Katie Walsh’s Aintree Day 2 Tips: Cheltenham form to the fore

The Aintree Grand National Festival continues on Friday, Ladies Day, with what looks like another great day’s racing.

We have four Grade 1s, plus the Topham Handicap Chase, which gives the jockeys the first chance to see those fabulous Grand National fences before the big race tomorrow.

We’re teaming up with Katie Walsh again for the Festival, an ex-jockey who knows all about this meeting and the Grand National, having ridden Seabass to a third-place finish in 2012 behind Neptune Collonges.

Katie will be on hand to share her wisdom throughout the Festival, beginning with her Aintree Day 2 tips.

14:20 - Mildmay Novices’ Chase - Gold Dancer @ 4/1

Second up is the Mildmay Novices’ Chase and we’re talking about another wide-open field. 

I’m going to go with Gold Dancer, who ran a cracker for Sean Cleary-Farrell at Cheltenham the last day (second in the Jack Richards).

He has Paul Townend on board today, which is a big difference.

You can follow Katie's selections and all our other Grand National Betting Tips on our dedicated Insights Grand National Hub!

14:55 - Top Novices’ Hurdle - Sober Glory @ 8/13

I’m going for Sober Glory for Philip Hobbs & Johnson White in the Top Novices’ Hurdle at 14:55.

He was second at the (Cheltenham) Festival, with a bad mistake at the last behind Old Park Star, so he was a bit unlucky.

If he comes here in that kind of form again, he’s going to be hard to beat.

15:30 - Melling Chase - Solness @ 10/1

Heart Wood comes here off the back of winning the Ryanair Chase quite impressively at Cheltenham for Henry De Bromhead and Darragh O’Keefe, whose horses are in sparkling form (winner on Thursday).

I’m actually going to go for Solness for Joseph O’Brien, who is a bit of value at 10/1.

He ran a cracker at Christmas time, he’s off a bit of a break, and if he bucks out and goes, he’ll be pretty hard to peg back.

16:05 - Topham Handicap Chase - Lisnamult Lad @ 14/1

The Topham Chase is a great race. A great race to ride in.

There’s a short run to the first fence, so you need loads of pace. It’s another wide-open race, it always is, when you get to take part over these National fences.I’m going to go for one who was touched off in this last year, for Ian Patrick Donaghue, Lisnamult Lad, very unlucky in this race last year, just got nabbed on the line.

16:40 - Sefton Novices’ Hurdle - Johnny’s Jury @ 3/1

The penultimate race of the day is the Sefoton, and it’s Johnny’s Jury for me.

Now ridden by Jonathan Burke, but given a great ride by Gavin Sheehan to win the Albert Bartlett (at Cheltenham) the last day. It wasn’t ideal that day; he missed the start and got up on the line.

He had to do everything the hard way. If he gets everything right on Friday, it should be an awful lot easier contest for him.

17:15 - Debenhams Handicap Hurdle - Harry Lowes @ 7/2

We finish the day with a handicap hurdle over two miles and half a furlong.

I’d have to go for the favourite Harry Lowes.

Dan Skelton’s been so competitive in handicaps all year, but he’s 4/1 for McManus, so I don’t mind putting him up for selection here.

Like the look of Katie's day 2 picks or fancy something else? You can find all the latest Aintree Day 2 odds over on Betfred.com