The unexpected scratching of Bravemansgame from the Grade One Aintree Bowl on Wednesday evening has robbed the race of its likely favourite, but it is a measure of its strength in depth that it is still the undoubted highlight on the opening day of the Grand National meeting.
Shishkin, Britain’s top-rated chaser, has taken over at the head of the market and takes on Conflated, third home in last month’s Gold Cup, as well as two more high-class opponents who did out fare so well in the Cheltenham Festival’s feature event.
Ahoy Senor, who took a Grade One novice over course and distance 12 months ago, is likely to be a major player but his jumping issues resurfaced in the Gold Cup, when he fell at the 17th while still in the lead and going well.
He badly hampered A Plus Tard in the process, and the 2022 Gold Cup winner was pulled up for the second race in a row not long afterwards.
In contrast to his dismal run in the Betfair Chase in November, however, Henry de Bromhead’s chaser was still travelling well at the time and apparently on the way back to something close to his best form.
A Plus Tard (2.55) was a devastating 15-length winner of last season’s Gold Cup and anything near that level would make him an outstanding bet at around 4-1.
Aintree 2.20 Zenta, third home in the Triumph Hurdle at the Festival, sets a clear standard on that form, but had a hard race in the process and Nusret, steered around the Festival after his smooth win in the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton in February, makes more appeal at around 6-1.
Aintree 3.30 This could prove to be Constitution Hill’s final outing over hurdles and it promises to be just as one-sided as his six previous starts. Nicky Henderson’s runner is already one of the highest-rated hurdlers of all time and anything but another victory before his summer holiday is almost unthinkable.
Aintree 4.05 A maximum field for the Foxhunters’, in which Paul Nicholls’s Magic Saint catches the eye at around 12-1 with his daughter, Olive, taking the reins. He was a comfortable 13-length winner at Wincanton in early March and has clearly been laid out for this.
Aintree 1.45 Banbridge 2.20 Nusret 2.55 A Plus Tard (nb) 3.30 Constitution Hill 4.05 Magic Saint 4.40 Grey Diamond (nap) 5.15 Notkeepinyagoing
Taunton 2.00 Bob And Co 2.35 Aurigny Mill 3.10 Picks Lad 3.45 O’Faolains Lad 4.20 Jet Of Magic 4.55 Phoenix Risen 5.25 Geezer Rockstar
Newcastle 2.10 Amourie 2.45 Joyful Act 3.20 Fade To Gray 3.55 Streak Lightning 4.30 Calypso 5.05 Bella Kopella 5.40 Blazing Son
Chelmsford 5.00 They Don’t Know 5.30 Wynter Wildes 6.00 Rhythm N Hooves 6.30 Rock Chant 7.00 Vape 7.30 Thomas Equinas 8.00 Cappananty Con 8.30 Smooth Ryder
Aintree 4.40 A fall two out when looking booked for second at least is the only real blot on Grey Diamond’s record this year and he is a fair price at around 7-1 to add to an impressive success at Haydock last time.
