THE Randox Grand National 2023 looks sure to be run on ground less testing than expected earlier in the week, with the course not having the amount of rain originally forecast. Given the fact it looks likely to be good to soft at the time of writing on Friday morning I have changed a couple of selections on that basis, as they really needed testing conditions.
In my choices I have added a fascinating bigger priced runner in Fury Road and I will mention Sam Brown, who won the Handicap Chase last year on National day easily at 28/1, when marked up in my Unibet blog. Sam Brown has admittedly failed to shine since then and hopefully the return to Aintree for his first start over the National fences will see a return to form after a wind operation. Sam Brown is currently Unibet 80/1.
At a much shorter price earlier on the card is Jonbon Unibet 2/7 on to take the EFT Systems Maghull Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) at 1.45 for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson. After the brilliance of Constitution Hill and Shiskin returning to winning form it was a magnificent Thursday for the Nicky Henderson team.
Enjoy whether at the Randox Grand National 2023 or watching #athome on ITV Racing and Racing TV.
Cheers!
The Wine Tipster
5.15 Aintree – Randox Grand National Handicap Steeple Chase (4m 2½f)
UNIBET ARE PAYING SIX PLACES ON THIS RACE!
Le Milos (nap) has been in my Grand National notebook since winning at Bangor in November on his first start for Dan Skelton when beating Lord Du Mesnil and then he was napped in my Unibet blog for the big handicap chase at Newbury in November in which he won on good ground holding off the admirable Remastered. Le Milos then had a break and reappeared at Kelso last month when travelling really well and looking like the winner, until headed late on by Empire Steel. This was a performance to be marked up, as trainer Dan Skelton had made it clear he wasn’t fully primed and would come on for that run. Le Milos travels and jumps well, is importantly ground versatile, has never fallen, is still progressive and looks likely to get this trip too.
Delta Work should be fine with the ground as the assumption he needs soft ground has been put to bed, with the ground no worse than good to soft at Cheltenham when winning the cross country last time, nor at Punchestown last season when landing the Risk Of Thunder. The key to him is going to be getting into a rhythm early on and not leaving himself too much to do later in the contest, as was the case last year, as that will conserve his stamina better. A big chance at the weights.
Our Power has stepped up on his two appearances this season, winning at Ascot in October when beating Danny Kirwan over three miles, after staying on well from the last and then won a competitive handicap at Kempton in February beating Flegmatik in a tight finish over the same distance when showing his determination. Those were two quality handicaps, with the step up to three miles benefitting Our Power, who looks sure to be suited by the conditions here from a ground and trip perspective. His trainer, Sam Thomas, has become renowned for targeting races, as he showed with his Classic Chase winner Iwilldoit.
Gaillard Du Mesnil could follow in the footsteps of Noble Yeats and win the Randox Grand National as a seven-year-old. Gaillard Du Mesnil has the class, having finished second in a Ballymore, third in the 2022 Irish National and he won the National Hunt Chase at The Festival this year. His form figures this season are 2131, he is proven on good to soft and he is guaranteed to see out the trip on his tenth career start over fences.
Lively outsider:
Fury Road is a very interesting contender, as he is running in his first handicap chase on his eleventh chase start, having run in Graded races only. He has lots of quality chase form, including third to Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February and then found the Ryanair too short a trip at Cheltenham. He will have no problems with ground, clearly has the class, whilst he has been showing his best form this season and if getting the trip will run a big race.
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2.25 Aintree – Village Hotels Handicap Hurdle (3m 1f)
An Tailliur would have finished in the first four in the Pertemps Final if he hadn’t hit the last badly after he had met trouble in running. He has finished second and third on his other two starts this season and can win off a mark of 139 on ground that will suit.
Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE on this race![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
3.00 Aintree – Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle Grade 1 (2m 4f)
Irish Point in an opening looking race has strong claims stepping back up to this trip after beating No Looking Back (ran Friday) last time out over two miles, whilst earlier in the season he was second to Marine Nationale in the Royal Bond, which is an excellent piece of form.
Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE on this race!
3.35 Aintree – JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle Grade 1 (3m ½f)
Champ has been kept fresh for this after disappointing at Christmas and as ever, that is very much the key to him. His record after a 100+ day break reads 21121211 and although he blew out in this last year, which came on the back of his fourth in the Stayers’ at Cheltenham and he just doesn’t seem to want two races on top of another these days. He’s top class at his peak and has to be an each way tip, who could easily win.
Unibet are paying MONEY BACK AS CASH if your pick finishes 2nd or 3rd in this race!
