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Writer's pictureElliot Burrow

Aintree Day One Preview - Can the Tiger roar again?

Updated: Oct 28, 2022

Let's do this all over again, this time, it's Aintree and it's time to build up to the biggest jumps race of the year, the Grand National!


But first of all, let's start with day one, which has plenty of action to get us warmed up for the big one on Saturday afternoon and features the brilliant Tiger Roll.


Race one is a Grade One Novices' Chase and some of the horses in this field swerved Cheltenham to come here instead.


Plenty of horses here have also had a fine season chasing, and despite only seven down to run, it's a competitive start to the day.


Fusil Raffles has always been a good horse for Daryl Jacob and Nicky Henderson, and he seems to love the slightly quicker ground which will be in his favour here.


Hitman is a talented horse and he might run a good race, but I see the main danger coming from the in-form horse in The Shunter.


He keeps progressing no matter what is thrown at him and if Fusil Raffles for whatever reason doesn't run his race, this horse will be picking up the pieces that's for sure.


Race two is also a Grade One, but this time it's a Juvenile Hurdle we have to contend with.


Monmiral has looked exceptional over obstacles and I don't see him getting beat here.


He's my selection, and for an each-way price, I think that ex-flat prospect John Locke ran very respectively in the hot Adonis Hurdle and should progress again here on faster ground.


Race three is another Grade One, the Betfair Bowl, and the Tiger is in town with a different target in his view this time around.


The 2018 and 2019 Grand National winner doesn't look to be the first horse since Red Rum to win three Nationals and instead comes here after a bounce back to form around Cheltenham last time out.


I'd love it if he was to win this, but this is very competitive with Clan Des Obeaux, Waiting Patiently and Native River all turning up.


I'm going to go with Clondaw Castle though because he looked like he had found his distance when he stepped up to three mile last time, and won.


This might be more competitive but I think he'll progress here and go close.


Race four is the Grade One Aintree Hurdle and my selection is an each-way shout here in Buveur D'air who needed the run last time out at Haydock.


He's bound to come on for that, and if his jumping holds up, he's more than capable of being competitive at the finish.


Race five is the Class Two Foxhunters Chase, and I'll stick with my selection from Cheltenham in Billaway as he ran a cracker there.


It's great to have the amateurs back again after they missed out at Cheltenham and this race will be fascinating to watch, with plenty of good jockeys involved here.


Race six is a Grade Three Handicap Chase and this is by far the most open race of the day.


We'll keep things simple again here and I'm going with Destrier who ran here in a Grade One back in 2019.


He's been running on slower ground than he would've liked this season and Dan Skelton loves a handicap so it wouldn't be a surprise if he was to bounce back here off a good weight.


The final race is the bumper, and I'm going to go with a Harry Skelton double to win the day here.


If he wins on Destrier (more like when), he'll then follow up in the last with Elle Est Belle who ran really well in the bumper at Cheltenham and should be on the scene again here with only Eileendover to contend with.


Day one done, fingers crossed for some winners!



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