Lostintranslation shone on the second day of the Grand National Festival at Aintree and you can recap the action right here.
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1704: BROKEN
Nicky Henderson confirms that Barry Geraghty has fractured his leg and will face an extended spell on the sidelines.
1655: CHAMP BY NAME
Second to City Island in the Ballymore, Champ goes one better with a resounding success under Mark Walsh. Walsh steps in Barry Geraghty who suffered an injury in a bad fall during the Topham. Rumours on the track that it could be a serious leg injury.
Warren Greatrex's Emitom put up a brave fight in second and it was remarkable how Gavin Sheehan stalked Walsh through every step of the way. A mistake at the last didn't help but he wasn't quite good enough on the day anyway.
Here's hoping he continues to improve as he looks a serious staying hurdler for next season.
1645: SUPREME RUN
The Supreme Racing Club are enjoying a tremendous time of things and Cadmium could hardly have been more impressive in the Topham.
Willie Mullins, reflecting on the win, said: "That was impressive - impressive from horse and rider.
"The horse was in great form. Paul said he ran away with him on the way to the start and he just let him on in front and he enjoyed his jumping. It was really, really impressive.
"I thought Paul was just letting the horse do what he wanted to do. He wasn't forcing the pace. I was just worried whether he'd stay, but he did."
RESULT: 4.40 Aintree – Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle
1st Champ (9/4 fav)
2nd Emitom
3rd Lisnagar Oscar
1615: CAD FOR IT
Another late Irish plunge and another wide-margin winner for Willie Mullins. Cadmium was 20/1 this morning and returns the 8/1 winner under Paul Townend, who grabbed the bull by the horns early and never looked back.
Sub Lieutenant has rolled back the years and run a massive race for an Irish one-two while sadly the race was marred by Forest Des Aigles going wrong late on.
RESULT: 4.05 Aintree – Randox Health Topham Chase
1st Cadmium (8/1)
2nd Sub Lieutenant
3rd Doitforthevillage
4th Janika
5th Woods Well
6th Flying Angel
1550: TWISTON-SHOUT
As the winner of the fashion competition celebrates winning a vehicle of some sort here at Aintree, I'm pondering a Topham tricast.
The two Twiston-Davies horses are going in - I've covered them already below - while there's a few positive whispers for Bigmatre in the press room today so he's worth including along with Value Bet tip Highland Lodge. The latter really is a massive price when you consider his course record.
Topham combination tricast:
13. Ballyhill
14. Bigmatre
15. Flying Angel
25. Highland Lodge
Best of British, folks.
1545: FEEL THE RATH...
It's been a good week for Walsh and Mullins and you do have to wonder whether a lot of their horses are really only peaking in this part of the season. Plenty of them had truncated winter campaigns and there's a few horses now that didn't quite shine at Cheltenham seemingly showing the benefit of a run there.
Looking ahead to tomorrow, the dream team have Rathvinden in the National and he's surely going to continue to shorten ahead of the off time at 5.15.
1536: STILL WAITING
Shame for Waiting Patiently but he looks to have just lost the edge he had at times last season. He never got into a rhythm here, as was the case at Ascot last time, and could only plug on for third. Maybe a step up to three miles will help him as he's clearly not got the gears any more to live with a horse like Min.
1535: BY A MINUTE!
That's more like it. Placings reversed from last year and not half!
Min destroys his rivals from the front in a fashion not dissimilar to Kemboy's win yesterday in the Bowl.
Clearly back to his best after a below-par showing at Cheltenham, Willie Mullins' horse wins by a widening 20 lengths.
RESULT: 3.25 Aintree – JLT Melling Chase
1st Min (2/1)
2nd Politologue
1520: IN A MIN
Well today's selections aren't going particularly well - but there's plenty of time yet and maybe Min can turn the tide under Ruby Walsh in the JLT Chase next up at 3.25. Waiting Patiently is easy enough to back at 2/1 now and personally I'm not sure about him after that Ascot run last time.
I must stress, I'm a Min man here.
1515: TEARFUL TIZZARD?
Couldn't quite work out whether it was the bitterly cold winds howling around the parade ring, the pre-race wine or just the emotion of another Grade One winner, but Colin Tizzard appeared to be close to the edge in his interviews after Lostintranslation's win there.
In fairness I think he got a lot of stick for not running this horse over three miles at Cheltenham but it sounds a lot like it was the owners' and jockey's decision to aim at the JLT there.
Well he's got his way today and the horse has delivered in spades.
Rated 157 coming into this, I was thinking Ladbrokes Trophy but I suppose he'll be 162-plus now and perhaps the National Hunt Triple Crown might be considered.
1510: PIC: LOST IS FOUND
I'm no Alan Crowhurst, but this is pretty good by my standards.
1505: LOSTINTRANSLATION STEPS UP
Brilliant from Lostintranslation who steps up in trip and tanks through the Mildmay to win with ease.
Top Ville Ben ran a cracker from the front but Lostintranslation was travelling all over him two out and was nudged out for an emphatic success.
Topofthegame was never happy, perhaps he was feeling the effects of the RSA Chase, perhaps Aintree is not his track, but his class and heart helped him stay on for a well-beaten second.
The winner, though, was in a different parish. I wonder if the Colin-Tizzard-steps-one-up-in-trip-at-Aintree is an angle to pursue? I'm thinking Thistlecrack. I'm sure there were others. Maybe one to research next week.
RESULT: 2.50 Aintree – Betway Mildmay Novices’ Chase
1st LOSTINTRANSLATION (3/1)
2nd Topofthegame
3rd Top Ville Ben
1445: LEVELS YOU DEVILS
Not a bad start to the day for the bookmakers and you can now get a spot of evens about RSA Chase winner Topofthegame doubling up in the Mildmay. He's got a lot going for him but with the Irish two from two today then people are clearly keen on backing Chris's Dream.
I was quite impressed with him last time when winning the Ten Up and he's going to put up a bold fight in conditions he clearly likes after 47 days off.
Here is your fav...
1440: GALWAY PEARL
Elliott has been reflecting on Three Musketeers' win in the opening handicap hurdle and it sounds like the horse will be kept on the go with a view to going back over fences in the summer.
Elliott said: "He has been working well at home. I'd say the change of scenery worked. He could be a horse for the Galway Plate, as he stays and jumps well.
"The Galway Plate is back over fences and that is what I have in my head."
1430: BANG-BANG
Elliott and Kennedy at the double as Felix Desjy makes all to win the Top Novices' Hurdle. Aramon was closing at the death but Felix just kept finding. Disappointing show from the Brits with Rouge Vif best of the bunch back in a well-held third. Precious Cargo and Itchy Feet just never able to get into the race at all.
RESULT: 2.20 Aintree – Betway Top Novices’ Hurdle
1st Felix Desjy (7/2)
2nd Aramon
1414: WINNING TOP
Joint-favourites now (7/2) for the Top Novices' Hurdle with Aramon and Precious Cargo sharing the job at the top of the market. Unsurprisingly there's money for Felix Desjy and he's into 9/2 for the Elliott and Kennedy axis who landed the first race. Supreme third Itchy Feet splits that lot at 4/1 so it's a tight little heat.
Precious Cargo for me, providing Nico de Boinville can get him to settle.
1410: SHOW ME THE MONEY!
Time for another Grand National memory and this time it's over to Warren Greatrex, who has two, one of which is financially motivated, like so many punters out there I'm sure...
1405: ELLIOTT's XI
Gordon Elliott is a genius, we knew that already, but does he elevate himself to new heights if Tiger Roll wins back-to-back Grand Nationals? The trainer has a fair crack of winning it again, to be fair, with 11 going to post for the big one tomorrow.
Aside from the Tiger, Jury Duty and Dounikos are right up there on plenty of shrewd punters' shortlists.
Here's Lydia Hislop's pinsticker's guide to the National. It is quite something.
1355: GO ON GORDON
Welcome to the party, Gordon Elliott.
The late, late money is landed with Three Musketeers, who halved in price just before the off, running out a gutsy winner from outsider Point Of Principle.
This is Three Musketeers' first run for Elliott having joined from Dan Skelton's yard and the nine-year-old has taken full advantage of his lowest ever handicap mark.
RESULT: 1.45 Aintree – Merseyrail Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
1st Three Musketeers (8/1)
2nd Point Of Principle
3rd Canardier
4th Sternrubin
5th Knight In Dubai
1340: QUIZ TIME
Five minutes to go before the first so surely enough time to tackle our Grand National quiz...
1335: HAPPY HENDERSON?
I'm expecting Nicky Henderson to be a happier chappy today following Buveur D'Air's day on defeat and I've been waiting for the money to come for his Kobrouk in the opening race. Well, as soon as the first horse entered the paddock then Kobrouk went from 20/1 to 14/1 and it does look significant given the trainer's fine record in the race.
Kobrouk has yet to race in Britain and hasn't been out for 700 days but he's got loads of experience over hurdles and fences in France and Theinval won this race for the Seven Barrows team after joining from France. Theinval had won a couple of times in Britain prior to coming to Aintree but he had a similar rating to Kobrouk and I'm interested to see how he gets on.
1330: ELIMINATION GAME
1300: SPOTTED
I briefly spotted the National trophy, but they don't hang about for long, the beefeaters.
1230: PAULING POWER
Brief pause for lunch with a little over an hour before the first race. The weather Gods have changed their tune, thankfully, and there's seemingly no more rain forecast for the rest of the meeting.
But the way they were finishing yesterday you'd have to imagine we're going to be looking at a soft ground Grand National.
Ben Pauling doesn't have a Grand National runner but he has a couple of live chances on the National card tomorrow, including Kildisart, and we've got the latest from his yard. Nestor Park and Nadaitak also feature in the Pauling team for Aintree.
1215: MEMORY LANE
Ed Chamberlin recalls the race that got him hooked on racing...
1202: LARGE ON VALUE?
Ben Linfoot's Value Bet column, undoubtedly one of the best free racing tipping services in the country, is out and you may have noticed I've 'borrowed' one of his bets... Esprit Du Large really does fit the bill on a lot of fronts in the opening handicap hurdle today and Ben expresses the point nicely in today's preview.
Another element I like about the horse is that this particular race has been won by some proper future Grand National horses (the likes of Aurora's Encore and Sunnyhillboy) in recent years and you'd have to imagine the Rucker-owned, Williams-trained Esprit Du Large could well be back here in a few years' time for the big one itself. Let's hope all goes well today, for a start.
1155: MAGIC MOVERS
The Sky Bet market movers have landed in the inbox and to say that Call It Magic is a positive would be a serious understatement.
He's been SMASHED into 9/2 favourite having opened up at 11/1. The Irish don't have a great record in the Topham - just two Irish-trained winners since 1979 to be precise - but this one is obviously fancied from upon high...
Aintree:
1.45 - Tedham 7/2 from 9/1
2.20 – Aramon 7/2 from 9/2
3.25 – Waiting Patiently 15/8 from 5/2
4.05 – Call It Magic 9/2 from 11/1
5.15 – Mcfabulous 9/4 from 3/1
Click on the image below for Sky Bet's live odds, extra place offers and Price Boosts...
1145: AUDIO - NATIONAL PACKAGE
You can always rely on Mike Vince when it comes to the essential interviews ahead of a big race and he's delivered once more with a fine package to try and help you unlock the 2019 Grand National puzzle.
Click on the image below for the latest interviews with the likes of Sue Smith, Daryl Jacob, Paul Nicholls and Lucinda Russell.
1130: BLOG SELECTIONS
You may have noticed I've added a section towards the top of the page entitled 'Matt Brocklebank's Friday tips'. I know this neck-on-the-block approach is frowned upon in certain quarters but if you can't feel bullish at Aintree the day before the National then you're in the wrong game.
And I fancy going through the card today. Let me explain a couple of the picks I've yet to touch upon.
Firstly, you'll notice a couple of Henderson novices and neither one of them is Champ. In fact, I've opposed Champ with stablemate Downtown Getaway in the Sefton Novices' Hurdle.
Henderson was speaking about his novices in glowing terms ahead of the Cheltenham Festival and they came up short there, apart from Pentland Hills in the Triumph who isn't really a novice anyway but I'm splitting hairs.
Anyway, Henderson does incredibly well at Aintree historically, winning the Top Novices' Hurdle (2.20) five times sine the turn of the millennium, and the Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle (4.40) three times including last year's with Santini.
Downtown Getaway and Precious Cargo both skipped Cheltenham but they're major improvers and definitely potential stars for the Henderson team further down the line. Precious Cargo would be one of the best bets of the day for me.
Here he is winning in grand style at Kempton on January 28...
1120: TOP OF THE TOPHAM?
Irish maestro Donn is also sweet on Call It Magic in the Topham and you can certainly see the gamble on this horse really gathering pace before the off. He's trained by Ross O'Sullivan and had a great sighter of the course in the Becher here in December.
He probably got lit up a bit soon that day and eventually his stamina petered out but this trip, as well as all yesterday's rain, looks absolutely ideal.
Call It Magic is officially 1lb out of the weights, though, and at a slightly bigger price I prefer Ballyhill. He bolted up over the Mildmay course at Aintree earlier in the season has been third in all three runs since then, twice in red hot handicaps at Cheltenham and then in the Grade One Denman Chase which was rerouted to Ascot.
So he's a major class dropper here and the assessor has given him a little respite too, meaning he's only 8lb higher than when so impressive here on soft ground back in December (2m4f).
Given Nigel Twiston-Davies' fine record in these races over the National fences, I'm happy to save on his stablemate, Flying Angel, who was a Grade One winning novice here in his youth and looks back on a workable mark based on recent evidence.
Here's a reminder of that taking Ballyhill win at the start of the season...
1102: TOP OF THE CLASS
The Betway Mildmay Novices' Chase looks a hot little event and it was clearly hot enough for Warren Greatrex to sidestep with La Bague Au Roi, who took in the Manifesto yesterday instead.
Topofthegame really came of age with a fantastic performance in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham and he's without question the one to beat with further improvement in the office. He was having just his third start of the season and was breaking his duck over fences at the Festival, don't forget.
Some key trends for the Milday (courtesy of the excellent Weatherbys Betting Guide written by Paul Ferguson):
- 11 of the past 13 winners had run at the Cheltenham Festival (6 of them contested the RSA)
- 5 of the past 7 winners contested the Kauto Star Novices' Chase
- Paul Nicholls has won the race on four occasions
- 15 of the past 22 winners were aged 6 or 7
Topofthegame, already joint-favourite for next year's Gold Cup, ticks all the right boxes but is a very short price here.
Unless Lostintranslation improved about 10lb for the move up to three, which isn't beyond the realms of possibility admittedly, perhaps big Irish hope Chris's Dream will give him most to think about. He's all about stamina and should relish the conditions today.
It would appear Donn McClean is going one step further and backing him to beat the odds-on jolly, and you can read his thoughts right here...
1050: BELL STRIKES
Good day for Oli Bell yesterday with Moon Over Germany scoring at a nice price and we've got his selections for today in the article below.
Just click on that grinning face for a road to more potential profit.
1040: JOCKEY'S PERSPECTIVE
And this is Daryl Jacob. He's out on the track talking all things Grand National alongside Sky Bet's Michael Shinners. Jacob, who won it on Neptune Collognes, rides Valtor in the big one tomorrow.
1038: TOPHAM TEASER
In the words of Keala Settle in The Greatest Showman, this is me... And I've backed Ballyhill in the Topham Handicap Chase today. I know that sounds a bit too self-help for comfort, but that wasn't my intention.
1025: LADIES' DAY
It's Ladies' Day at Aintree and thank goodness the sun has just come out as I type this very line. I was going to warn the good people of Liverpool to wrap up warm, but there's not a huge chance of that is there...
Here's Katie Walsh speaking on ITV Racing earlier regarding the female jockey situation and surprise, surprise, it's a Walsh talking bluntly and talking a hell of a lot of sense.
1000: LIVING THE DREAM
Let's talk Emitom. You may have heard the name, you may not. Given his upward trajectory in the novice hurdle division this season, admittedly out of the spotlight rather, it's a name you're hopefully going to hear a lot of in the future.
He missed Cheltenham due to the equine flu outbreak meaning his intended prep run had to be abandoned but trainer Warren Greatrex is hoping that may be a blessing in disguise.
He's a good story Emitom, potentially a very good story. Mainly because he's the first ever horse owned by The Spero Partnership (Vicky Reeve and husband Adrian), and today's he's tested for the first time in Grade One company.
Here's Greatrex with the five-year-old Emitom at his yard just a few days ago...
Reeve, who can hardly believe her luck after the couple acquired Emitom for just £30,000, said: "We’re enjoying the ride and didn’t think for one minute this is where we would be.
"In the grand scheme of things we didn’t spend a huge amount on this horse. We didn’t come from a horse racing background at all. It’s me who introduced my husband, Adrian, really and persuaded him to get one.
"My mum's partner had a racehorse with Evan Williams in a syndicate so I used to follow it a bit at the weekends.
"Adrian is quite good friends with Max McNeill who owns a few horses and he was keen to get him into it. We were just walking the dog and bumped into Max, who was with his racing manager Iain Turner, and we just agreed to doing it.
"Ian was the one that said Warren would be the ideal man for us – Warren and his wife Tess are great fun and she sourced Emitom. We named him after our children, Emily and Thomas. We wanted Tomily initially but that had already been taken!
"It looks like we’ve hit the jackpot with him. We were going to go half-and-half with Max but he said to do it yourself and we’re very lucky.
"Andrew Tinkler rode him in his bumper this time last year at Warwick and Harry Teal was on at Ascot earlier this season but Gavin Sheehan has been our man since the horse has gone hurdling. He’s been great and we’ve had the chance to get Richard Johnson but I was keen to keep Gavin.
"It’ll be really surreal rubbing shoulders with JP McManus and people at Aintree. We’ve never been to Aintree before so it’ll be a fantastic experience. I like to keep a lid on it as he’s only as good as his last race but Adrian is happy to dream about what the future may hold. "
0955: STAGE IS SET
This is a nice shot. I'd have gone and got it myself but not totally convinced I have the clearance for such a venture.
0945: OUT IN FORCE
Four boxes for just four runners apiece may seem a lot for Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins but I suppose they must travel in relative luxury.
Mullins is having a fine old time of things after Kemboy's day one winner but Gordon Elliott will be keen to make his mark at some stage before Tiger Roll's National bid tomorrow.
Elliott has Sky Bet Supreme fifth Felix Desjy, Woods Well, Dallas Des Pictons and a newcomer to the yard, Three Musketeers, running for him today. Dallas has to be of interest back up in trip in the Sefton after his Martin Pipe second at Cheltenham.
Ever since Michael O'Leary said he definitely wasn't a Grade One horse I've been itching to see him in a Grade One, and here he is in a Grade One. He's a Grade One horse, isn't he Michael?
With the ground turning soft, which potentially looks against Supreme sixth Aramon in the Top Novices' Hurdle, I suspect Min might be Willie's best chance of a winner today.
He's a funny horse as he doesn't get a huge amount of credit, particularly on these shores, but he's capable of a good deal better than what he produced in the Queen Mother Champion Chase last month.
He was good earlier in the season and I can definitely see him bouncing back to the form which saw him just chinned by Politologue here last season. I also recall Mullins saying the ground may not have been testing enough at Cheltenham last time (officially soft!) - so he's seemingly got that in his favour (again) today. There's money around for Min having eased out to 100/30 last night and, it almost goes without saying, you do like to see money around for Mullins and Walsh if you're having a go.
I think I'll be having a go.
0935: AUDIO GOLD
The sub-header may be pushing it, but if you've got seven minutes and thirty-seven seconds spare this morning then you can hear Mike Vince, Michael Shinners and myself spin through today's card and you'll hear that I'm backing BOTH Twiston-Davies horses in the Top.
It's not cheating to back two, I've just checked with Dave Nevison and Will Hayler (believe me, they should know).
Click on the image below to feast your eyes on this glorious soundbite live from a bustling media centre in Aintree. Cheers!
0925: BITS AND PIECES
Just the one headgear switch on today's Aintree racecard but it looks a pretty significant one with Ruth Jefferson reaching for the cheekpieces with Waiting Patiently.
This horse is classy, really classy, but he's had a bit of a truncated career to say the least and for me has some unfinished business in Grade One company.
Everything looks right for him as he should be fresh as paint, likes a flat track and will absolutely handle the prevailing ground.
Having said that, conditions were half offered up as an excuse for his Ascot Chase defeat at the hands of Cyrname last time we saw him, where he just appeared to hang a little when placed under maximum pressure.
The sheepskin might just help him focus better on this occasion and there's obviously no Cyrname to worry about in today's JLT Chase (formerly the Melling, I might just call it the Melling from now on... sorry JLT). However, at such a skinny price I may be tempted to take him on.
0915: ONES TO WATCH
Ed Chamberlin steers the ship as David Ord, Ben Linfoot, Donn McClean and Sky Bet's Michael Shinners guide you through today's racing.
*Recorded on Wednesday so may contain the occasional dated reference
0900: THROUGH THE WRINGER
Morning all and welcome back to Aintree Racecourse where the light drizzle is refusing to budge, sadly.
Yesterday's rain throughout the afternoon and most of the night put a dampener on proceedings on day one but I (Matt Brocklebank, in case you were wondering) am reliably informed that the wet stuff will shortly clear off, and clear off for good... well, the rest of the weekend, at least. This is the north west!
It's officially Soft all over the spot for Randox Health Topham Chase day. I don't think they call it that officially but it'll do for me.
There's a bunch of tasty Grade One action to get stuck into as well, including the RSA Chase winner Topofthegame taking on JLT runner-up Lostintranslation.
Waiting Patiently is favourite to beat last year's Melling Chase (now JLT Chase, not that one, a new one) one-two Politologue and Min, while the Top Novices' Hurdle and Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle also carry top-level status.
Oh, and a beautifully tricky handicap hurdle to kick things off in which Tedham is a significant gamble for Jonjo O'Neill who has won the race a couple of times in the past.
That gets us under way here at 1.45 and hopefully by then we're set fair for the remainder of the Grand National Festival.