Paul Ferguson has two selections from Aintree for us on Friday; Rather Be at 1.40 at Mount Mews at 2.20. Compare odds and bet.
‘Ladies Day’ gets underway with a typically competitive handicap hurdle, in which Rather Be (1:40) is fancied to strike for Nicky Henderson.
Unlucky when hampered and unseating at the second flight in the Martin Pipe last month, he remains on a fair handicap mark and promises to be well suited by the track here at Aintree, especially on the drying ground.
A winner at Hereford and Huntingdon earlier in the season, he ran well in defeat when attempting to concede weight to the winner on his penultimate start and, granted a bit more luck in running, a bold show is expected.
Henderson has dominated the Top Novices’ Hurdle in recent years and again holds strong claims with Supreme Novices’ third River Wylde, but preference is for Mount Mews (2:20) who has won three of his four starts over hurdles and should improve for the better ground.
Malcolm Jefferson saddled Cyrus Darius to win this race in 2015 and the wide-margin Premier Kelso Novices’ Hurdle winner looks a lovely long-term prospect. At the prices, he is taken to take this step up in class in his stride.
Friday’s selections:
1:40 Aintree: Rather Be; 9/1 William Hill
2:20 Aintree: Mount Mews; 3/1 Bet365
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