Aintree Friday Day 2 Tips: 7/4 NAP the pick of four fancies

Another four Grade 1s feature at Aintree on Friday for the second day of the famous Grand National Festival.

Three of those top-class contests - plus one handicap hurdle - are the focus of my Aintree Friday Day 2 tips.

13:45 - Giovinco @ 9/1

I can't believe the price of GIOVINCO for the G1 Mildmay Novices' Chase.

Lucinda Russell's seven-year-old has divided opinion this season, but he showed what he's made of by finishing third at 40/1 in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month.

He was held up throughout and looked a genuine threat to eventual winner Fact To File turning for home,  but he was ultimately outclassed by a superstar in the making.

That was a serious performance which confirmed the promise the son of Walk In The Park has shown throughout his career.

There's nothing of Fact To File's calibre here. Cheltenham Festival handicap winners Chianti Classico and Inothewayurthinkin have to prove they're up to this level, as does Heart Wood and Broadway Boy to an extent - while Iroko is hard to weigh-up after being rushed back from injury.

I'm expecting a big run from Giovinco over a winning course and distance.

14:20 - Theatre Man e/w @ 10/1

Betfred are paying six places on this handicap hurdle over 2m4f and I suggest making the most of those terms with THEATRE MAN.

Richard Bandey's eight-year-old has spent this season chasing and while he's winless in four starts, he's got some strong pieces of form in the book. So strong, in fact, that he was sent off favourite for the Plate at Cheltenham last month.

He unfortunately fell at the third fence, but that means he comes here fresh - and reverts to hurdles off a four-pound lower mark.

I think that's very lenient. It may look like Theatre Man improved bundles for fencing, but for me that was more so general improvement from a lightly-raced individual. Don't forget, his last run over hurdles was a comfortable five-and-a-half-length success in a decent novice at Kempton just over a year ago.

The son of Ocovango also stays very well and handles all conditions, so he rates an excellent each-way prospect.

14:55 - Mystical Power @ 7/4

Arguably the best race on Friday is the Top Novices' Hurdle - a Grade 1 over an extended two miles.

The Supreme runner-up, third and fifth in Mystical Power, Firefox and Mistergif respectively all line up, as does Mares' Novices' hero Golden Ace. Fergal O'Brien's unbeaten Dysart Enos, who sadly missed the Cheltenham Festival, adds extra spice, while Lump Sum, Lookaway and Personal Ambition make up the numbers.

I'm strong on MYSTICAL POWER for this.

The five-year-old son of Galileo and Annie Power went into the Festival's curtain-raiser unbeaten in three starts - one bumper, a standard novice hurdle and then the G2 Moscow Flyer - and ran a blinder to finish second to Slade Steel.

On heavy ground (ignore the official going of 'soft') he made up substantial ground from the rear to get outstayed late on by a Grade 2 winner over 2m4f. It was a brilliant run and one that immediately screamed 'Aintree' to me.

I see no reason why Firefox and Mistergif, who are both significantly more exposed, will reverse that form and I think the two mares, as talented as they are, have a good bit to find on him.

This is my NAP of the day.

15:30 - Jonbon @ 5/2

Finally, it's JONBON for me in the Melling Chase.

Nicky Henderson's five-time Grade 1-winner is one of the most underrated horses in training and I think that - plus the concerns about stable form - is being factored into his price.

Only three horses have ever beaten Jonbon. They are Constitution Hill, El Fabiolo and Elixir De Nutz. I don't need to say anything about the first two and the latter is only there as a bad mistake cost Jonbon in the Clarence House Chase earlier this year.

Forget that run. It's not true form and as a result of missing the Cheltenham Festival he's had in excess of two months to get over it, so expect the Jonbon of old providing Nicky's are back to something like.

In that instance, he's surely got more than enough to beat this field. Stepping up in trip for the first time looks sure to suit and conditions are fine too. He's another strong bet for me.

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