Richard Johnson’s Aintree Day 2 Tips: Romeo Coolio is RJ’s NAP of the Day

| Friday 4th April 2025, 11:57am

Friday 4th April 2025, 11:57am

We’re back at Aintree on Ladies Day this Friday, with four-time Champion Jockey Richard Johnson once again in the hot seat for us on the track in Liverpool with his Aintree Day 2 tips.

The action includes four Grade 1 contests, plus the Topham Chase run over the National fences. Richard had a disappointing first day as none of his five selections landed, but he is hoping for much better success on Day 2.

Richard Johnson's Day 2 Aintree Tips

13:45 - Caldwell Potter @ 10/3
14:20 - Blenkinsop @ 18/1
14:55 - Romeo Coolio (NAP) @ 13/8
15:30 - Jonbon @ 4/6
16:05 - Grandeur D'ame @ 12/1 & Bad @ 8/1

Odds correct at the time of publishing

Day 2 Aintree

The action gets underway with the Mildmay Novices’ Chase (13:45) run over three miles and a furlong. Richard won this race three times in his glittering career: Splendid in 1999, What’s Up Boys in 2001, with whom he’d go on and finish second in a Grand National, and Gold Cup winner Native River in 2016.

He likes the look of Caldwell Potter, who was an impressive winner in the Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month.

In the 14:20 Handicap Hurdle, Blenkinsop is the one who catches RJ's eye, which is the biggest price of his selections on Friday.

The Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle is at 14:55, a race Richard rode the winner in five times. Romeo Coolio was third in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and he is Richard's NAP of the day.

The big race of the day only has four runners. The Grade 1 Melling Chase (15:30), run over two-and-a-half miles, is headed by Jonbon, who is bidding to bounce back from his disappointing run in the Queen Mother at Cheltenham.

The Nicky Henderson-trained nine-year-old is bidding for a third-straight win at the Aintree Festival, and Richard is backing him to bounce back and win this race for the second year running.

The big betting race of the day comes in the shape of the Topham Handicap Chase (16.05), which gives the professionals a chance to take a look at the National fences. Richard won the race back in 2001 aboard Gower-Slave and the two runners he fancies in this one are Grandeur D'ame and Bad.

You can find Richard Johnson’s daily tips for the Aintree Grand National meeting on Betfred Insights, including a tip on the big race itself on Saturday.