FAKIR D'OUDAIRIES can win the Marsh Chase (Registered As The Melling Chase) (GBB Race) (3.25pm) for a second successive year on the second day of the 2022 Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse.
Ireland came out on top again at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, but they generally don't send the same amount of runners over to Aintree. But one of them, Fakir D’Oudairies, bypassed Cheltenham and he can land the feature on Ladies Day on Merseyside.
Joseph O'Brien's seven-year-old was second over hurdles in the Grade One as a juvenile at this meeting three years ago but has done much better over fences. He was second to Allaho in the Ryanair Chase at last year's Cheltenham Festival, but connections decided not to take him on again at Prestbury Park and wait for Aintree.
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He ran out a fine winner of the Grade One Betfair Chase at Ascot in February and he can score again.
MISTER COFFEY can win the Grade Three Randox Topham Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (4.05pm) – the second race of the meeting run over the Grand National fences.
Trainers Willie Mullins, Peter Bowen, Colin Tizzard and Nicky Henderson have won 15 Topham Chase victories between them.
And it is Mullins and Henderson who may hold the key to this year’s race with the latter able to land a record seventh success with Mister Coffey.
The seven-year-old was fourth over hurdles at this meeting and although he has hasn’t won in four chase starts, he has been second in three of those. He was second to subsequent Cheltenham Festival Grade One winner L’Homme Presse in the Grade One Scilly Novices' Chase at Sandown. That was a fine effort and if he takes to the unique Aintree obstacles he can triumph.
Mullins' Royal Rendezvous shoulders top weight but could still go close, while Grand Sefton Chase winner Mac Tottie has already shown his ability over the fences and Bowen's nine-year-old can reward each-way punters.
Paul Nicholls’ BRAVEMANSGAME was taken out of his intended Cheltenham Festival run due to rain-softened ground but he can gain compensation with victory in the Grade One Betway Mildmay Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (2.50pm).
In his absense Venetia Williams' L'Homme Presse ran out a fine winner of the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at Prestbury Park. But the going and track will be much different here and Bravemansgame is another rapidly-improving young chaser. He can make it five wins from five starts.
It could be a good day for favourite backers with JONBON looking too good for his rivals in the Grade One Betway Top Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.20pm).
Nicky Henderson's six-year-old was unbeaten in three starts over hurdles heading into the Cheltenham Festival. He ran a fine race there but had no answer to his talented stable-mate Constitution Hill and was well beaten in second in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
With no Constitution Hill lining up, the JP McManus-owned gelding looks sure to resume winning ways.
O'Brien's Banbridge looks a worthy favourite in the Grade One Doom Bar Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (4.40pm), but an each-way option against the market leader is Mel Rowley's MY BOBBY DAZZLER .
The seven-year-old has won three times at Aintree and although he may appreciate softer conditions, My Bobby Dazzler can run another big race on Merseyside.
Banbridge won at Cheltenham last month and looks sure to go close again.
Henderson's BROOMFIELD BURG can take the opener, the Grade Three Orrell Park Handicap Hurdle GBB Race) (1.45pm); while in the finale, the Lydiate Handicap Hurdle (Conditional Jockeys’ And Amateur Riders’ Race) (GBB Race) (5.15pm), the Oliver Greenall-trained HOMME PUBLIC may score.
Ladies Day 2022 Grand National Tips - Wright Ones
AINTREE LADIES DAY
1.45pm Broomfield Burg
2.20pm Jonbon
2.55pm Bravemansgame
3.30pm Fakir D'Oudairies
4.05pm Mister Coffey (NAP)
4.50pm My Bobby Dazzler (e/w)
5.15pm Homme Public
