Skidmore’s Selections - Friday Racing Tips

Aintree

14:20 - Dargiannini 9/1 1pt ew

Harry Derham has started off so well on his first season as a trainer, excelling with horses moving from other yards. One of those horses is DARGIANNINI who has looked to unlock a new lease of life since moving to Derham’s base in Lambourn.

Since falling on his first start for the yard, he has won a pair of handicap hurdles in quite good style. Firstly, beating subsequent winners West To The Bridge and Go Dante at Uttoxeter, before going on to defy trouble in running at Newbury to land a bit of a gamble.

This is a step up in class but I think he could be up to the task and is worth chancing at odds of around 9/1.

Aintree

14:15 - Luccia 7/2 1pt win

It has recently came out that LUCCIA had an interrupted preparation to the Cheltenham Festival which would give some explanation as to her below par run on the Thursday.

Connections hold her in such high regard and it was clear to see why based off of her body of work as she went into Cheltenham as an unbeaten horse after five consecutive wins. Although her hurdling can be a little sticky, her victories at Newbury and Exeter showed that she has a real engine and I think she could bounce back to form today and give the boys a real worry in this competitive contest.

Aintree

16:05 - Ashtown Lad 8/1 1pt ew

           - Bill Baxter 25/1 0.5pt ew

The Becher Chase is a good way for jockeys to get their eye in ready for the Grand National on Saturday, but it is a big race in it’s own right. This looks as competitive as ever and I am happy to take a pair against the field in ASHTOWN LAD and BILL BAXTER.

Ashtown Lad has been targeted to the minute for this race by Dan Skelton ever since winning the Becher earlier in the season and he looks to hold outstanding claims if he gets an untroubled passage today. He travelled so well around the track last time and jumped for fun before going clear up the run in and connections will be confident of a huge run after his solid prep run back over hurdles.

Bill Baxter has a very different profile but I think he is the sort of horse that could just take to the fences at Aintree. Warren Greatex’s horse is a brilliant jumper for a novice and has barely touched a twig; ignore the Hereford fall as he just overstretched after the fence. He showed this at Kelso last time when bucking off from the front and showing a great attitude to fend off his rival up the run in. The booking of Sam Twiston-Davies is a huge positive for me too especially when he could have easily got on Fantastikas instead.

Aintree

16:40 - Hurricane Bay 25/1 0.5pt ew

The market seems to have totally misjudged HURRICANE BAY who is over five times the price of his reopposing rivals from Doncaster, Maximillian and Stay Away Fay. He wasn’t beaten that far that day and actually looked the winner, trading odds on in running up the straight.

He has since shown his well-being when absolutely destroying his rivals at the same course last time out and anything over 20/1 should be played accordingly as he is more than capable of hitting the frame from what we have seen so far.

Aintree

17:15 - Punctuation 33/1 0.5pt ew

I was actually very sweet on this horse to run a massive race in the Imperial Cup at Sandown just over a month ago, but something must have been amiss that day as he was travelling strongly in 2nd place before losing his action and ended up being pulled up.

Prior to that PUNCTUATION was seen finishing 4th at Cheltenham in a very deep handicap and form like that would put him right in the mix in a similar contest today. He had won four in a row before that over hurdles, varying from 2 - 2.5 miles across a variety of conditions, so any further rain shouldn’t trouble him. Fergal O’Brien has demonstrated already he likes to attack this meeting and I think this horse is more than capable of totally outrunning his odds.