Daryl Jacob gives us the lowdown on his three rides on day one of the Grand National meeting at Aintree.
After knocking on the door throughout Cheltenham it was great to get a double under my belt at Wincanton on the eve of the Grand National meeting and I go to Aintree with a good set of rides over the three days.
I’ve got three rides on Thursday and it all kicks off with TOP NOTCH in the opening race, the Manifesto Novices’ Chase, at 1.45.
He ran a belter in the JLT at Cheltenham, just going down to a top notcher himself in Yorkhill, and who knows what would’ve happened if my lad hadn’t made a mistake at the second last.
It’s strong form, though, and it makes him the one to beat in this race. I schooled him the other day and he went very well, so I’m hopeful he can get the job done on Thursday.
He’s been so consistent all year, he’s such a warrior, and he deserves to get his head in front and win a Grade One.
Just over an hour later I ride BRISTOL DE MAI in the Betway Bowl and Nigel Twiston-Davies has been giving me positive reports about his chance.
He’s got a bit of an in and out profile and you’d want the ground to be softer ideally, but Nigel insists he’s in really good form and he would have finished closer in the Gold Cup but for a mistake at the last.
The track will suit him, there does at least look to be a bit of moisture in the ground and he did come out of Cheltenham well.
We know he stays well, so I expect I’ll ride him positively again and hopefully he can get into a really good rhythm.
Finally, I ride MONAR ROSE in the closing Goffs Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race, or the mares’ bumper for short, and she could outrun her big odds.
She’s an improving mare and I’m told she’s game and tough, while the ground will pose no problems for her as it’s all she’s ever run on.
I won this race for trainer Ben Case with Tempest River back in 2011, so it would be nice if we could team up and win it again. She’s 100/1 in places, but you never know!
