Paul Ferguson has three selection from Aintree for us on Friday; on day two of the Grand National Festival 2025. | Free Bets |
The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle form often stands up in the Top Novices’ and that can once again be the case, as Romeo Coolio (2:55) is fancied to deliver for Gordon Elliott and Sam Ewing. Third in the opener at Cheltenham, he had earlier won a Grade 1 over the minimum trip at Leopardstown over Christmas and has upwards of 8lbs in hand on official ratings. Tripoli Flyer ought to relish the track and conditions, but his form is a little behind what the market leader has already achieved.
James du Berlais (4:05) finished runner-up in the Topham last year but on this drier ground, is fancied to go one place better from just a 1lb higher mark. I would imagine that he will be ridden with a little more restraint this time around (hit the front looking all over the winner last year before being outstayed on soft ground) and after a couple of ordinary runs earlier in the season, the nine-year-old returned to form with a much more promising effort last time. Stable-mate Glengouly ran well for a long way in the National last year and will be more suited to this intermediate trip, whilst Blue Lord will be ridden by Paul Townend and it would appear that the stable holds a strong hand here.
16 go to post for the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle, in which Mister Meggit is a fascinating runner for Jonjo & A J O’Neill. Sent off favourite for the bumper at this meeting 12 months ago, he cruised to victory here on hurdles debut back in November but hasn’t been seen since. Whilst he could be a star of the future, it is a huge ask off a 146-day break to enter Grade 1 company after just the one start and when the stable aren’t exactly firing.
With that in mind, the third and final selection of the day comes in the concluding conditional/amateur jockeys’ handicap hurdle, which is fiercely competitive. It looks to be a much stronger race than usual, with Lump Sum topping the weights on a mark of 147. The same connections’ Celtic Dino is hugely respected and could be very well-treated and he would very much be the most interesting of those towards the head of the market. However, at a huge price Moon Chime (5:15) could have been overlooked on the basis that he takes a big step up in class. That said, as a bumper horse he was good enough to finish third in a Listed event at Cheltenham and he has steadily returned to form this season, winning easily at Stratford last month. Not always the most straightforward, he travels like a big field such as this should suit and he hails from a stable in red-hot form (3 runners between 21st March and 27th March all won). At the time of writing, only one firm have priced the race up but the lightly-raced seven-year-old was trading at 33-1 and anything around those odds – or even bigger – should be taken.
Friday’s selection:
2:55 Aintree – Romeo Coolio; 6/4 Betfred
4:05 Aintree – James du Berlais; 8/1 Ladbrokes
5:15 Aintree – Moon Chime; 11/1 William Hil
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NB. All odds shown are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change.
