Aintree Day 1 7th April 2011

Just going through the card at Aintree and interesting that our course correspondent Martin gives soft side of good (hope your at the track today mate have a great one if you are)


first race is interesting  in that it often goes to an animal that won at the chelt festival before coming here and the fact that no horse older than 7 has won in the last 10 years with preference to 6 and 7 yr olds but no real shocks to see the top 2 are Big bucks(8 yrs old) and Grands Crus (only 7yrs old)
it has been picked up in the past by the irish at big prices but you have to go way back for that
Carlito Brigante could be anything and Elliot likes a springer in the market  it won the coral handicap easily (first time in a handicap is the time to catch Elliot animals) - the youngest in the line up will relish the good ground and this extra distance but could be a sitting duck at the end of the race -
The long shot Won In The Dark actually is well overpriced - it was badly hampered at aintree and actually finished, and ran better, than its 4th place behind Khyber Kim in the grade 1 hdle last year (In rear when blundered 5th, well outpaced and detached 7th, staying on when hampered 2 out, took 4th near finish (tchd 18-1)  its run 18 days ago against Stonemaster when again running on at the death says its a great  betfair place market bet.
result 1st (1) Big Buck's 4-6 Fav

 2nd (3) Grands Crus 3-1

 3rd (11) Won In The Dark 66-1  yippeeeeeee

 11 ran

3.05 - I dont like Denman for this surprise surprise - this track is plenty sharp enough for him and as much as he thrilled at chelt in the gold cup is a dodgy prospect  running within 20 days  but what a race in prospect this is  - age does not seem to be a factor in this race  so whats it to be? I like the chances of the course winner Deep Purple who has its ground and went really well here to be beaten by Tartak 7l over inadequate 2m4f - broken blood vessels tempers the bet but  no signs of that at ascot on soft ground over inadequate 2m4f behind Riverside theatre is 7lbs behind Denman  but a year younger will do for me
 post race Denman made me money but deep purple was just not good enough ran his race but was put in its place the bookies had a feild day with Denman being the last leg of a treble across the country
 good luck lads and lasses
Bob