Aintree Tips: Tom Collins provides his race-by-race guide for day two

Epatante was the main star on show on the first day of the Grand National meeting. But it was Clan Des Obeaux, who drifted out to an astounding 15/2, provided this column with a healthy winner!

SBK tipster Tom Collins provides race-by-race analysis and his selection for Friday's seven Aintree contests.

1.45 Aintree, 2m4f handicap hurdle

Langer Dan was my lay of the week at the Cheltenham festival, but it was a shame that we didn’t get to see how close he would have gone in the Martin Pipe as he got brought down at the second hurdle. He has been aimed at this ever since and will be the favourite once again.

I’m sticking by my guns and taking him on again, albeit Aintree should suit him better than Cheltenham, with preference for the Nicky Henderson-trained Balco Coastal. This six-year-old could easily be a Graded performer in handicap company and is available at a much bigger price than his form warrants due to a below-par run in the Imperial Cup last time out.

The ground went for him that day - he needs good in the going description to be seen at his best - and I’m more than happy to put a line through that effort. His previous victories at Huntingdon and Ludlow were ridiculously impressive, while he wasn’t beaten far when second in Grade 2 company on his penultimate outing. Balco Coastal is my idea of the value play.

Selection: Balco Coastal @ 14/1

2.20 Aintree, 2m½f novices’ hurdle

Nicky Henderson has won this race four times since 2012 and looks to hold the key once again with County Hurdle runner-up First Street and Supreme second Jonbon, who is undoubtedly the horse to beat.

The son of Walk In The Park has won four of his five career starts and was perhaps ridden too aggressively when he challenged enthusiastic front-runner Dysart Dynamo from the outset at the Cheltenham festival last month. Nevertheless, he ran a good second to an extremely exciting sort in Constitution Hill.

Jonbon will embark on his chasing career next season and can exit this sphere with a victory next to his name as he should outclass this group.

Selection: Jonbon @ 6/5

2.55 Aintree, 3m1f Mildmay Novices’ Chase

Yesterday’s rain will help the cause of L’Homme Presse, who has been almost faultless in five starts this year and rates the most likely winner in a small but select field.

Bravemansgame, who bypassed Cheltenham at the eleventh hour, should be better suited to this track but was absolutely stuffed by Ahoy Senor at this meeting last year and isn’t guaranteed to reverse the form. I can’t have him at the likely odds.

Instead, I much prefer the price available on Ahoy Senor, who’s not the best jumper by any means but he has a huge engine and is well suited to this flat track.

Selection: Ahoy Senor @ 6/1

3.30 Aintree, 2m4f Melling Chase

Since the inaugural running of this race in 1991, only two winners have skipped Cheltenham prior to running here. If you start the statistical search from 1999, every single Melling Chase hero had run at the festival a month prior. Those trends are of extra interest given all bar two runners in this year’s line-up bypassed Cheltenham.

The two anomalies are Editeur Du Gite, who has plenty to find on official figures but is a course winner here, and my selection, Funambule Sivola. Venetia Williams has campaigned her horses brilliantly this season and this improving chaser produced a new career-best when he chased home the highly talented Energumene in the Champion Chase last month.

He didn’t finish that race like a tired horse and is expected to continue his improvement back at Aintree. This course suits him well, as proven by his runner-up finish behind Shishkin at this meeting last year, and he is one of my best plays of the day.

Selection: Funambule Sivola @ 8/1

4.05 Aintree, 2m5f Topham Handicap Chase

Jumping is extremely important in the Topham, but so is a naturally high cruising speed and latent ability. If you get out of your ground early over this trip on the Grand National course, it is almost impossible to regain position before going on to win.

Willie Mullins has won the last two editions with Cadmium (2019) and Livelovelaugh (2021), and is represented by topweight Royal Rendezvous in this year’s contest. An eight-time winner from 15 career starts, this lightly raced ten-year-old seems to be flying under the radar despite competing in Graded company on his last two starts.

He wasn’t beaten all that far by Melling Chase favourite Fakir D’Oudairies last time out and won his three previous outings, including the 2021 Galway Plate off a mark of 153. He’s carrying a lot of weight but can show up well at a double-figure price.

Selection: Royal Rendezvous @ 15/1

4.40 Aintree, 3m½f Sefton Novices’ Hurdle

This isn’t the best edition of the Sefton and it won’t take a proper Grade 1 horse to win. The unbeaten Skytastic and improving Crystal Glory are respected at fair prices, but preference is for Martin Pipe winner Banbridge.

Stepping up to an extended three miles is an unknown, but that’s more than factored into his price. The way he hit the line at Cheltenham last month suggested that he will stay further than two and a half miles and you need some speed to win this race - it rarely goes to a plodder - so he could have the perfect 

Banbridge is 5lb clear of his rivals on official ratings and, after five wins from eight starts, he remains open to plenty more improvement for trainer Joseph O’Brien.

Selection: Banbridge @ 7/2

5.15 Aintree, 2m½f handicap hurdle

This has been my unluckiest race for punting in the calendar year since 2018 when I backed Scheu Time, who fell when leading. In 2019 I punted Thistimenextyear, who got beaten in a close finish by Chief Justice, while I sided with Copperless, who surely would have bolted up had he not fallen two-out, last year. 

I can only apologise to connections of Whizz Kid, who will be carrying my money this time around! Richard Newland is one of the best in the game at getting a horse well handicapped ahead of a big spring target and that appears the exact ploy for this six-year-old. 

Smart on the Flat in Germany before going hurdling for new connections, Whizz Kid made his debut in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle, which shows the regard he’s held in, before bolting up in a couple of novice events at Catterick and Ludlow. His 125 rating surely underestimates his ability. Can I have some luck this time, please?

Selection: Whizz Kid @ 13/2

Recommended bets:

Balco Coastal @ 14/1
Jonbon @ 6/5
Ahoy Senor @ 6/1
Funambule Sivola @ 8/1
Royal Rendezvous @ 15/1
Banbridge @ 7/2
Whizz Kid @ 13/2