Summary and Aintree Latest News

A decent week last week saw me bring in a 46% profit, with a total of 23 winners. If you want a list of all the winners and their SP please contact me and I will compile the list. So far this week it hasn't been quite as good, although there was small profit on Monday. Tuesday's racing only saw 3 of my picks come in, including Chella Thriller (7/2F), and Theatrical Star (11/4), but with plenty more racing to come, including the start of Aintree on Thursday, I'm fully confident in my ability to keep getting that profit. Please do keep checking back regularly for tips, as they're NOT posted EVERYDAY. 

And now onto some of the latest news ahead of this years meeting at Aintree, which starts on Thursday. 

Tony McCoy rides Oscar Whisky as he bids to win the John Smith's Aintree Hurdle for the third successive season. The eight-year-old is looking to bounce back after a rare below-par run when sent off favorite for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Barry Geraghty prefers Grandouet of the Nicky Henderson pair with Binocular missing from the final line-up.A star-studded field of nine includes Stan James Champion Hurdle third and fourth Countrywide Flame and Zarkandar.Ruby Walsh rides Zarkandar with Daryl Jacob aboard stablemate Prospect Wells.

(ZARKANDAR)
Zarkandar will wear blinkers in Saturday's John Smith's Aintree Hurdle after working well in them on Tuesday. Paul Nicholls' charge finished fourth in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last time without the headgear but has worn them in his native France.

Writing in his exclusive column at www.betfair.com/paulnicholls the champion trainer said: " I have declared Zarkandar in blinkers for the Aintree Hurdle on Thursday."As I mentioned in assessing his chance in the Champion Hurdle in these columns last month, we discussed that option at the start of the season. But after his three wins this season we saw no need to revisit the idea for the Festival. However, his run in the Champion reignited the idea.”

Confidence in the John Smith's Grand National bid of Imperial Commander is growing with the prospect of reasonable ground conditions at Aintree this week. The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero was only recently committed to the race, where he will carry top-weight.

The 12-year-old will be having just his second start since being pulled up in the 2011 Gold Cup, his first being when second in the Argento Chase at Cheltenham in January.Paul Costello, who manages the owning Our Friends In The North syndicate, said: "We're 100% going for the National now."He's in great shape and we schooled him over the National fences last week. He's telling us he wants to go for it, and that's what we shall do.”

For more news on Aintree, the Grand National and much more, check www.sportinglife.com/racing