Grand Sefton Day — Copybet
Saturday provides the first action over Aintree’s Grand National Fences this season, a seven-race card coming from the Merseyside track, including the 17-runner Grand Sefton Chase, which is run over 2m5f.
There’s some competitive action throughout the afternoon and we’ve provided you with our best three tips on the card, the NAP coming in the 2m handicap chase at 14:05.
Dunstall Rambler – Aintree
The handicapper has hit DUNSTALL RAMBLER with a 12lb rise following last month’s Worcester win, but he was very impressive that day and may well prove up to the task on a track which ought to suit.
The seven-year-old enjoyed a good first season over fences last term, winning handicaps at Wincanton off 90 and Ludlow of 95, but he improved greatly on the level of that form on his reappearance, cruising into contention under Jonathan Burke and quickly asserting from the last to ultimately come home 18 lengths clear.
He earned a Racing Post Rating of 125 for that, surpassing his previous best by 18lb. If that figure is anywhere near the mark, he’ll be very hard to beat off his new official rating of 112.
Don’t Mind If I Do – Aintree
Alan King has been hitting the target with regularity of late, particularly with his jumpers, and he looks set for another winner courtesy of the lightly raced DON’T MIND IF I DO in this 2m1f handicap hurdle.
The five-year-old has had only four runs in his career to date, but he’s created a good impression, both in bumpers and over hurdles, including when shaping with huge encouragement behind subsequent Grade 1 hurdle runner-up Regent’s Stroll at Newbury on his debut.
Just denied by smart bumper performer Castle Ivers when switched to hurdles at Warwick subsequently, he took advantage of a golden opportunity at Wincanton and ran a solid race on ground more testing than ideal back at the same track in January.
He’ll have much more suitable underfoot conditions on Saturday and could prove leniently treated on his handicap debut off 120, having already run to Racing Post Ratings of 119 and 120 in this sphere.
Jet Plane – Aintree
Dan Skelton’s JET PLANE wasn’t at his best on his return at Worcester last month, but last season’s Foxhunter runner-up shaped well enough to suggest he’s a player on his return to Aintree.
The nine-year-old went with real enthusiasm from the front under Jack Andrews over this course and distance in April, keeping on well once headed to be beaten a length by Gracchus De Balme, who subsequently ran away with the Foxhunters Champion Hunters’ Chase at Stratford the following month.
He was only 7lb below that level on his comeback at Worcester according to Racing Post Ratings and, with fitness now on his side, looks set up perfectly for a career best.