Colin Tizzard can sign off in style with a win for Eldorado Allen in the Betway Bowl (2.55).
The top trainer is soon to hand over the reins to his son Joe and the grey has a fine chance of victory at Aintree. He stayed on determinedly behind star chaser Allaho in Cheltenham’s Ryanair Chase last month and is in an upward curve.
Earlier, Pied Piper can give Ireland a victory in race two (2.20), after a bold run at the Festival. Gordon Elliott's charge bumped into a smart type, Vauban, when placed in the Triumph Hurdle. Brewin'upastorm is value to see off favourites Epatante and Zanahiyr in the Betway Aintree Hurdle (3.30).
Newsboy's selections for day one at Aintree
1.45
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 PIC D’ORHY
2 ERNE RIVER
3 GIN ON LIME
PIC D’ORHY is a worthy favourite to get Paul Nicholls’ Grand National meeting off to a flying start.
A smart performer over hurdles, the son of Turgeon went back to timber after drawing a blank in three attempts in novice chases in the first half of last season.
But Pic D’Orhy returned to fences to land a rookies’ handicap chase at Ffos Las in October before coming to grief four out at Newbury the following month.
Harry Cobden’s mount made amends in the Grade 2 Noel Novices’ Chase at Ascot eight days before Christmas and was reported to have choked when a 27-length third to subsequent Cheltenham hero L’Homme Presse in Sandown Park’s top-tier Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase in February.
Pic D’Orhy was back to winning form with a one-length margin over Millers Bank in the Grade 2 Pendil Novices’ Chase at Kempton Park three weeks later and, with more to come, can reward his trainer’s decision to bypass the National Hunt Festival.
Erne River, yet to be tested in two outings over fences, and the returning Gin On Lime are the best candidates for minor medals.
2.20
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 PIED PIPER
2 BRAZIL
3 IN THE AIR
PIED PIPER is the one to follow after a gallant third in the Triumph Hurdle.
A two-time winner on the Flat for John and Thady Gosden and the Queen, New Approach’s son began his career over hurdles for Gordon Elliott with a half-length call over Vauban in a maiden event at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve.
Elliott then gave Pied Piper a feel of Cheltenham on the Trials Day card, and my selection still held a firm grip of his bridle in sauntering nine lengths clear of Moka De Vassy.
Sent off the 7-2 second favourite for the National Hunt Festival’s four-year-old Grade 1 test, Pied Piper couldn’t go with two-and-a-half-length victor Vauban on the climb to the line, coming off worse by a neck to stablemate Fil Dor for second place, with Knight Salute ninth.
The winning horse looks an exceptional juvenile and a reproduction of that performance will make Davy Russell’s partner very hard to beat.
Brazil was gutsy in beating Gaelic Warrior for Cheltenham’s Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle and has more to give, as do - at bigger odds - Fautinette and In The Air.
2.55
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 ELDORADO ALLEN
2 PROTEKTORAT
3 KEMBOY
ELDORADO ALLEN makes appeal as he bids to take his record at three miles to two wins from as many attempts.
Despite two wins over fences as a novice, the Colin Tizzard-saddled grey enjoyed his best moment of last term when chasing home Shishkin in the Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham in March 2021.
Eldorado Allen and Brendan Powell opened this season with a one-length margin over Hitman in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter in November, before running third to First Flow in the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon the following month.
The eight-year-old looked worth a try over further when going under by a length and three-quarters to Mister Fisher in the Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton Park in January, and proved the point in the Grade 2 Denham Chase at Newbury four weeks later.
Making most of the running, Eldorado Allen finished powerfully over the extended two-mile, seven-furlong trip to beat Royale Pagaille by two-and-a-quarter lengths, with today’s favourite and reigning champion Clan Des Obeaux 10 lengths adrift in third.
My choice stayed on pluckily to take third to Allaho in Cheltenham’s Ryanair Chase last time out - Conflated was in line for a podium finish when falling two out - and has more to offer back up in trip.
Protektorat, a fine third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup - Royale Pagaille finished fifth - is feared most, with Kemboy, who won this race three years ago, next on the list.
3.30
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 BREWIN’UPASTORM
2 ZANAHIYR
3 GUARD YOUR DREAMS
BREWIN’UPASTORM gets the vote to upstage market leaders Epatante and Zanahiyr.
After finishing fifth to Abacadabras in this race 12 months ago, Olly Murphy's son of Milan underwent wind surgery, showing the benefit of the surgeon’s knife with a nine-length return-to-action score over course and distance in November.
Brewin’upastorm then went to Cheltenham on New Year's Day for the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle and was rolling up his sleeves for a scrap with Stormy Ireland when taking a heavy fall at the final flight, handing victory to the Willie Mullins-saddled mare.
But the eight-year-old was back to winning ways at Lingfield Park’s Winter Million fixture 22 days later, fighting to a length-and-three-quarter margin over Darver Star.
And my selection, who wears cheekpieces today, came out the best horse at the weights when going under by a head to Botox Has - the winner received 6lb from the runner-up - when defending his crown in the Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell Park, in which Guard Your Dreams finished third and Monmiral fourth, on his most recent start.
Epatante beat Zanahiyr by a length when the pair filled the podium behind Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle - Glory And Fortune was back in fifth - but the latter is the more likely stayer at two and a half miles.
4.05
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 LATENIGHTPASS
2 CAT TIGER
3 JETT
LATENIGHTPASS ran a fine second to Cousin Pascal in this race 12 months ago - and is fancied to gain his revenge.
Last year’s second placing came on the back of a fourth to Porlock Bay in the Festival Challenge Cup Hunters’ Chase at Cheltenham 20 days earlier.
But this time Warwickshire-based Tom Ellis has given his eight-year-old, partnered by the trainer’s wife Gina Andrews, an easier run to Aintree.
Having justified odds of 1-3 in a point-to-point at Alnwick 13 days before Christmas, Latenightpass tipped up at the final fence at the Northumberland venue at the end of January.
But my selection was back in business with an 18-length supremacy between the flags at Charm Park in North Yorkshire last month - he has had a breathing operation in the meantime - and Latenightpass can make a winning return under Rules.
Cat Tiger, third in 2021, enters calculations once again, along with last year’s Grand National eighth Jett.
4.40
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 GUNSIGHT RIDGE
2 BEFORE MIDNIGHT
3 THYME WHITE
GUNSIGHT RIDGE still has untapped potential over fences and can reward each-way support - at the very least.
The winner of his only start in point-to-points, Midnight Legend’s son scored once from five attempts over hurdles before being sent chasing this season.
Third to Darling Du Large over this course and distance last November on his debut in the sphere, Gunsight Ridge then chased home L’Homme Presse in a handicap chase at Exeter the following month.
Aidan Coleman's mount got the better of Bun Doran by a length and three-quarters at Sandown Park at the start of January before a third to Dolos - Frero Banbou took third with next-time-out Doncaster winner Bun Doran back in fourth - back in Esher last time.
It’s likely Gunsight Ridge was asked to do too much running from the front that day and, with more to offer on his fifth race over fences, is taken turn round the form now he meets the front pair on more favourable terms.
In a race of near-endless possible outcomes, Before Midnight is capable of showing to the fore, along with Thyme White and The Last Day.
5.15
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 LAW ELLA
2 KATEIRA
3 ROSY REDRUM
LAW ELLA did enough in victory on her racecourse bow to suggest she could be a player at a higher level.
The daughter of Yeats was not unfancied for her debut in a mares’ bumper at Down Royal in the middle of last month - Law Ella went off the 6-1 third favourite in a field of 12.
And Gavin Cromwell's five-year-old got her career off to the perfect beginning, travelling with purpose in mid-pack under Joey Dunne, before making ground into second on the run to the final furlong.
Once given the office soon after by her amateur jockey, who makes way for Aidan Coleman this afternoon, Law Ella made her way to the front and readily went clear to humble One Cool Lady by six and a half lengths.
My choice is expected to take a big step forward from her first to second start and looks a smart prospect.
Kateira was also impressive first time out - she beat Kalelula by five and a half lengths at Huntingdon in February - is capable of having a say, while Rosy Redrum and Lady Excalibur are other mares with bright futures ahead of them.
