THE entries for day one of the Grand National Festival have been revealed – and what a cracker we have in store.
The Aintree Hurdle is shaping up to be an unmissable renewal where yet again more questions will be asked of Constitution Hill.
GettyThe action from Aintree gets underway on Thursday – and Templegate reckons he’s already onto a winner[/caption]
While Nicky Henderson is also keen to run Lulamba again after he was chinned in a 100-1 shock at Cheltenham.
Templegate goes through the big Grade 1s below and delivers an early tip in each.
Don’t forget, the action gets underway on Thursday, April 3 – before the Grand National itself on Saturday, April 5.
MANIFESTO NOVICES’ CHASE
CROKE PARK swerved Cheltenham with this race in mind and Gordon Elliott’s patience can be rewarded.
He already has a couple of Grade 1 wins on his CV including at Leopardstown at Christmas when his stamina just about held out over three miles.
He then gave Ballyburn a race at the Dublin Racing Festival when even the 2m5f there wasn’t completely to his liking.
Moving down to 2m3f around a track like Aintree should be ideal and his good jumping will be an asset.
This could be a cracker if Arkle winner Jango Baie turns up as he’ll enjoy going up in distance after that victory over 2m at Cheltenham.
He’s lightly raced and would be a threat if Nicky Henderson turns him out again.
BOODLES 4YO HURDLE
LULAMBA is in the entries for this and would be mighty hard to beat if coming here.
He was more than a little unlucky to get chinned in the Triumph Hurdle by a 100-1 shot having his first spin over timber.
He had got the better of East India Dock after a real battle and that’s what left him open to a finisher.
He has few miles on the clock and running here would be a wise move.
If not, HELLO NEIGHBOUR looks a real Aintree-type of horse.
He didn’t get up the hill when sixth in the Triumph Hurdle with a mistake at the last flight not helping.
He can take another step forward for Gavin Cromwell.
AINTREE BOWL CHASE
GREY DAWNING missed the Cheltenham Festival with this race in mind.
His last victory was a solid one at Kelso where his jumping was superb and he had plenty left.
It was good to see that after his poor show in the King George where he was simply knackered after putting in a huge effort to finish a close second in the Lancashire Chase at a bottomless Haydock four weeks earlier.
Now we know he’s back on an even keel, he can better last year’s third in the Manifesto Chase at this meeting.
AINTREE HURDLE
I am willing to forgive CONSTITUTION HILL his tumble in the Champion Hurdle last time.
I think he was a bit unlucky as the hurdle was clattered by a horse in front of him and sprang back up just as he was jumping it.
This 2m4f is his limit stamina-wise but I think he’d have just a bit too much for Lossiemouth if getting round.
She ran a mighty race in the Mares’ Hurdle at the Festival and this trip is ideal.
Throw in her mares’ weight allowance and she’s a formidable foe and the obvious pick if Con Hill goes to Punchestown instead.
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