Ginger Joe - Winning Picks for Aintree Festival Day 1

Welcome to Day 1 of the Aintree Grand National Festival meeting

I cannot believe just how quickly this meeting has come around, it’s been almost a month since Cheltenham, but it feels to me like it has only been a few days! Anyway, Day 1 here we come and I have a Lucky 15 for you to take a look at. But first, I’m going to explain a little bit about the thought process for all of my Aintree selections.

The main angle I’m looking for at this meeting is for horses that are fresh. Essentially, horses that have skipped Cheltenham to contest here instead. Also, with Aintree being a nice level track, I am looking for the runners that are known for having a good turn of foot; a factor that can really pay dividends when it comes to this course.

However, if you do decide to back a horse that ran at Cheltenham, then here’s a fact that’s worth knowing. Horses that place at Cheltenham have a better record at Aintree than those that manage to win at the Festival. That said, the great Constitution Hill is an exception!

One of my best betting tips for today is a horse running in the Foxhunters and it’s one that I’m really sweet on. It’s been heavily backed now, but anyone who is a member of my Discord group will already be on at a much bigger price. And that’s just one good reason for joining…

My bookie favourite for Aintree Day 1

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2.20: The Jewson Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1) 2 miles

SCRIPTWRITER @ 8/1

Scriptwriter has taken much the same path as stablemate Knight Salute, who won this race last year. However, Scriptwriter did flop in the Adonis last time out. That being said, he hit two hurdles pretty hard, which really threw him off his rhythm. I am willing to forgive him for that latest effort, as he had been very impressive in his previous four starts.

He won at Sedgefield on his debut and then in great style at Cheltenham. He then went on to absolutely bolt up on the AW at Wolverhampton and then really franked his form at Cheltenham by finishing just a half-length second to Comfort Zone. You can mark that final performance up even more, as the saddle slipped under Paddy Brennan during the race and he also lost an iron, but never for a moment did he let Comfort Zone out of his sight.

Scriptwriter came to the Milton Harris yard after he was purchased from the Ballydoyle camp. During his Flat career, he clocked up a rating that put him within five lengths of Group winner Coroebus, so the level Aintree track should really suit him really well. Milton has been very patient with him and I expect him to run a big race today on conditions that should be right up his street.

2.55: The Alder Hey Aintree Bowl Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1) 3 miles

CONFLATED @ 5/1

Conflated is my winning pick for this year’s Aintree Bowl and he ran a blinder to finish third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He met traffic problems on several occasions, but still managed to find a wicked turn of foot up the home straight and battled like a really good horse. He was second in this race last year to Clan Des Obeaux, beaten by just a length and should be going close again this time around.

He did run at Cheltenham, but he wasn’t given a particularly hard race and he handled the short break between the two meetings really well last year, so I have no major concerns in that respect. I feel confident he can go very close and hopefully one better than last year, so 5/1 is a great price.

Hurdles action

Foxhunters' Chase

4.05: The Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase (Class 2) 2m 5f

IT’S ON THE LINE @ 8/1

The Foxhunters’ Chase isn’t usually a race I pay much attention too, but I quite fancy one here. It’s On The Line is the only six-year-old in the race and has been improving all season long. He’s won two really nice Point-To-Points already this season and came from a mile back to finish second at the Cheltenham Festival.

He showed a wicked turn of foot that day and his connections seem to buy horses with this attribute, last year’s Grand National winner, Noble Yeats is a classic example. It’s On The Line is a similar type and he should be very effective at Aintree.

His form is right up there in this field and he is improving race-by-race. I expect to see him make a late run again here and with Derek O’Connor booked for the ride (which is always a positive) he shouldn’t be too far away at the finishing line.

5.15: The Goffs UK Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat (Grade 2) (Class 1) 2 miles

JODIE COEUR ALLEN @ 4/1

Jodie Coeur Allen is yet to have seen a racetrack in Britain, but she comes here after running a blinder in France to finish second and she really got the hang of things late on. She is another that should be really effective at Aintree with her turn of foot and the fact that Willie Mullins decided to skip Cheltenham and to bring her here fresh speaks volumes.

Her form in France has been franked on more than one occasion and connections are very good with their selection process, which is sure to pay dividends. In a race that lacks quality, I think she will be very hard to beat here.

Ginger Joe’s Aintree Day 1 video

Aintree Day 1 selections | Horse Racing Tips | Ginger Joe Racing | Betting.co.uk | Grand National

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