AHOY SENOR has won at the last two Grand National meetings and earns the vote to make it three in a row in the 3m 1f Alder Hey Aintree Bowl Chase (2.55).
Dylan Thomas’s son sprang a 66-1 for Lucinda Russell in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle here two years ago, and doubled up in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase over this course and distance in 2022.
This season the eight-year-old suffered hefty defeats when fifth behind Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in October and the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, either side of a third in the Many Clouds Chase here at the start of December.
But Ahoy Senor was back to form with a length-and-a-quarter score in Cheltenham’s Grade 2 Cotswold Chase in January.
And he had yet to be asked a question in the vanguard when falling six out in the Cheltenham Gold Cup – he hampered A Plus Tard , who was pulled up – leaving Bravemansgame to chase home Galopin Des Champs, with Conflated third.
At least my selection, on whom Brian Hughes takes over from the sidelined Derek Fox, was spared a hard race that day and Ahoy Senor can reap the benefit.
Shishkin gave an erratic display of jumping when second to Envoi Allen in Cheltenham’s Ryanair Chase – he repeatedly went left before clouting the third-last – but is brilliant at his best and heads the list of dangers now that he races beyond three miles for the first time.
Tips for day one of Aintree's Grand National meeting
1.45 STAGE STAR (NB)
2.20 ZENTA
2.55 AHOY SENOR
3.30 CONSTITUTION HILL
4.05 LATENIGHTPASS
4.40 DOUGLAS TALKING (NAP)
5.15 SEEYOUINMYDREAMS
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