Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree – Friday best bets

Not a bad day for Triple G on Thursday. Pied Piper dead-heated then got thrown out but I was on first passed the post, Clan Des Obeaux won and though I had taken the 4’s I can’t moan and finally Zanahiyr unfortunately fell at the last – would have been interesting to see how that would have gone with Epatante if he stood up.  

Best bets for the horse racing at Aintree Friday 8th April

The 2.55 Grade One Betway Mildmay Novices' Chase over 3m1f has caused me a real headache with perhaps my two favourite Novices due to face off in the shape of Bravemansgame and L’Homme Presse. They both cost me money at Cheltenham as I was all over Bravemansgame at 4-1 ante-post for the Brown Advisory Novice Chase only for Mother Nature to intervene and let it piss down all Wednesday meaning he was a non-runner on the day. I backed L’Homme Presse each-way ante-post for the Turners Novices' Chase and he ended up running in, and winning, the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase that Bravemansgame missed! I have a theory that L’Homme Presse winning the Brown Advisory as he did simply confirms what a good thing Bravemansgame would have been had the heavens not opened-up. The going on the Mildmay course is good to soft overnight with a dry day forecast up on Merseyside Friday so everything looks set for a big run for the Paul Nicholls trained seven-year-old who arrives fresher than his rival having missed Cheltenham. I took the 5-4 on Thursday morning.  

Best bets for the horse racing at Kempton Park Friday 8th April

Away from the big meeting I quite fancy one on the Polytrack at Kempton. I mentioned Timeless Melody on her debut up at Newcastle over a mile where she ran a good race to be fourth behind two of her stablemates, After The Rain and Colourful Dream who have both won since, and the winner Hezmie who sprung a surprise at 50-1. She steps up to 1m3f for the Unibet Supporting Safe Gambling Maiden Fillies' Stakes due off at 5.25 which is perhaps a surprise as those closet in her pedigree were all milers but she does have Galileo and Dubai Millennium a generation or two back so hopefully will see out the trip. Bet365 are the only ones to have priced-up as I write at 13-8 but I am hoping I may find a little bigger later; won't get on with them anyway! 

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