicap last time. He could be worth an each-way bet at a decent price.

Baraka De Thaix 12.50 @4-7 Betfair

Tara Point 1.55 @3-1 Coral

Black Thunder 2.30 @8-11 Skybet

Theinval 3.30 @9-4 Coral

Coup de Grace @8-1 Coral each-way