Rory Delargy provides the Grand National day pointers and he's siding with Willie Mullins in the big one.
Racing betting tips: Saturday April 5
0.5pts e.w Building Bridges in the 1.20 Aintree at 40/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3,4,5) – min 28/1
1pt e.w Strong Leader in the 3.05 Aintree at 5/1 (General – 1/5 1,2,3) – min 9/2
1pt e.w Nick Rockett in the 4.00 Aintree at 25/1 (General – 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6) – min 22/1
1:20 Aintree - William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle 3m149y
With the field thinning out and most of the runners tending to be held up, this might go to one who can control the pace from the front, and we both thought that BUILDING BRIDGES was on a fair mark after beating Idem at Perth in September, and this gelding is at his best when making the running.
Building Bridges has a lifetime record of 31131413 when setting the pace, and has shown some of his best form on a sound surface. He’s been off since running well to be third on the Flat in October over 2m, but has an excellent record fresh, with five of his six wins for Gary McGill coming off a break.
3:05 Aintree - Ivy Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m149y
Olly Murphy is trying to land back-to-back renewals of the Liverpool hurdle with STRONG LEADER and we are both of a mind to forgive his run in the Cleeve Hurdle which came fairly quickly after wind surgery and at a course where he has a mixed record. He has always been at his best in the spring, and we expect him to bounce back to his best returned to Aintree and on good ground. He has been beaten only once in three runs at this track, when runner-up in the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle at this meeting two years ago.
4:00 Aintree - Randox Grand National Handicap Chase 4m2f74y
Intense Raffles is weighted to beat NICK ROCKETT on their running in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse, but the Irish National winner has done all his racing on soft ground, whereas Nick Rockett – who did win that race, after all – was a good third in the Bet365 Gold Cup last season and improved markedly when winning the Thyestes Chase at Gowran in January. Paul Townend deserts him for I Am Maximus, which is understandable, but the market has overreacted to that, and while he has less chance with Patrick on board, that didn’t stop Gaelic Warrior earlier in the week. He’s the one horse we both have high on our shortlists, so it makes finding a selection easy.
Iroko looks best of the home team having caught the eye of the stewards earlier in the season. His second to Inothewayurthinkin here a year ago looks very smart form, but he’s managed to keep the handicapper at arm’s length since and is clearly well handicapped.
Published at 0945 BST on 05/04/25
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