Lucky 15 Tips: Big day for Sir Alex and pals?

Friday, April 4 - and the second day of Aintree's magnificent Grand National Festival. More Grade 1 action this afternoon, plus the Topham which takes in the National fences - always a tremendous sight.

The seven-race card kicks in at 13:45, and it's no exaggeration to say that the racing is highly likely to be epic.

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

13:45 - Caldwell Potter @ 10/3

A brilliant way to start the day's proceedings, with tip-top G1 novice chasers battling it out over 3m 1f.

I'm siding with a very impressive Cheltenham Festival winner in the shape of Paul Nicholls' Caldwell Potter. Paul acquired this seven-year-old French-bred gelding from Gordon Elliott just over a year ago and he didn't run for new connections (owners group includes Sir Alex Ferguson) until December.

He dotted up in a little Carlisle novice before stepping up in class at Chelters, finishing behind Jango Baie, eventual winner of course of this term's Arkle.

A decent run at Windsor followed but then the defining moment - making most under an inspired Harry Cobden ride to take the Golden Miller at the Festival last month.

It was a superb performance and I can see another aggressive, attacking ride from Harry on Friday. Such tactics can often pay off on this tight, flat Mildmay circuit and though the opposition is respected (Handstands can make all pretty impressively too, and jumps very well), this former high-class hurdler can continue an inexorable climb for me up the chasing ladder.

I expect eventually for him to take a very high rank indeed.

14:20 - Wade Out @ 11/2

Handicap hurdlers now, 22 of them, and worth pointing out for those tempted to have an individual tickle that we're paying FIVE places each-way.

My suggestion represents one of the most potent combinations this season in National Hunt racing - trainer Olly Murphy and jockey Sean Bowen. Wade Out is ironically another to race in the Ferguson, Mason, Hales & Done livery, and the six-year-old Shantou gelding is enjoying a terrific time of it with three wins from five spins over timber.

He's quietly progressive and might just be able to take this step up into a hot handicap in his stride. Last time out was his best, arguably - a yawning 19l success at Wetherby (late February) in the manner of a horse going places. More is required - but more could well be under the bonnet.

Nice racing weight of 10st 11lb, and of course the mighty S Bowen is in the plate. Plenty to admire about his chances.

14:55 - Tripoli Flyer @ 3/1

Top-drawer novice hurdlers go just over 2m in another mouth-watering G1.

My selection Tripoli Flyer sidestepped Cheltenham despite taking a Kempton G2 very takingly in late February, by 7.5l. Though Aintree is a left-hand track as opposed to Kempton which 'goes' the other way, the similarities are there in that they tend to suit horses with a turn of foot; that can tuck in, travel, and pounce.

No nasty undulations, or punishing climbs to the line, etc. Front-runners do well too, but horses like Tripoli Flyer can use their gears on these flat courses to optimum effect, arguably, and are often seen to best advantage under such conditions.

That last Kempton run was comfortably a career-best and this six-year-old Getaway gelding, trained by in-form Fergal O'Brien (30% strike-rate in the last 14 days), will be ridden by regular pilot Jonathan Burke.

I very much doubt if we've got to the bottom of this one's ability and though the opposition is deep, I believe he's ready for the challenge.

15:30 - Jonbon @ 8/15

Nicky Henderson's admirable nine-year-old multiple G1-winning chaser looks to atone for a Champion Chase disappointment, after finishing a remote second to Marine Nationale (made a very bad mistake six out).

It was hard to oppose Jonbon at HQ, and it's hard to oppose him again now. Only four are slated to face the starter, and if El Fabiolo (still only eight) could recover in particular his 2023 form (especially in the Arkle, where he readily accounted for Jonbon), then we'd have a real dilemma.

Protektorat was a big disappointment to me at least at the Festival, while Matata has plenty on but is young (7), and talented. El Fabiolo then is a real danger, but if Jonbon puts in a clean round of jumping it seems to be his for the taking (er, as it was last month - and we know how that worked out)!

Regular pilot Nico de Boinville will be on top as per, and this course-and-distance scorer (he took this last term) can add another Melling Chase to his impressive CV. He could do with a pick-me-up after the disappointment of Constitution Hill yesterday.

This is an example of a Lucky 15. If you can improve upon my selections (of course you can), then go for it!

The odds can fluctuate between publishing our pieces and race-time. As a guide, a £0.50p win Lucky 15 on today's selections, at the prices, and assuming all four won, would return around £250 for your total £7.50 stake.

Fred, 'The Bonus King,' invented the 'Lucky' series of bets and their bonuses. My colleague Adam has set out all you need to know with this handy guide - take a look by clicking here.

Place a Lucky 15, Lucky 31 or Lucky 63 on Horse Racing or Greyhounds, and if all your selections run and only one of your selections win, get 3, 4 or 5 times the odds of your bet as cash.

• 5 x the Odds for One Winner on Lucky 63s
• 4 x the Odds for One Winner on Lucky 31s
• 3 x the Odds for One Winner on Lucky 15s

Lucky 15 tips from Betfred Insights.