BetUK Blog

Well, we did alright yesterday with two of our picks landed. There is some great racing action today today and the feature race is the John Smith’s Melling Chase over 2m4f at 3.10pm (live on BBC2). We really fancy Nacarat here. Trainer Tom George has, so far, had one of his best seasons to date and most of that is to do with this horse. He landed the Racing Post Chase at Kempton back in February in impressive fashion – beating a top-notch field and although this is another step up I think he’s certainly on the upgrade. He is so good on a flat track, which AIntree is.

In the 4.20pm race, we think Pause and Clause will run a big race. He was a fast-finishing third in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival last month, and despite not landing the prize he still ran a great race. He was well supported that day and with the first three pulling clear of the fourth the form looks good. This will be the quickest ground he’s encountered so far, but I can’t see that being too much of a problem for him.

Today is the start of Aintree’s Grand National meeting and we have in store three days of superb National Hunt racing, culminating in Saturday’s showpiece - the Grand National itself. On this race alone punters will wade in to the tune of an astonishing £250 million as the annual gamble takes place.
The action kicks off today at 2pm with the Liverpool Hurdle and bettors can get the meeting off to a flyer by backing Big Buck’s. Last month’s World Hurdle winner at Cheltenham can continue his winning run over these smaller obstacles, giving the dynamic duo of jockey Ruby Walsh and trainer Paul Nicholls their first winner of the meeting. Big Buck’s won here over fences at this meeting 12 months ago, so the track will pose no problems and with him looking as if he’s still got more to offer (still only 6 years-old) then these staying hurdle races look his for the taking for at least the next three seasons. He will be a short price but he’s a good thing (as they say on the racecourse).

In the 4.20pm race we really like the look of Moon Over Miami, who almost landed the very last race at this year’s Cheltenham Festival but just got touched off. He re-opposes his victor (Oh Crick) here but we reckon Moon Over Miami can take his revenge here.

Our last pick for today’s opening day is Tartak in the 4.55. Again, he ran well at Cheltenham and with the ground much more to his liking here he looks to have a major chance.