Aintree tips: Simon Holt previews action on Thursday April 8
Racing betting tips: Thursday April 8
1pt win Sametegal in 4.05 Aintree at 6/1 (Hills, bet365)
1pt win Moon Over Germany in 4.40 Aintree at 8/1 (General)
Some fascinating clashes feature among the seven races at Aintree on the first day of the Grand National meeting on Thursday, not least in the Betway Bowl in which the dual King George winner Clan Des Obeaux, takes on Native River and Waiting Patiently along with a certain Tiger Roll.
That looks like a race to savour, along with a likely battle between Adagio and Monmiral in the Doom Bar Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle and a very tight-looking Betway Aintree Hurdle over two-and-a-half miles in which the uncertain stayer Silver Streak is top-rated ahead of six others on the same official mark.
Later on, MOON OVER GERMANY is fancied to repeat his runaway 2019 success in the Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase.
The 10-year-old appears to have been trained with this race in mind once again after three runs over hurdles last summer before finally reappearing in a Grade Two at Navan over fences last month when he was not disgraced behind leading Grand National candidate Any Second Now, Castlegrace Paddy and Ornua.
Moon Over Germany is 9lb higher in the weights as a result of his 10 length defeat of Lady Buttons here two years ago but the booking of talented Cheltenham Festival-winning conditional jockey Jordan Gainford, who claims 7lb, offsets most of that rise.
Earlier, SAMETEGAL boasts a few positives in the Rose Paterson Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase.
For one thing, the 12-year-old handles the big fences well having finished third and sixth in two previous runnings of the Grand Sefton Chase over this course and distance.
In addition, the dry-ish ground conditions should be ideal for him whereas he has sometimes struggled to get home in testing going as was probably the case when he was a beaten odds-on favourite at Fontwell last time over a stamina-sapping three-and-a-quarter miles.
On his previous start, Sametegal had beaten the subsequent Cheltenham Hunter Chase winner Porlock Bay at Wincanton, and will be ridden here by the latter’s trainer Will Biddick who seeks an unusual double.
The selection’s earlier form this season also includes thirds on the Mildmay Course at Aintree and in a veterans chase at Sandown suggesting he retains plenty of ability.
Published at 1530 BST on 07/04/21
More on the 2021 Grand National Festival
- Full 2021 Grand National guide
- Full racecard & free video form
- Graham Cunningham on the key questions
- Ben Linfoot's Pinsticker's Guide
- Grand National trends preview
- Alex Hammond: National shortlist
- Sporting Life & Timeform shortlist
- Cornelius Lysaght: Great Nationals
- Podcast special: Richard Pitman
- Antepost Angle: Grand National
- Grand National: Tips Centre
- Grand National: All our features
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