There are four Grade 1s coming up in another top-quality day of action on the second day of Aintree's Grand National meeting on Friday.
We’ve got another excellent card to look forward to on Day 2 at Aintree on Friday with no fewer than four Grade 1 races on the agenda, as well as the always interesting Topham Chase over the National fences. There will be lots of each-way opportunities so we’ve got you covered.
Here are four selections at each-way prices in the horse racing betting whose chances look significantly stronger than the odds suggest. These include an interesting novice in the opening handicap hurdle and a veteran with previous form over the National fences in the Topham.
Four best each-way bets
- 13:45 Aintree – Swindon Village @ 18/1
- 16:05 Aintree – Mahons Glory @ 18/1
- 16:40 Aintree – Kripticjim @ 16/1
- 17:15 Aintree – Pourquoi Pas Papa @ 17/2
Drop in trip to suit Swindon Village
Charlie Longsdon’s Swindon Village has had just five starts over hurdles so far so the novice should have a secret or two from the handicapper. The form of his third at Ffos Las in October looks very solid as it has worked out well, and he improved to get off the mark at Leicester the next time out.
Plenty keen enough in the early stages, he stayed on well to score by just over five lengths and the runner-up has boosted the form by winning twice since. Both of his below-par performances over hurdles have come over three miles and that includes the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham last month.
Winning well under a penalty at Newbury before that, clearly 2m4f is more suitable, at least for the time being, and handicaps can facilitate further improvement.
Tip 1: 13:45 Aintree – Swindon Village @ 18/1
Cunha charge can make presence felt
Dylan Cunha’s Mahons Glory made a winning start to life at this yard when winning back-to-back starts at Leicester and Market Rasen in March 2025.
He has had two previous spins over these fences, the first of which came over this trip in the Grand Sefton in which he ran a cracker to finish fourth.
Far from disgraced in the Becher Chase after that, the 3m2f trip probably stretched his stamina but he stuck to his task well and eventually finished fifth.
Mahons Glory returned to winning ways with a 12-length success at Huntingdon last month and he should be capable of making his presence felt.
Tip 2: 16:05 Aintree – Mahons Glory @ 18/1
Tizzard could solve novice puzzle
Joe Tizzard’s Kripticjim won three consecutive starts over hurdles, the first of which came in a maiden hurdle at Ascot in November. There were only four runners in that race but the third and fourth have both boosted the form by winning since.
He then followed up under a penalty at Newbury before making the successful transition to graded races at Cheltenham in January, where he stayed on well to get the better of Ben Pauling’s Taurus Bay.
Things didn’t quite go to plan in the Albert Bartlett after that but he definitely deserves another chance or two.
Tip 3: 16:40 Aintree – Kripticjim @ 16/1
More to come from Pourquoi Pas Papa
Paul Nicholls’ Pourquoi Pas Papa is a progressive four-year-old who was second to Albert Bartlett winner Johnny’s Jury in an Exeter maiden hurdle back in January.
Getting off the mark next time, he coped well with the heavy ground at Wincanton to score by seven lengths.
Connections ran him in the Victor Ludorum next time and he was a respectable second behind the well-regarded Manlaga.
He produced an excellent performance to finish fourth on handicap debut in the McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and there should be more to come.
Tip 4: 17:15 Aintree – Pourquoi Pas Papa @ 17/2
