1:45 Aintree Tips

The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival meet again at Aintree. Although there was not much between them at Cheltenham, Maestro Conti may confirm his superiority at Aintree.

Minella Study ran a fine race in the Triumph at Cheltenham. The selection seems to have been caught out by the hill there, as he was in front at the last. He has a flat track here and can get a big win for this small yard.

Four career runs for the 4yo filly, form 1113. A debut winner in France before joining the Gordon Elliott yard. She was a good third in a Grade 1 last time out on heavy ground. She sat in second place all the way behind the smart 148-rated winner and was only really outpaced after jumping the last. Better ground could help. Plenty of these rivals ran at the Festival recently. The selection has had a nice ten-week break since her last run.

Mange Tout seemingly had ground excuses last time, which she won’t have here. She is tempting as the freshest of the top of the market, with the other four all running at Cheltenham. However, I thought it was perhaps Ammes who was a touch overpriced to hit the frame in this, despite him being well beaten by Winston Junior in the Fred Winter. He travelled well behind Minella Study before shanking the last couple of hurdles somewhat at Wetherby. He stayed on stoutly and was not beaten far at all. With a better round he can go well. Owen reaches for the visor to sharpen him up, which isn’t necessarily a negative move. He was in the process of running a good race at Cheltenham before ultimately not staying up the hill. On this flatter track, he’ll hopefully travel much better in a race that should leave no hiding place.

Concern for the Irish raiders is the ground, as their horses have shown up well but with plenty of cut in the ground. If the sun keeps shining, good ground can suit the home horses a lot better. This can be seen by Samuel Drinkwater-trained Wolf Rayet, who is by Camelot. Wolf Rayet was running on from off the pace and, after the last, he tired to finish in eighth place, beaten ten lengths. This flat course can be more to his liking. 40/1 ??' someone must think the 100/1 and 80/1 were a good investment ??' and this price is not to be sniffed at, as a big run could be on, with Robert Dunne having his mount a lot closer to make his presence felt at the finish.