Grand National Meeting Day 3 Tips: Back Angel to delight in the National

Tony Calvin
07 April 2017

Tony has six selections for Grand National day at Aintree

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It's the biggest day in the racing calendar with the Grand National centre stage, but plenty of other high class races on the card at Aintree. With an in-depth look at the races, and no fewer than six selections, is Tony Calvin...

"He has won an Irish National and a Kerry National, wasn't beaten far in the four-miler at Cheltenham three years ago, has decent form on good to soft ground, even though all his wins have come with plenty of cut - in fact, his jockey thinks he will like the drying ground - and he limbered up for this race with a fair fifth in the Thyestes last time."

Rogue one can star in National war

Being the greedy soul I am, I have already put up three ante-post recommendations for the Grand National - you can read my reasoning here and here - but I am happy to add a fourth and final string to my betting bow, especially when playing at massive prices.

I am very content with my Monday recommendation to side with Wounded Warrior at 100.0099/1, but I will be pleasantly surprised if either O'Faolains Boy or Le Mercurey trouble the commentator on the second circuit. Both are about twice the price I put them up at after running poorly last time; some judge I am.

O'Faolains Boy has had a wind op since running a shocker last time but the drying ground is not in his favour, although a decent surface is at least to Le Mercurey's liking and he does have a fair form chance on his Newbury second to Native River in February.

Anyway, let's cut to the chase and give you the "fresh" tip. Step forward Rogue Angel at 28.027/1 win and 8.415/2 place in the big one at 17:15.

He has an awful lot going for him, so let's crack on.

I actually fancy all of Gigginstown's five in the race to varying degrees, but I have little doubt that Rogue Angel, representing last year's winning trainer Mouse Morris, is the pick of the quintet.

He has won an Irish National and a Kerry National, wasn't beaten far in the four-miler at Cheltenham three years ago, has decent form on good to soft ground, even though all his wins have come with plenty of cut - in fact, his jockey thinks he will like the drying ground - and he limbered up for this race with a fair fifth in the Thyestes last time.

Connections took him for a sighter of these fences in the Becher here in December and he jumped and travelled well for a long way when thought to be short of fitness, and a mark of 145 looks fair based on his Irish National win.

Ballynagour narrowly missed out on being the fifth name on my National board and I can see him running a big race at odds of 100.099/1 and bigger, but I will stop short of putting him up as a firm bet. Best of luck with whatever you punt in the race.

A 49/1 dart to kick off proceedings

We hit the bar with Barney Dwan at 25s in the Pertemps and he is around a third of that price now after his excellent second there in the opener at 13:45.

But even though he has gone up 5lb for that effort I couldn't put you off him as he will love the drying ground - hopefully they don't water too much on Friday night - and he clearly bumped into one there.

However, the one I like at a much bigger price - in fact, he is the complete outsider in most lists - is Leoncavallo at 65.064/1 or bigger.

The negatives are obvious, and considerable. He is unproven over this trip, comes here in modest form, was pulled up on only start at this course and I am not a massive fan of the 7lb claimer on board, to be honest.

So I wouldn't blame you for ignoring this tip!

However, he has at least dropped to a very exploitable mark of 136 - he is well handicapped on his second to Sceau Royal on his reappearance - and as he was a 2m winner on the Flat this step up to 3m+ may well suit him.

The ground certainly will and I think he is worth a speculative dart in an open race.

***

The 2m4f Grade 1 Novices' Hurdle at 14:25 is an absolute cracker of a race and I find it hard to split the first four in the betting.

With that in mind, I think Musselburgh winner Lough Derg Spirit is probably a very fair each-way bet around 6/1 stepping up to 2m4f - I can pass on a very positive word from the jockey - but I will sit this one out. Not only are the top four in the market all feasible winners, but you can give a couple of outsiders a squeak, too. No bet.

I was toying with Politologue at around 6.05/1 against Charbel - I thought more aggressive tactics over this shorter trip would suit him after his JLT fourth - but the favourite is solid after running so well before falling at the second-last in the Arkle. So no play in the 15:00 either. Soz.

A two-handed attack on the Mildmay

I am going in double-barrelled in the Mildmay at 15:40 with Starchitect and another total flier in Ruben Cotter.

As Al Pacino may have once said, I have to say goodbye to my little friend Henry Parri Morgan as he has cost me a packet this season - I have no doubt that he is capable of bolting up here off this mark - and Starchitect gets my love here.

He is a lot shorter than our usual play at around 8.07/1 but he shapes as though he was well worth trying at this trip when fifth over 2m5f - and he is a 1m6f winner on the Flat - and good ground suits him really well. He has the potential to step forward a lot.

Ruben Cotter takes a bit more explaining as he left Paul Nicholls for only £10,000 in January and hasn't been the easiest to train, or most consistent in his career.

But a change of scenery may have freshened him up, he has been dropped 3lb since his last run, and new connections are trying him in a tongue tie and cheekpieces for the first time. His better efforts have come on decent ground, and some came after a break, too. At 34.033/1 or bigger he is a punt at the odds.

Ptit Zig can shock Yanworth

I am keen to take on Yanworth in the Liverpool Hurdle at 16:20 and Supasundae and Ptit Zig are my two against him.

However, I will only recommend backing Ptit Zig at 17.016/1 or bigger as I think he is the forgotten horse in here. He is a French Champion Hurdle winner (in first-time blinkers) and has been given a break since disappointing in the Cleeve Hurdle in December.

He bypassed Cheltenham to wait for a spring campaign, and those tactics worked last season as he won at Sandown on the final day of the season after a similar break. He holds stronger forms claims than 16/1 quotes would have you believe.

Chesterfield to take a front seat in finale

In the finale at 18:15 I will side with Chesterfield at 11.010/1 or bigger.

I was all over him for the Lanzarote but apparently he knocked himself early on in the race that day, which explained what looked a very odd ride at the time.

He ran well when second in the soft at Newbury last time but I reckon the combination of better ground and a bigger field and a more strongly-run race will see him to much better effect. I don't know much about the jockey but he has ridden winners for the stable and can claim what could prove a very valuable 10lb. And this horse is very well handicapped on his form two seasons ago.

Best of luck on a great day of racing.

Recommended Bets
Back Leoncavallo at 65.064/1 in the 13:45
Back Starchitect at 8.07/1 and Ruben Cotter at 34.033/1 in the 15:40
Back Ptit Zig at 17.016/1 in the 16:20
Back Rogue Angel at 28.027/1 to win and 8.415/2 to place in the Grand National at 17:15
Back Chesterfield at 11.010/1 in the 18:15

Already recommended for the Grand National, antepost

Wounded Warrior at 100.099/1, O'Faolains Boy at 40.039/1, Le Mercurey at 46.045/1