ASTRE HAS STAR ROLE
Cour chasing a second course win
WITH five favourites shorter than 2-1 on the first day of Aintree’s Grand National meeting, there is plenty of each-way value to be had if you look for it.
The only handicap on the card is the final race on ITV, the Betway Red Rum Chase. My short list of three is made up of ASTRE DE LA COUR (4.40), Parsnip Pete and the top weight, Alisier D’Irlande.
The first two are course winners while Henry De Bromhead’s runner ended a 12-month losing run with a comfortable Grade Three win at Naas in February.
If you include all three in your Placepot perm, you should be all right.
The opener looks booked for TOP NOTCH (1.45) as long as he puts in a clear round.
He would have won the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival but for a poor jump under pressure two from home.
Today’s task is easier and he is unlikely to make any sort of error, let alone one that will cost him the race.
Star Tip must have had each-way value in mind when he tipped Divin Bere in the Doom Bar Anniversary Hurdle.
This is for the very best juveniles and DEFI DE SEUIL (2.20) is the creme de la creme of his age group. Divin Bere is a great each-way bet at 5-1, though, if all eight go to post.
Look no further than ON THE FRINGE (4.05) and Pacha Du Polder in the Foxhunters’ Chase ® over the National fences. The selection finished behind his market rival at Cheltenham but beat him in this race 12 months ago as well as in the 2015 renewal.
DAME ROSE (5.15) did not fare too badly against the boys at Newbury last time. Against her own sex, she should give Petticoat Tails and Martello Park plenty to think about.
The market for Aintree top jockey is headed by Barry Geraghty, who is back on the big stage having missed Cheltenham through injury.
He returned to the saddle at Fairyhouse on Sunday, where he had a winner and a second from just three rides.
As well as first-class chances with Triumph and Champion Hurdle winners Defi Du Seuil and Buveur D’Air, Geraghty has leading rides in the Melling Chase and Liverpool Hurdle over the course of the three-day meeting.
It is hard to make a case for anyone else, as Geraghty rides for top owner J P McManus. It is just a question of whether you want to back him at 4-7. Other Ladbrokes prices: 6 Nico De Boinville, 8 Bryan Cooper, 12 Daryl Jacob, 14 Sam Twiston-Davies, Richard Johnson, Paddy Brennan, 20 Ruby Walsh, 25 Aidan Coleman.