Horse Racing Betting Tips: All I’m asking is for a little Respect in Betway Bowl
ASK ANYBODY on the street to name one horse race and you can be pretty sure the vast majority will say the Grand National.
There is no race quite like it, but Aintree have done a great job to make the rest of the Randox Health Grand National Festival so popular.
Fun is the name of the game at this meeting. The pressure and intensity of Cheltenham is over and people flock in their droves to this famous course to have a good time and enjoy some fantastic racing.
The quality of day one is undeniable with four straight Grade Ones kicking things off with a bang.
For many, the highlight is the Betway Bowl (2.50pm) which normally features a few contenders from last month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.
This year is no different with the third, fifth and sixth, as well as one who unseated his rider at the first, turning up to try to claim this valuable prize.
Bristol De Mai did the best of these in that race and he was also second to Might Bite in this contest 12 months ago.
The rain that fell on Tuesday will have helped his cause, but he often gets beat away from his beloved Haydock and he’s only 3/1 here.
Clan Des Obeaux should appreciate both the return to a flatter track and the drop in distance following his respectable Gold Cup effort.
He seemed to run out of stamina that day, but on his King George form he’s the one they all have to beat.
The problem with both of those two is that they had hard races at Cheltenham and of the market leaders, I prefer the claims of Kemboy.
He has been highly progressive this season and was a little unlucky to make a mistake at the first in the Gold Cup, unshipping David Mullins.
That at least meant he didn’t have a proper race and Ruby Walsh takes over today to ride him for just the second time.
Although he must have a big chance, there isn’t a huge amount between the market principles and I’d rather back ROAD TO RESPECT at 5/1.
Regular readers will know I tipped him in last month’s Ryanair Chase, but he really needs three miles these days.
He still ran very well to be third and surely would have finished closer if he hadn’t made a bad mistake three out.
He has been remarkably consistent throughout his career, never falling or failing to complete in 23 starts under rules.
Since joining Noel Meade in October 2016, he has run over fences 16 times and has never finished worse than fourth.
Beaten just a short-head by Bellshill in the Irish Gold Cup in February, he can win his second Grade One of the season this afternoon.
There are always plenty of competitive handicaps at this meeting, none more so than the Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (4.40pm).
Dan and Harry Skelton had a fantastic Cheltenham with a couple of winners and their Azzuri has been a major ante-post gamble in this race.
As big as 50/1 when the market opened up, he is now a best-priced 9/1 with Ladbrokes.
He has been dropped a massive 12lbs in just three chase starts this winter, so is now down to a more winnable mark.
His best form has come on a sounder surface, though, so the recent rain won’t have helped his chances, while he has been in such bad form it would take a massive leap of faith to back him at his current price.
I prefer the claims of EAMON AN CNOIC for the in-form David Pipe team.
He ran a cracker in the Brown Advisory Plate at the Festival last month, finishing fourth to Siruh Du Lac.
I think that is very strong form and I’m convinced a fast-run two miles is exactly what he wants.
At 11/2 with Coral, he looks a great each-way bet with everything in his favour.
POINTERS
Road To Respect 2.50pm Aintree
Eamon An Cnoic e/w 4.40pm Aintree