The trainer’s championship is hotting up as we move into spring and, on the second day of the Aintree Grand National Meeting, Willie Mullins, Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton go head-to-head once again.
Four Grade 1 races and two Premier Handicaps make up a fantastic afternoon of action live on ITV. Here we look at some of the major races on Friday’s ITV card and offer our advice in a bid to find some winners at the Aintree jamboree.
1.45 Aintree – Mildmay Novices’ Chase
The Grade 1 action kicks off with this novice chase over 3m1f and the most exciting runner in the line-up is Iroko, who is open to loads more improvement now he goes up in distance. The six-year-old was third in the Grade 1 novice hurdle at this meeting last year over 3m1/2f and has looked an improved performer again this season since being switched to chasing.
Iroko never came off the bridle when making a successful chasing debut at Warwick in November and ran remarkably well on just his second chase start after a long absence when fifth in the Grade 1 Turners’ Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham. He should improve significantly. The soft ground will pose no problem for Iroko and he can build on that promising return.
2.55 Aintree – Top Novices’ Hurdle
The second, third and fifth from last month’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham are back in opposition in this Grade 1 and Mystical Power, who was second, can go one better. The daughter of top-class hurdler Annie Power has improved with racing this season and went through the run at Cheltenham like a class act, only to be chased down in the closing stages by winner Slade Steel. The front two pulled three and a half lengths clear of the rest.
That is the best form on offer here and Mystical Power promises to be well-suited by this test at Aintree, a course which puts the emphasis on speed rather than stamina. Firefox and Mistergif, who were third and fifth at Cheltenham, might struggle to lay a glove on him again.
3.30 – Melling Chase
Another Grade 1 comes up next and this race provides a good opportunity for Pic D’Orhy to repeat last year’s victory and give Paul Nicholls a much-needed fillip in his trainer’s title bid. Pic D’Orhy has looked even better this season than he did last year. He opened up the campaign with an impressive victory in a Grade 2 at Ascot and went on to run Banbridge to a length and three-quarters next time at Kempton, with the front two coming 17 lengths clear.
That was a career-best effort for Pic D’Orhy, who proved it was no fluke when running away with the Grade 1 Ascot Chase on his next start, leaving L’Homme Presse trailing in behind. Pic D’Orhy has been trained with this race in mind at a track we know he loves and he can make all the running.
Aintree Grand National Meeting 2024 – Day 2 Selections
Iroko (1.50)
Mystical Power (2.50)
Pic D’Orhy (3.30)
By Rob Eddy
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