talkSPORT betting tips – Best Grand National bets and expert advice on Saturday
Aintree will be the focus of Britain's sporting world on Saturday afternoon as the Merseyside venue comes to life for the 2024 Grand National.
The culmination of the three-day meeting includes the big race itself at 4.00, as well as three more Grade 1 contests, headlined by the Liverpool Hurdle at 3.05.
Enda McElhinney has four plays for Aintree on Saturday afternoon, including one in the Grand National itself.
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Selections
- 1.20 Aintree – Black Bamboo
- 3.05 Aintree – Strong Leader
- 4.00 Aintree – Galia Des Liteaux
- 5.00 Aintree – Found A Fifty
1.20 Aintree – Black Bamboo
The opener is a tough handicap hurdle over three-miles-plus and features plenty that excelled at Cheltenham last month in various races. BLACK BAMBOO finished a commendable sixth in the Coral Cup, a handicap contest from which winner Langer Dan emerged to almost win a Grade 1 here on Thursday. John Murphy's charge made up some good late ground from the rear at Cheltenham and his Dublin Racing Festival effort gives hope that going back up in trip will suit. He's far from exposed, especially at this distance, and should go well under Sean Flanagan.
3.05 Aintree – Strong Leader
The Grade 1 JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle over three-miles-and-half-a-furlong features plenty of familiar names to fans of this division, including the likes of Champ, Dashel Drasher, Flooring Porter and last year's winner, Sire Du Berlais. There are reasons to doubt that cast, not least advancing years, while Crambo was disappointing at Cheltenham last month for Fergal O'Brien and the Long Walk winner has something to prove now.
STRONG LEADER was best of these in January's Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham, finishing third on his maiden attempt at three-miles, as he was beaten just over a length behind Noble Yeats and the now-retired Paisley Park. He made up some good late ground, but couldn't peg back the front two up the hill. This track may suit him better, with a pleasing record in two visits, and there could be more to come at this trip, especially here.
4.00 Aintree – Galia Des Liteaux
Dan and Harry Skelton arrived into this meeting off the back of their best-ever Cheltenham Festival and it would cap some spring for the brothers if they can land the National. Such a win, and the £500,000 prize that goes with it, would also likely propel Dan into an unassailable lead in his quest to become Britain's champion trainer for the first time.
The mare GALIA DES LITEAUX gives them a solid chance. She ran well here as a novice last season in a race won by Gerri Colombe and has made progress this season, winning at Market Rasen on comeback in November and then going close at Newbury before Christmas, both times against her own sex.
At Warwick in January she well and truly advertised her stamina claims with a closing second behind My Silver Lining in the 3m5f Classic Chase on soft ground. The winner has advertised that form subsequently, while it's easy enough to forgive the mare a lesser effort when dropped in trip at Exeter in February.
She's relatively fresh coming here, which bodes well, and has a nice racing weight to carry off 10st 7lb, so the 25/1 attached to her claims with SIX places looks worthy of an interest.
5.00 Aintree – Found A Fifty
Consistency has been key for FOUND A FIFTY this season as a novice chaser, with figures of 12122 so far, including silver medals from the Irish Arkle and the Cheltenham version on his last two starts. He was edged out by Il Etait Temps in the former race, before finding Gaelic Warrior in irresistible form in the Cotswolds. Il Etait Temps shone a hugely positive light on that form when scoring here on Thursday and Gordon Elliott's charge can do likewise now in the final Grade 1 of the meeting.
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