Selections for Saturday 13th of April 2024
1.20 Aintree
2 points each way West Balboa (11/4 Skybet, 7 places or 11/4 Generally, 4 places)
West Balboa is a strong each way selection in this and her record at Aintree gives her every chance. She is now 3-3 at the track and won this race last year off a 6 lbs lower mark. She won by 5 lengths which would indicate she is still well in off a mark of 141. Her sixth of eleven in her last race at Kempton was a step back in the right direction and she was only just over a length behind Kateira who franked the form yesterday. Harry Skelton is back onboard and she will handle soft ground.
1.55 Aintree
1 point each way Jimmy Du Seuil (4/1 Boylesports, 3 places or else 3/1 Generally, 3 places)
Jimmy Du Seuil was a big eye catcher finishing second to stablemate Ballyburn in the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival. It will be hard for Ile Atlantique to improve past Jimmy Du Seuil and I actually think our selection will improve the most from his last run. Brighterdaysahead could be hard to beat getting the 7 lbs mare allowance but I wasn’t blown away by her attitude at Cheltenham even though this sharper track will probably help her. Jimmy Du Seuil has a rock solid each way chance on ground he will enjoy.
2.30 Aintree
2 points each way The King Of Ryhope (7/2 Skybet, 5 places or else 4/1 Generally, 4 places)
Dan Skelton won this race last year and it is not hard to see The King Of Ryhope giving him a great chance of winning it again. It looks as though this has been very much the plan for this horse. He won his Irish point over 3 miles on soft ground and is very much unexposed over this longer trip. He travelled like the best horse in the race on his last run in the Grade 2 novice chase over 3 miles at Ascot. He just got in two tight at the last which cost him momentum. Hopefully he can take a step forward for that run and go close in this.
3.05 Aintree
2 points each way Sire Du Berlais (11/2 William Hill, 4 places or 5/1 Generally, 4 places)
Sire Du Berlais loves Aintree and although he is now 12 years of age he must have a massive chance of going close here in his attempt to win this race for the third year in a row. He stayed on really well from the last hurdle at Cheltenham and it was a pity the race wasn’t run at a stronger pace as he would have gone close. He seems to come to himself at this time of year and Gordon Elliott has stated that “he is actually bouncing at the moment and seems to really come to himself over the last few weeks” I can’t see why he wouldn’t be in the top four places.
4.00 Aintree
1 point each way Kittys Light (12/1 Betfred, 7 places or else 11/1 Betway, 7 places)
Kittys Light has been a profitable horse for this service in the past and I am sure this has been his target all season. He is an out and out stayer having won the Eider over 4m 1f, the Scottish National over 4m and Sandown over 3m 4f. He has had a prep run at Cheltenham to have him spot on for today and from the foot of the weights I can see him going well and he will be staying on when others have thrown in the towel. The only concern is the ground if it was to be real testing as his best form is in good to soft.
1 point each way Galia Des Liteaux (22/1 Betfred/ Betway, 7 places)
On the other hand a horse that will relish heavy conditions is the Dan Skelton mare Galia Des Liteaux. She won twice on heavy ground and stayed on strongly when second in the Classic Chase at Warwick last January. That was her first run in a handicap and she was conceding 20 lbs to the winner My Silver Lining. She carries a nice low weight here of 10-7 and I am sure she is well handicapped off a mark of 146.
**Date & Time of next Selections Friday 19th of April at 9pm..