Win2WinRSS
29th March 2009, 15:30
Andrew Hughes talks us through the next six days in the world of horseracing, which climaxes with the Grand National on Saturday afternoon at Aintree.
Sunday March 29
Leopardstown
2:30 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden
A potentially informative ten furlong maiden for three year olds with plenty of stamina in their pedigrees. Aidan O'Brien's filly Roman Express looks interesting.
3:00 Leopardstown 2000 Guineas Trial
This seven furlong Group Three has only attracted a smallish field and doesn't have as good a record for producing Guineas winners as the latter trial for fillies. Jim Bolger's Dewhurst winner, Intense Focus, is likely to start a short-priced favourite.
4:05 Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial
Run over the same distance as the earlier trial for colts, this Group Three has an excellent record for producing leading contenders for both the English and Irish Guineas. The Storm Cat filly Heart Shaped is another Ballydoyle inmate likely to start as favourite.
Thursday April 2
Aintree
2:00 Liverpool Hurdle
The Festival curtain raiser over three miles and half a furlong, though stamina will be less of an issue on this flat course than it was for the World Hurdle, the Cheltenham equivalent, last month. Big Buck's will be a warm order to do the double.
2:35 Anniversary 4YO Novices' Hurdle
This Grade One for juveniles is usually a rematch for those who took part in the Triumph Hurdle, though the winner of that race, Zaynar is not entered in this, so Cheltenham runner-up Walkon may go off favourite here.
3:10 totesport Bowl Chase
Run over three miles and a furlong, this Grade Two can be a consolation prize for those who came up short in the Gold Cup and the mighty Denman will attract plenty of support after his brave Cheltenham effort.
4:20 Red Rum Handicap Chase
A big field two mile chase in which they are sure to go a strong gallop as they tackle the fences on the speedy Mildmay Course.
Friday April 3
Aintree
2:00 Top Novices' Hurdle
Run over two miles and half a furlong, expect to see some familiar faces from the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham and plenty of top class form to be perused, though as ever, you have to bear in mind the particular requirements of this flat and galloping track.
2:35 Mildmay Novices' Chase
A Grade Two race, run over three miles and a furlong, it attracts a number of those who competed in the Royal and Sun Alliance last month, with the last horse to do the double being Star de Mohaison in 2006.
3:10 Melling Chase
A top quality Grade One race, run over two and a half miles but which often attracts a mix of distance specialists and speedier two milers. Voy Por Ustedes will be attempting to defend the title he won last year from superhorse Masterminded.
3:45 Topham Chase
A real bruising handicap, run over two miles and five furlongs and likely to feature a large field. As this race is run over the imposing National fences, jumping ability is the key factor to consider.
Saturday April 4
Aintree
1:45 Mersey Novices' Hurdle
Run over two and a half miles, this Grade Two contest is usually fought out by the better staying novices, amongst whom will be plenty who took part in the Ballymore Properties at Cheltenham, though you have to go back to Barton in 1999 to find a horse able to win both races.
2:15 Maghull Novices' Chase
This two mile contest is a complement to the Arkle and has been won by some fine horses in recent times, including Well Chief, Ashleybrook and last year's victor Tidal Bay.
2:50 Aintree Hurdle
Run over two and a half miles, this is a valuable Grade One contest, but the extra distance of half a mile can make it difficult for Champion Hurdle horses to prosper. The redoubtable Al Eile has won three of the last four runnings of this race.
4:15 Grand National
The most valuable National Hunt race in the world and the one race that everyone is guaranteed to have heard of. There are plenty of excellent National previews on the Betting@Befair site offering all kinds of advice for finding the winner in the big one. It is the one trophy missing from the Paul Nicholl's cabinet but he has a wonderful chance to finally win this with the antepost favourite, My Will, currently available at [11.0]
More... (http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/general/horseracing-betting-briefing-29th-march-4th-april-count-290309.html)
Sunday March 29
Leopardstown
2:30 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden
A potentially informative ten furlong maiden for three year olds with plenty of stamina in their pedigrees. Aidan O'Brien's filly Roman Express looks interesting.
3:00 Leopardstown 2000 Guineas Trial
This seven furlong Group Three has only attracted a smallish field and doesn't have as good a record for producing Guineas winners as the latter trial for fillies. Jim Bolger's Dewhurst winner, Intense Focus, is likely to start a short-priced favourite.
4:05 Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial
Run over the same distance as the earlier trial for colts, this Group Three has an excellent record for producing leading contenders for both the English and Irish Guineas. The Storm Cat filly Heart Shaped is another Ballydoyle inmate likely to start as favourite.
Thursday April 2
Aintree
2:00 Liverpool Hurdle
The Festival curtain raiser over three miles and half a furlong, though stamina will be less of an issue on this flat course than it was for the World Hurdle, the Cheltenham equivalent, last month. Big Buck's will be a warm order to do the double.
2:35 Anniversary 4YO Novices' Hurdle
This Grade One for juveniles is usually a rematch for those who took part in the Triumph Hurdle, though the winner of that race, Zaynar is not entered in this, so Cheltenham runner-up Walkon may go off favourite here.
3:10 totesport Bowl Chase
Run over three miles and a furlong, this Grade Two can be a consolation prize for those who came up short in the Gold Cup and the mighty Denman will attract plenty of support after his brave Cheltenham effort.
4:20 Red Rum Handicap Chase
A big field two mile chase in which they are sure to go a strong gallop as they tackle the fences on the speedy Mildmay Course.
Friday April 3
Aintree
2:00 Top Novices' Hurdle
Run over two miles and half a furlong, expect to see some familiar faces from the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham and plenty of top class form to be perused, though as ever, you have to bear in mind the particular requirements of this flat and galloping track.
2:35 Mildmay Novices' Chase
A Grade Two race, run over three miles and a furlong, it attracts a number of those who competed in the Royal and Sun Alliance last month, with the last horse to do the double being Star de Mohaison in 2006.
3:10 Melling Chase
A top quality Grade One race, run over two and a half miles but which often attracts a mix of distance specialists and speedier two milers. Voy Por Ustedes will be attempting to defend the title he won last year from superhorse Masterminded.
3:45 Topham Chase
A real bruising handicap, run over two miles and five furlongs and likely to feature a large field. As this race is run over the imposing National fences, jumping ability is the key factor to consider.
Saturday April 4
Aintree
1:45 Mersey Novices' Hurdle
Run over two and a half miles, this Grade Two contest is usually fought out by the better staying novices, amongst whom will be plenty who took part in the Ballymore Properties at Cheltenham, though you have to go back to Barton in 1999 to find a horse able to win both races.
2:15 Maghull Novices' Chase
This two mile contest is a complement to the Arkle and has been won by some fine horses in recent times, including Well Chief, Ashleybrook and last year's victor Tidal Bay.
2:50 Aintree Hurdle
Run over two and a half miles, this is a valuable Grade One contest, but the extra distance of half a mile can make it difficult for Champion Hurdle horses to prosper. The redoubtable Al Eile has won three of the last four runnings of this race.
4:15 Grand National
The most valuable National Hunt race in the world and the one race that everyone is guaranteed to have heard of. There are plenty of excellent National previews on the Betting@Befair site offering all kinds of advice for finding the winner in the big one. It is the one trophy missing from the Paul Nicholl's cabinet but he has a wonderful chance to finally win this with the antepost favourite, My Will, currently available at [11.0]
More... (http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/general/horseracing-betting-briefing-29th-march-4th-april-count-290309.html)