Thursday’s Aintree Tips: Tom Collins sides with Irish challengers on day one

Constitution Hill is the star on show at Aintree on Thursday and, although we will all be watching with bated breath, he’s certainly not a betting proposition at prohibitive odds. 

Instead, many punters will look to the Grade 1 Aintree Bowl (2.55) for a wager. Gold Cup runner-up Bravemansgame has attracted early support and boasts favouritism at the time of writing, which has pushed Ryanair runner-up Shishkin, who will race without a tongue-tie, to second in the betting. A Plus Tard has a point to prove after pulling up on his last two starts, while Ahoy Senor returns to his favourite track but without his favourite jockey as Brian Hughes takes over in the saddle. 

I won’t be offloading any coins - or notes for that matter! - on this race, but don’t discount Conflated after a fine run at the festival last month, especially as he finished second in this event 12 months ago behind the now-retired Clan Des Obeaux.

The opening Grade 1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase (1.45 Aintree) is a much kinder punting proposition as Banbridge returns to action after trainer Joseph O’Brien decided to bypass his intended engagement at Cheltenham last month due to testing ground.

Ronnie Bartlett’s seven-year-old impressed me in his victories at Gowran Park and Cheltenham earlier this season, and he either didn’t like the soft ground or ran flat when he finished third behind the ill-fated Mighty Potter in the Drinmore just before Christmas. 

He was back on song when last seen at the Dublin Racing Festival, and his 10-length second to El Fabiolo received a big boost at Cheltenham when the winner dotted up in the Arkle. Small fields are Banbridge’s bag, and he will get fresh ground as this is the first race of the meeting. He should be favourite over Stage Star, who was flattered by the result in the Turners and might pay for his exertions.

I’m also interested in the Red Rum Handicap Chase (4.40 Aintree) later on the card. Third Time Lucki was one of the biggest eyecatchers at the Cheltenham festival and must be a player off topweight, but it’s last year’s winner and runner-up who enticed me most.

Evan Williams’ The Last Day came through with a withering run to deny Dancing On My Own 12 months ago and, although they are both leniently treated on their return to Aintree, I will be backing the latter-named chaser to reverse the form.

Dancing On My Own set a fast gallop and performed remarkably well to finish a close-up second - I believe he ran the best race that day but wasn’t ridden as efficiently as his aforementioned foe. Nevertheless, he jumped exceptionally and clearly appreciates the topography of Aintree. 

Henry de Bromhead has aimed him at this event ever since and, given he only performs around left-handed tracks, winning clearly wasn’t the aim on both of his outings around the right-handed Fairyhouse earlier this campaign. 

Dancing On My Own is only 3lb higher than this time last year and he looks a good value bet at the current prices. The Last Day is feared, but he could be regressing at the age of 11 and isn’t sure to get another dream run through.

Thursday’s Aintree Tips

Banbridge (1.45 Aintree) @ 2.86
Dancing On My Own (4.40 Aintree) @ 9.4