Aintree Day 1 Betting Preview

2:00 Liverpool Hurdle Grade 1 Cl1 3m110y
Big Buck’s is going for his 17th straight victory and his fourth win in the race. At 2/9 (Stan James) he is virtually unbackable. It is hard to find anything in opposition, at Cheltenham he handled everything thrown at him and this is a weaker race.

2:30 Juvenile Hurdle Grade 1 Cl1 2m110y
Three of the top four from the Triumph Hurdle reconvene with Grumeti 4/1 (William Hill) to gain his revenge on Countrywide Flame (11/2 Sportingbet). The general consensus seems to be that Grumeti hit the front too soon at Cheltenham but I’d be more concerned about his jumping which was untidy at times.

Looking beyond the obvious candidates, Sadler’s Risk could improve on his Triumph sixth, switched back to a flat track. He’s run his best races at Kempton, also a flat track, and is slightly over priced at 9/1 with Sportingbet.

Verdict: Sadler’s Risk to win at 9/1 (Sportingbet)

3:05 Betfred Bowl Chase Grade 1 Cl1 3m1f
There are several angles to this race. Do you take the Gold Cup form and side with Burton Port at 9/2 (Paddy Power)? Or do you prefer the Ryanair win of Riverside Theatre (4/1 William Hill)?

Course and distance form points to Nacarat (12/1 Bet365) who won the race last year. Or do you go for Hunt Ball (6/1 Betvictor), one of the stories of the season who has improved a whopping 85lbs?

Verdict: Our racing expert has gone for Riverside Theatre.

3:40 Fox Hunters´ Chase Cl2 2m5f110y
A fiendishly difficult 26-runner handicap. It would be a great story to see My Way De Solzen win the race, a horse who has struggled with injuries since winning the Arkle back in 2007. At 7/1 (William Hill) he is plenty short enough as people latch onto the familiar name.

Gwanako has won round Aintree before and arrives in great form after back-to-back victories. He sets the standard, but at 4/1 (Betfred) he is also short enough in what can be a messy race.

Sam Waley-Cohen won this race in 2005 and 2006 and Roulez Cool would have been bought for exactly this type of contest. He’s had problems and failed to show what he is capable of when unseating at Cheltenham. However, he is one of the better horses in the race.

Verdict: Roulez Cool each way at 16/1 with Bet365.

4:15 Red Rum Handicap Chase Grade 3 Cl1 2m
The bookmakers go 6/1 the field and it is as wide open as the betting suggests. Paul Nicholls saddles the favourite Edgardo Sol at 6/1 (Sportingbet) but it is a race difficult to find an angle in.