Aintree Racing Tips: Springwell Bay looks a big price

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Springwell Bay - 15:00 Aintree

Springwell Bay looked promising in bumpers last season and he has made an excellent transition to hurdles, making short work of some inferior rivals on his debut in this sphere and showed plenty to work on while looking in need of the experience in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham on his next start.

He has looked an exciting prospect on his last two starts, impressing with the manner he defeated some useful rivals at Ascot in February and not needing to improve when making it three wins from four starts over hurdles at Wetherby last time. Springwell Bay has looked a much improved model since stepping up to this trip and he is more than ready for a crack at this prize, while this track is sure to play to his strengths, too.

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West Balboa - 14:25 Aintree

West Balboa remains very lightly raced for a seven-year-old after just four starts under Rules and she showed just how well handicapped she was when winning the ultra-competitive Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton in January.

To win a race of that nature on just her second start in a handicap is testament to how much ability she possesses and she has more than likely been kept back for this race since given how good of a target trainer Dan Skelton is. The rain which arrived on Friday won't be a bother to her and she is very much one to remain interested in from just a 5 lb higher mark.

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Longhouse Poet - 17:15 Aintree

Longhouse Poet was too exuberant in the race itself to get home on his first start at a marathon trip in last year's Grand National, but he took to the course particularly well, shaping as well as any for a long way and jumping round like an old pro.

It is worth noting that was just his seventh start over fences and that experience certainly won't have been lost on him. Longhouse Poet warmed up for this year's renewal with a win at Down Royal last month and, provided he can settle a little better this time round, he seems sure to be in the mix having been left on the same mark as 12 months ago.