Aintree Day 1 Cheat Sheet: Best bets, insight and top tips on Thursday

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Aintree Day 1 Superboost

Selma De Vary ran an excellent race in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, finishing a narrow fourth after being short of room up the home straight. She looks sure to improve on that in today's Boodles 4yo Juvenile Hurdle at 13:45, which is why she's 9/43.25 favourite to win the race.

She's also 2/51.40 to finish in the top three today but you can back her at the super-boosted price of 1/12.00 to finish in the placings, and with only 10 runners in the race, five of which are priced at 40/141.00 or higher, that looks an excellent price.

To take advantage of today's Superboost just click on the odds below to go directly to the Horse Racing section on the Betfair Sportsbook where you will see the Selma De Vary Superboost towards the top of the page.

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Tips Summary

Please Note: Prices quoted in table below were correct at time of each writer/tipster's column being published on Betting.Betfair.

Race	Tipster	Tip/Runner	Odds
13:45 Aintree	Sam Turner	Minella Study	10/34.33
14:20 Aintree	Katie Midwinter	Mambonumberfive E/W	16/117.00
14:55 Aintree	Paul Nicholls	Pic D'orhy	18/119.00
15:30 Aintree	Alan Dudman	Barton Snow	5/23.50
16:05 Aintree	Katie Midwinter	Alexei E/W	9/110.00
16:40 Aintree	Sam Turner	Sans Bruit	11/43.75
17:15 Aintree	Katie Midwinter	Tiktok Casey E/W	16/117.00

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Aintree Day 1 - Thursday's best bets and insight

13:45, Juvenile Hurdle - Sam Turner: Form Study can payoff in opener

There is a case for suggesting Minella Study travelled as least as well as shock Triumph Hurdle winner Apolon De Charnie at Cheltenham last month and I wonder if connections were left to rue the decision to bypass a prep run and head straight to the festival following his impressive win December win at the Cotswold venue.

The Study Of Man gelding eased to the front between the second last and final hurdle under Ryan Mania, but had a target on his back from that point and was unable to resist the late challenge of the surprise 50/1 winner.

That performance still represented a new career high for Minella Study and this switch to a flat, more speed-favouring track could produce further improvement from a horse that boasts a high cruising speed and appears yet to reach his ceiling over hurdles.

Given more higher-profile connections, Maestro Conti is likely to be shorter in the market, but Minella Study would arguably have beaten his old rival fair and square at Cheltenham but for being crossed late on by the winner and, athough Selma De Vary met some trouble in running, she was ultimately fairly well held in fourth.

All of which means Minella Study could be a touch of value to win his first Grade 1 if sent off third favourite.

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14:20, Manifesto Novices' Chase - Katie Midwinter: Course form can help Mambo

It's worth forgiving Mambonumberfive's latest run in the Kingmaker at Warwick as he was unable to get into a rhythm at a track where jumping well is crucial, in heavy conditions whilst in a small three-runner field. He's better than shown on that occasion, having previously landed the Wayward Lad, a race with a dazzling roll of honour in recent years which includes names such as Altior, Cyrname, Shishkin and Sir Gino. 

At Kempton in his penultimate start, the five-year-old made swift headway from towards the rear and quickly put the race to bed, appearing to have plenty left in the reserves. He steps up in trip here and could be able to show further improvement over the extra distance, having shaped well over the minimum trip under patient rides.

With course form in his favour too, and having missed out on his Cheltenham assignment, there's plenty to like about Mambonumberfive and his chance of running a big race in his first Grade One over fences. He'll need to improve plenty to match the level shown by Lulamba, and, whilst Koktain Divin is a promising chaser with plenty of potential, Mambonumberfive may be better suited by conditions and comes into the race a fresher horse, capable of taking advantage should either of the top two fail to show up at the best of their ability.

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14:55, Aintree Bowl - Paul Nicholls: Pic D'orhy is a big price

He's a big price, he's fresh and well, and he ran arguably a career best the last day when he cracked a million pound in prize money when second to Jonbon in an epic race at Kempton.

He's had 55 days or so since that race, he needed all of that so he's nice and fresh, he likes Aintree, he likes a flat track, and there's a few ifs and buts about some of the others in this race.

Spillane's Tower really needs it soft so it will be interesting to see if they declare him for the National on Wednesday. Protektorat has been very good on soft ground, but he had a hard race two runs ago on soft ground, but he's a grand horse, and Impaire Et Passe pulled up last time.

Jango Baie is the one to beat after his second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but it's hard to come to Aintree and reproduce that form after having a hard race in the Gold Cup, it never worked for us, but on form he is the one to beat.

So, it's one of those races that is quite open and I think Pic D'orhy is a big price. He's not getting any younger but he's a tough, genuine horse, and hopefully he'll run his race.

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15:30, Open Hunter Chase - Alan Dudman: Bank on Snow in the Foxhunters

My Dad would often tell me if you want your bricks done, go to the bricklayer, and while he spoke plenty of nonsense, that was sage advice from Alan senior. Therefore I have enlisted the help of my chum Darran Pearce for the Hunter Chase, a field he  knows more about than I will ever know. And if you want an each-way bet for that race, find Darran on twitter with the link to his preview.

With some short prices on the card in small fields, I'd rather back in this with Barton Snow at 5/23.50, as Darran is of the opinion the Aintree test could suit him ever better than Cheltenham, as he is a stayer with pace and speed; who has won at 2m and 3m2f and the win at Cheltenham allayed any of the staying fears.

He was the only runner in the Foxhunter's at Cheltenham to break 16.00 seconds at the final furlong, which backs up the stamina ideas here and he should travel the best under a prominent ride. That's the plan anyway. 

Don't let me down Dazzler.

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16:05, Aintree Hurdle - Katie Midwinter: Alexei can progress further

Alexei was in the process of running a brilliant race when making a mistake at the final flight in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He was on par with Brighterdaysahead and The New Lion at the time before losing momentum, likely to have posed a serious threat for the minor honours behind dominant winner Lossiemouth.

Finishing eventually in fourth at Prestbury Park, it was a hugely creditable effort at odds of 22/123.00, and he remains open to showing further improvement having risen from the handicap sphere to proving his mettle at the top table.

Trained by Joe Tizzard, Alexei is a horse on an upward trajectory and makes appeal at double-figure odds in this field. He was in contention with the two main market leaders in this race when last seen, and with a cleaner jump may have finished ahead of them that day.

Whilst he'll need to prove his stamina over this extra distance, Alexei has stayed on well enough over two miles at Cheltenham in softer conditions to suggest a step up is worth trying and he's an improver holding each-way claims.

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Click here for Katie Midwinter's runner-by-runner guide to the Aintree Hurdle

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16:40, Red Rum Handicap Chase - Sam Turner: Back Bruit to land the hat-trick

Sans Bruit to land the Red Rum Handicap Chase is probably the least original selection I've made in getting on for nearly a year of writing this column, although my loyal reader would probably point to dozens of other examples!

The eight-year-old has won the last two runnings of this race off a mark of 130 and arrives this time round on a perch of just 133 following a five-race preparation which has seen his rating tumble from 144 since the beginning of November.

The selection's stats in April, on both sides of the Channel, have yielded the impressive form figures 121211 so it is clear to everyone this is his time of year when a better surface and some sunshine see him in his best light.

He looks one of two pace angles in this race along with Javert Allen and, if he can find the same rhythmn which has served him so well in past runnings, the Ditcheat raider could be tough to pass under Harry Cobden who is often seen to great effect dictating the tempo.

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Click here for Paul Nicholls' verdict on Sans Bruit in the Red Rum Handicap Chase

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17:15, Mares' NH Flat Race - Katie Midwinter: Tiktok fancied to strike

Peter Fahey has been represented by only two bumper runners at this course, winning once. He saddles five-year-old mare Tiktok Casey in the concluding contest on the opening day of the Grand National Festival, a daughter of Poet's Word who could be capable of outrunning her odds of 16/117.00.

Holding each-way claims with four places available, the mount of Mark Walsh has shaped with promise in two starts under Rules. She won at Naas in her penultimate start, defying odds of 20/121.00 to beat a field which included subsequent winner Of Land And Sea, as well as point winner Think It Through, who has run well since.

Tiktok Casey then placed third in an eventful Grade Two bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival, beaten only by Moonverrin and Royal Hillsborough when ahead of the likes of Brosna Shine, Wonderful Everyday, second in Listed company since, in a race which also featured Celestial Tune.

This is only her third start under Rules and she remains open to showing further progression and a higher level of ability, but has already achieved black-type with proven form at this level. Considering this, she could represent value at double-figure odds, capable of making the frame at the least having gained experience in this Grade previously.

Her distant relative The Govaness once finished fourth in a Listed bumper at this meeting, whilst Red Marauder, an Aintree winner in the family, landed the most prestigious prize of all at the track 25 years ago.

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Now read the Aintree Grand National Festival Day 1 ultimate guide

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