Robin Goodfellow’s racing tips: best bets for Thursday, April 8
Robin Goodfellow’s racing tips: best bets for Thursday, April 8
Tiger Roll’s performance on Merseyside at Thursday’s Betway Bowl is welcome on the first day of the Grand National gathering, even if the formidable historian doesn’t offer to participate in the pantheon of National Hunt greats in Saturday’s feature film .
Connections, in their wisdom, believe the double national winner is not handicapped enough to take his chance to replicate Red Rum’s fantastic achievement by winning three Nationals.
The pros and cons of the decision have been hotly debated, but one thing Tiger Roll will have in his favor on Thursday afternoon is a relatively healthy surface to bounce on and it will be intriguing to see if he shows up in the same shape as in Cheltenham three weeks ago, when he put his rivals to flight in the Glenfarclas Chase.
Sportsmail’s Racing Expert Robin Goodfellow gives his tips for Thursday’s meetings
Gold Cup-fourth Native River, Clan Des Obeaux and Waiting Patiently get in the way of the 11-year-old Thursday afternoon, but it could be CLONDAW CASTLE (Aintree, nap, 2.50) that will surprise the chase.
Trainer Tom George won this race ten years ago with Nacarat, who also used the valuable Kempton handicap that won the selection six weeks ago as the stepping stone to this Grade One award.
Nacarat could only finish third that day before beating Denman et al in the Bowl, while Clondaw Castle arrives in Liverpool after a smart success achieved in a quick time.
The numbers suggest the nine-year-old took a big leap forward for the three-mile step, the first time he’s tackled that trip under the rules.
Rider Johnny Burke has also built a good relationship with Oscar’s son, and the duo performed with much credit at Thursday’s Old Roan Chase at the venue last October, when they were narrowly defeated by Nuts Well.
That race went well and arguably it was only the very soft surface that caught his eye, so he looks valuable in improving a place here on a better surface.
Tiger Roll should win at Aintree if he produces the same form as in Cheltenham last month
AINTREE
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
1.45 Hitman
2.20 Monmiral
2.50 Clondaw Castle (nap)
3.25 Song for someone
4.05 Turbulent Advantage (nb)
4.40 Outing Trump
5.15 Eileendover
GIMCRACK
1.45 Hitman
2.20 Monmiral
2.50 Clan Des Obeaux (nb)
3.25 Song for someone
4.05 Cat Tiger
4.40 Ros
5.15 Eileendover (nap)
Northerner – 2.50 patient waiting (nap)
New market 5.15 Eileendover (nap)
SOUTHWEL
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
1.00 True hero
1.35 Deevious Beau
2.10 Let’s play
2.40 Woke Media
3.15 Batchelor Boy
3.50 silver shade
4.25 Brandy Station
GIMCRACK
1.00 True hero
1.35 Blue cable
2.10 Thunderclap
May 40 night
3.15 Little Boy Blue
3.50 silver shade
4.25 Dodgy Bob
Northerner – 2.10 Kehailaan (nb)
CHELMSFORD CITY
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
4.50 Reluctance
5.20 Blame Culture
5.50 Headley George
6.20 Sudona
6.50 Jeanette May
7.20 Adventurer
7.50 Autumn flight
GIMCRACK
4.50 Reluctance
5.20 Velvet Vista
5.50 Criticism
6.20 Byzantia
6.50 Zahirah
7.20 Adventurer
7.50 The curious Parker
New market 7.50 Autumn flight (nb)
TAUNTON
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
1.25 I came
2.00 Chez Hans
2.30 San Agustin
3.05 Theocrat
3.40 Lady Kk
4.15 Veiled secret
4.55 Shattered glass
5.30 Kandoo Kid
GIMCRACK
1.25 I came
2.00 Groove door
2.30 San Agustin
3.05 Theocrat
3.40 Family
4.15 Arcade Attraction
4.55 Minella Voucher
5.30 Toutatis
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