Who To Follow On Day Two Of The Aintree Grand National Meeting 2022

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Wed 06 Apr 2022 15.17

Aintree 13:20

El Fabiolo

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

N/A

Age: 5

Weight: 11-4

OR: N/A

Days: 97

The first Grade One event of the afternoon is the Top Novices Hurdle over 2m 1/2f and we are siding with the very unexposed El Fabiolo for Willie Mullins.

The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede owned gelding was bought after running twice in France, with his last run coming at Auteuil when a good third over 2m2f.

Seen just once since moving to the Closutton maestro he bolted up on stable debut at Tramore on New Year's Day landing a Maiden Hurdle by 13 lengths.

Looking an obvious talent he has not been seen since suffering a small setback but stepping up in trip could bring improvement and it is very much unknown just how good he could be.

Form: 731View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
14/03/23	CHL	16	Sft	11-7	1
04/02/23	LEO	17	Y	11-12	1
21/12/22	FAI	16	Y/Sft	11-12	1
29/04/22	PUN	16	Gd/Y	11-12	1
08/04/22	AIN	16.5	GS	11-4	2

Nicky Henderson on Friday sends a strong team to the Liverpool based track and for that reason makes him the handler to follow on day two.

In the first race of the day he has an each way chance with Fils D'oudairies who ran a cracker at Ascot last time out and is only 2lb higher today.

He has two leading chances in the first Grade One of the afternoon with Jonbon and First Street both holding big form this season and could be tough to beat.

In the Marsh Chase Henderson fields Mister Fisher who needs to bounce back to form but in the Topham has the favourite Mister Coffey who has been knocking on the door all season and deserves to go close in this.

Henderson heads into the meeting in sparkling form, managing to land nine winners from his last 31 runners which sees him pose a 29% strike rate.

Paul Nicholls sends a strong team on Friday to Aintree and that means that Harry Cobden could be in and out of the winners enclosure.

Cobden's first big ride of the afternoon on Friday comes in the Grade One Mildmay Novices' Chase where Bravemansgame is looking to stay unbeaten over fences.

In the Marsh Chase he is looking for Saint Calvados to get back to form and then in the Topham he sends Tamaroc Du Mathan up in trip.

Finally, in the Grade One Sefton Novices' Hurdle Gelino Bello holds a leading chance off the back of his for this season.

Cobden heads into the week sporting a strike rate of 17% having five winners from his last 30 rides over the last two weeks.