The pick of the prices on Day 3 at Aintree....

Friday, 4th April 2025

The pick of the prices on Day 3 at Aintree….

Get selections for Friday here….

In ATC today….

…. I swing the bat on Day 3 at Aintree….

The Grand National is the feature handicap on Saturday….

…. the off time is 4.00….

…. and my pick of the prices are MEETINGOFHTEWATERS at 22s & 20s and THREE CARD BRAG at 25s & 22s….

I’m also on ACT OF AUTHORITY in the 1.20 – he’s up at 8s ….

…. and I’m on DOCTOR KEN at 10s & 9s in the 2.30 at….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below…. 

Read on….

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The Grand National (4.00) is the feature race on Day 3 at Aintree….

Of course, I’m already on Senior Chief at 66s – and he is a runner….

If that sounds like a strange thing to say it’s because I got repeated emails yesterday from ATC reader DH insisting that Henry De Bromhead’s 8yo was a non-runner….

I don’t know what all that was about. I never heard back from DH when I told him he was mistaken….

…. perhaps he’s confused one horse with another….

…. but Senior Chief runs – that’s the bottom line….

In a 34 runner handicap I want to throw more than one dart….

…. and with Willie Mullins in such good form I want to be on one of his….

MEETINGOFTHEWATERS ticks a lot of boxes at 22s & 20s….

He’s got the right kind of profile for the race in which he was 7th last year….

…. going well and looking like a potential winner at the second last fence….

He didn’t quite see the trip out on the soft ground….

…. but with better ground underfoot tomorrow – and another year under his belt – he’s surely got a big chance under 10-07 with Danny Mullins booked for the ride again….

The other one I’m going to back is Gordon Elliott’s THREE CARD BRAG at the 25s & 22s….

He’s another with the right kind of profile for the revamped race and while there’s a suspicion in some quarters that he wants it softer than he’ll get tomorrow – I’m not so sure….

In April last year he ran in the G1 novice chase at the Punchestown Festival on something like the best ground he’s encountered to date….

…. and he ran a good race in third behind Spillane’s Tower and Monty’s Star (rated 165 & 160 now)….

…. and his trainer – who knows a thing or two about Grand National horses – thinks he’ll bounce off the decent ground at Aintree tomorrow….

He attacks his fences, he stays, and he’s been trained with this race in mind all season – with champion jockey elect Sean Bowen taking the ride for an owner he’s enjoyed plenty of previous success with….

The 8yo lacks experience with the bare minimum six chases required to run in the Grand National under his belt….

…. but that’s the trade-off if you want to get into this race well-handicapped….

The race isn’t the test it once was and if he puts it together then he can run deep….

ACT OF AUTHORITY ran a cracker in the Martin Pipe at the Festival….

…. coming from miles back – and looking all the better the further he went – to finish a clear second behind Wodhooh….

That one came out and advertised the form yesterday when improving again and running a belter behind Lossiemouth in the G1 Aintree Hurdle….

…. and OIly Murphy’s charge can get some compensation up at 3m for the first time in the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle (1.20)….

I think he’ll improve for the trip and the decent ground….

…. and the 8s is a fair price about him….

Myretown is the hot favourite for the Willam Hill Handicap Chase (2.30)….

…. and – given the way he won the Ultima – who can argue with the market’s assessment….

That said he must overcome a prescriptive 15lb hike in his rating….

…. and – at the prices – I prefer to stick with the in-form Olly Murphy and back his DOCTOR KEN at the 10s & 9s….

This 9yo has had his problems – and plenty of them – illustrated by his long breaks from action on the track….

But he was highly thought of – considered a potential Coral Gold Cup horse at one time….

…. and he could be well handicapped on a mark of just 135….

I’m not worried about another break from track action – because he has a history of producing big performances when fresh….

He’s got experience at the track, he’ll appreciate the ground, and he’s the one horse in the race that could be well ahead of the official assessor….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back next week….

Meantime – contact me direct at nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk  

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd