FAKIR D'OUDAIRIES can land a record third straight victory in the Marsh Chase (Registered As The Melling Chase) (GBB Race) (3.30pm) on the second day of the 2023 Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse.
Joseph O'Brien's eight-year-old has won the Grade One feature on Ladies Day at Aintree for the past two seasons. And having again bypassed last month’s Cheltenham Festival, he can be the first horse to bring up the treble. Fakir D’Oudairies was the sixth horse to win the race in successive seasons last year after Viking Flagship (1995-1996), Direct Route (1999-2000), Native Upmanship (2002-2003), Moscow Flyer (2004-2005) and Voy Por Ustedes (2008-2009). But he can do what no-one else has and claim the treble. Last year he came into the race on the back of victory in the Betfair Chase at Ascot, and although he was beaten into third by Shiskin in February of this year, he still remains the most likely winner of the Marsh Chase. He is ideally suited to the 2m4f contest on the Flat Aintree Mildmay course and can triumph ahead of Paul Nicholls' Pic D'Orhy to become one of the very few Aintree treble heroes.
READ MORE: Full list of final 40 runners for the 2023 Grand National
The second race of the meeting over the big Aintree fences is the Randox Supports Race Against Dementia Topham Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (4.05pm) and EQUUS DANCER can triumph.
Welsh trainer Peter Bowen has won the Topham a joint-record five times, including 12 months ago with Mac Tottie so any horse he sends over the Aintree obstacles is worth a second look. And although Equus Dancer will be making his debut over the fences, he can add to Bowen's superb Aintree record. The nine-year-old has four wins from eight chase starts and warmed up for his first crack at the Aintree obstacles with a victory over hurdles at Uttoxeter last month. Off a low weight, he looks like Bowen has had this plan for a while. Equus Dancer can score ahead of a few horses who have already proven their ability over the Grand National fences – Dan Skelton's Becher Chase hero Ashtown Lad, Grand Sefton Chase winner Al Dancer, from the Sam Thomas stable; and the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero-trained Gesskille – who was runner-up in each of those contests in the autumn.
GERRI COLOMBE can go one better than at Cheltenham last time with victory in the Grade One Air Charter Services Mildmay Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (1.45pm). Gordon Elliott's seven-year-old had been unbeaten in three chase starts, including the Grade One Scilly Novices' Chase at Sandown, and headed into the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase as a warm favourite. But he was narrowly denied by The Real Whacker when beaten a short head in the three-mile Grade One contest at Prestbury Park. He can bounce back and resume winning ways in the opener on Ladies Day at Aintree.
READ MORE: Vanillier for victory in the Grand National
Nicky Henderson's NO ORDINARY JOE can go one better than at Cheltenham last time and win the William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (2.20pm).
Stepped back up in trip to 2m4f last time in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at Prestbury Park last month, the seven-year-old ran superbly and was beaten by the fellow JP McManus-owned Iroko. He won earlier in the season over two miles at Kempton and back on this flatter track he can come out on top again. Dan Skelton won this race last year with Langer Dan and his outsider Molly Ollys Wishes; the Donald McCain-trained Jungle Jack; and Irish raider Fenner Cross, from the John O'Connell stable, are others who could go close.
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Henry De Bromhead's INTHEPOCKET can win the Grade One Poundland Top Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.55pm). Under Rachael Blackmore, the six-year-old was fourth to Marine Nationale in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle at last month's Cheltenham Festival. That is fine form and just on that he should have the beating of chiefly Nicky Henderson's Luccia and the Fergal O'Brien-trained Hullnback.
Donald McCain's MAXIMILIAN can win the Grade One Winners Wear Cavani Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (4.40pm). The seven-year-old beat the reopposing Stay Away Fay in the Grade Two Albert Don Novices' Hurdle at Doncaster. That Paul Nicholls-trained rival went on to victory in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham last month. That clearly franked the form from Town Moor and with Maximilian heading to Aintree fresh, he may again be able to come out on top of their latest clash.
Skelton's KNICKERBOCKERGLORY can win the finale, the Abersoch Land And Sea Handicap Hurdle (Conditional Jockeys’ And Amateur Riders’ Race) (GBB Race) (5.15pm). The seven-year-old has been mixing chasing and hurdling with success in both and he can improve on a fine second to Iceo in the Betfair Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle at Sandown last month.
Wright Ones
AINTREE – DAY TWO PREDICTIONS
1.45pm Gerri Colombe
2.20pm No Ordinary Joe
2.55pm Inthepocket
3.30pm Fakir D'Oudairies
4.05pm Equus Dancer (NAP)
4.40pm Maximilian
5.15pm Knickerbockerglory
