Selections for Thursday 11th of April 2024
2.20 Aintree
1 point each way Kargese (11/4 Generally, 2 places)
Usually I would be worried about backing a mare who had a hard race at Cheltenham on soft ground but vibes from the Willie Mullins camp is that this mare is as tough as nails. She travelled like the winner for all the Triumph Hurdle bar the last 100 yards where she just got outstayed by stablemate Majborough. She won the Grade One Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown the time before that on soft ground. Sir Gino is officially rated 4 lbs higher than her but she receives the 7 lbs mare allowance which technically puts her ahead of him. With question marks still hanging over the form of the Henderson yard I feel it is worth taking on the favourite.
1 point each way Intellotto (20/1 Bet365, 2 places or else 16/1 Generally, 2 places)
Intellotto could outrun his odds for Joseph O’ Brien and JJ Slevin. He won his maiden at Leopardstown on heavy ground. He was then a 9 lengths seventh of eleven in that Grade One Juvenile Hurdle won by Kargese at the DRF. He skipped Cheltenham and instead ran at Limerick where he won again on heavy ground. That was a nice confidence booster for him and he didn’t have a hard race as he won that with ease. He is officially rated higher than Kalif Du Berlais who is third favourite, it wouldn’t surprise me if he was to improve enough to be competitive here.
4.05 Aintree
1 point each way Bennys King (7/1 Bet365, 5 places or else 13/2 888 sports/ Coral/ Betfred/ Ladbrokes, 5 places)
Bennys King is now 13 years of age but it is not unusual for older horses to handle heavy ground better than their younger counterparts. Bennys King is a prominent runner who enjoys testing ground and Dan Skelton reports him in just as good form as last year when he finished second in this race to Famous Clermont. He has had a similar preparation as last year winning a Hunters Chase at Leicester over 3 miles on heavy ground. He will be out of trouble up front and will handle conditions better than most.
1 point each way Cat Tiger (50/1 Bet365, 5 places or else 40/1 William Hill, 5 places)
I had to have a small investment on Cat Tiger. Jockey David Maxwell has been getting dogs abuse about his rides on fancied horses where he isn’t as polished in a finish as the professional jockeys. He is now back among amateur riders and I would love to see him go well on his horse Cat Tiger. He finished second in this race two years ago and has form on heavy ground. He was sent off odds on favourite in his penultimate start against Time Leader but unfortunately ran out at the eight fence. Time Leader subsequently went on to finish third at Cheltenham in the Hunters Chase. You will have to forgive Cat Tigers last run when a distant third behind Bennys King at Leicester.
4.40 Aintree
1 point each way Path Doroux (13/2 Skybet, 5 places or else 7/1 888 sports/ Coral/ Betvictor, 4 places)
I was worried about Path Dorouxs jumping at Cheltenham and it stopped me backing him for the Grand Annual. He travelled like the winner of that race up to the last fence where he just got tired up the hill. His jumping was immaculate and he finished a respectable third. The handicapper has bumped him up 2 lbs while the winner and re-opposing Unexpected Party has gone up by 8 lbs. The cheekpieces have been retained and this falter track should help him. If his jumping is as assured as Cheltenham he should run well here.
5.15 Aintree
1 point each way Honky Tonk Highway (4/1 Skybet, 5 places or else 4/1 Generally, 4 places)
Honkey Tonk Highway won her Irish point on Heavy ground beating the re-opposing Diva Luna by 3 lengths and both had a winner since Bluey 25 lengths back in third. On her British debut for Dan Skelton she won a listed Bumper at Sandown on soft ground. She showed plenty of greenness that day and I’d say the Skeltons gave her time to mature and bypassed Cheltenham for this easier race. They were lucky with the weather as she is best on soft ground. Willies Baby Kate could be anything but I’d give Honky Tonk Highway a good each way chance.
**Date & Time of next Selections Thursday 11th of April at 9pm..