1.15pm bet365 "National Hunt" Novices Hurdle
Just five runners head to post for this novices’ hurdle, and I think the market leaders appear to be the wrong way around. Paul Nicholls sends Below The Radar here under young Freddie Gingell, who takes off 5lb here with his claim, which should help the burden of a penalty that Below The Radar has to carry here after two wins in a row.
He finished 2nd on both of his point-to-points and has since changed hands to which he has finished with his head in front on both occasions for Paul Nicholls and the Hemmings Family.
A 2.75-length winner of a Chepstow bumper, it was his hurdle debut win at Hereford that really caught the eye. Jumping well, he soon forged clear in the closing stages, winning very well in the end by 3 and a quarter lengths. That was an impressive performance to the eye, but it is the form of that contest that reads very well. Runner-up that day Monks Meadow has since come out and won a maiden hurdle, as well as the 3rd place Big John Wayne falling at Newcastle when seemingly having the race in the bag, making him very unlucky to not win that day.
The form of Below The Radar's Hurdle victory is very decent, and he is definitely up to landing a contest of this nature under the penalty.
- Selection - Below The Radar (15/8)
3.00pm bet365 Midlands Grand National Handicap Chase
It is a shame that we only have a pretty small field of 12 heading to post for this year’s Midlands Grand National, but it is still a pretty decent betting contest.
My Silver Lining for Emma Lavelle is quickly becoming a firm favourite of mine, with her game and brilliant jumping style, not to mention the fact she has a massive heart and is also a grey.
I was there when she landed the Classic Chase at Warwick, which she won in pretty decent style by three quarters of a length, and that was a performance that really caught my eye at the time.
She then looked to back that up next time out in the testing Grand National Trial, in which she ran very well once again, looking like the winner down the home straight, just to get collared late on by the Irish raider Yeah Man.
My Silver Lining needed every inch of the 3m5f at Warwick to win, and she was staying on superbly well over 3m4f at Haydock last time, and although she takes a huge step up in trip to 4 miles-plus here, I think that will more than suit. She is a real thorough stayer, and she jumps well throughout.
I would imagine that if she says this trip, and runs well here (she might need to win to get into the Grand National) then the Aintree showpiece might be on the cards for her next month. She has been on a real upward curve recently, not finishing out of the top two in 6 of her last runs, which obviously does include the Classic Chase and Grand National Trial.
She relishes these sorts of races, and conditions should be no issue for her. I fully expect her to take another step forward here and run well off her new career high mark.
- Selection - My Silver Lining (5/1)
All prices are from Planet Sport Bet and are subject to change
All previews and tips provided by @ Jake Russell