Aintree Antepost Betting: Tony Calvin on the Aintree Bowl, Hurdle and more

• Bravemansgame looks the obvious one for Aintree Bowl

• Aintree Hurdle at mercy of the brilliant Constitution Hill

• Marsh Chase looks a cracket with Fakir and Millers catching the eye

The exchange and the Betfair Sportsbook went up with a whole host of Aintree markets earlier in the week and, while the obvious downside of playing at this stage is that punters are doing so unknowing of the ground and without firm running plans - indeed entries in most cases - I thought I'd take a look on Friday morning as I was bored, waiting for a roofer to arrive.

As you'd expect when you don't even know what is likely to be entered, let alone rock up on the day, the fixed-odds offerings - across the board on Oddcschecker - are predictably defensive, as firms tend to get selectively picked off by those more in the know.

Not often more than once, mind you.

Brave man the obvious one in Aintree Bowl but too early to tip

That explains why all firms have five horses priced up at 4/1 or less for the Aintree Bowl, with Shishkin and Bravemansgame the Sportsbook's 5/2 joint favourites ahead of Conflated, Ahoy Senor and A Plus Tard.

Of course, bigger prices are available on the exchange.

I couldn't have Shishkin on my mind at 5/2 after his laboured Cheltenham effort, and Bravemansgame looks the obvious one in here (especially as he will presumably be targeted at this as stablemate and last year's winner Clan Des Obeaux won't make the race) but just how much bigger is he going to be on the day if he gets there himself and just three of his main market rivals oppose?

Granted, it is unlikely that both of the Cheveley Park pair Envoi Allen and A Plus Tard run - it was just too early to tell what the 2022 Gold Cup winner had in the tank when when being badly hampered and pulled up at Cheltenham - and the Gold Cup third Conflated is also quoted at 11/4.

All in all, it is just too much of a minefield to have a bet, with Punchestown at the end of the month further muddying the waters. But definitely don't back Sounds Russian at 20/1 as his trainer reports he has finished for the season.

All about Constitution Hill in Aintree Hurdle

I think we can deal with the Aintree Hurdle very quickly, as Constitution Hill will win - and probably be beating very few rivals in doing so - if he runs and jumps round, which of course he very nearly didn't at the last at Cheltenham.

Basically the exchange layers who are offering him at 1.330/100 are doing so in the hope that Nicky Henderson draws stumps for the current campaign, or goes elsewhere, for whatever reason.

The only other Thursday market priced up is the Foxhunters', so let's fast forward a day.

Fakir solid in Marsh Chase but Millers could Bank the cash

The Marsh Chase and the Topham are priced up, and at least we have entries for the latter race. All 61 of them. Mind you, Willie Mullins is responsible for the top six in the weights and the Irish for 13 of the top 18, so it's another mystery tour when it comes to having a bet.

Again, you are going to have to have a compelling reason to get involved at this stage.

The Marsh Chase could well be a cracker as Paul Nicholls has kept Pic D'Orhy fresh for this race - he is the Sportsbook's 13/8 favourite - and also has last year's runner-up Hitman, probably a career-best third in the Ryanair last time, as a possible, too.

Last year's convincing scorer Fakir D'Oudairies is second up in the betting at 5/2, and he is very solid, having been confirmed as on course for the race once again just this week. He is actually going for a third straight win in the contest.

He obviously didn't run his race behind Shishkin at Aintree in February but they resisted temptation and missed Cheltenham and he is probably a fair price at 4.131/10 on the exchange , for all this promises to be the deepest renewal he has encountered.

If there is a bet in the race it could be Millers Bank at 12/1, even though he has plainly not kicked on from his two-length second to Pic D'Orhy in the Peterborough Chase in December, a race in which a fair few thought he should have won.

Like Fakir D'Oudairies, he has an Aintree pedigree, having finished third in the Grade 1 novices' hurdle here in 2021 and winning the novices' chase by 10 lengths last season.

But, again, he will probably be 12s on the day if he gets there, given his last two runs have hardly been the stuff of imminent success.

Cracker of a Liverpool Hurdle on Grand National day

Obviously, we have the big one on the Saturday, and a potential cracker of a Liverpool Hurdle, if most of those quoted in the Betfair betting turn up, that is.

Who knows what will reappear after running in the Stayers' Hurdle, or what will be kept back for Punchestown - though last year's winner Sire De Berlais took in all three Festivals last season - so I am afraid to say you are on your own here, too.

Either way, must dash as hopefully that is the roofer at the door.

Have a good weekend.

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