Grand National Festival tips: Dave Nevison's best bets for day two

The four-runner Mildmay Novices Chase might be the highlight away from the big fences over this three days and given that Bravemansgame, L’Homme Presse and Ahoy Senor have all turned up it is hard to complain about lack of runners. It will be great to watch, but my bets are in the handicaps.

1.45 Aintree: Langer Dan

He certainly deserves a change of luck and can finally take advantage of a lenient mark.

Langer Dan hasn’t run often enough since his Imperial Cup win which landed me a good bet, so I am still well in front with him but his attempts to win at the Festival subsequently have been excruciating to bear (probably more so for his connections) and I am worried he may turn into a “cliff” horse for me.

On his first run in the Martin Pipe he cruised past most of the field like the good thing he was only to find himself behind Galopin Des Champs, possibly the best handicapped horse in both England and Ireland at the time (subsequent Grade1 hurdle winner) and unsurprisingly got beat. This time he got brought down at the second hurdle which was gutting. Harry Skelton is back on board here and is the only jockey to win on him so far so hopefully that will help.

There will be several judges saying Langer Dan is no value at his odds and bookies have put him in short, but getting dropped 3lbs for a warm-up run at Taunton in February was a gift and I feel he is worth sticking with. Having been put in short, hopefully he may drift a little by the off.

4.05 Aintree: Mister Coffey

I do not have a massively strong view in this huge field handicap and will be having small bets on three contenders. Unusually though given the extra places on offer, I am probably going in win only.

Notebook is a good horse running in his first ever handicap and if taking to the fences could even outclass this field, while Mactottie has two ways of running but is back to the mark where he won the Grand Sefton in autumn 2021 and his stable is back going well.

However, my main bet will be Mister Coffey who with a trouble-free round might also have a class edge. He ran well in a handicap hurdle at this meeting last season and if he gets over the National fences really looks the type who will be suited by the long run-in on the Grand National course. He has been runner up in his last three chases - two handicaps and the Grade One Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase - and although his jumping has not always been brilliant he was doing great work throughout the last mile in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham.

Trainer Nicky Henderson won this race for three consecutive years from 2016-2018 with horses aged between six and eight so obviously has a type for this race, and although 4lbs higher than when second at the Festival Mister Coffey still looks well-enough weighted.

5.15 Aintree: Whizz Kid

This looks an excellent bit of placing by Dr Newland and, given the trainer’s record with handicappers, it is difficult to believe this race has not been well-planned for some time.

Whizz Kid was almost Listed class on the Flat when trained in Germany but raced in France. He may have disappointed on his debut over hurdles but maybe the heaviest ground he had raced on explained that run and he has certainly looked a different proposition since. He has been impressive in the lowest of company, but Whizz Kid is clearly up to this grade of handicap and higher and he has won a 16-runner Flat handicap.

Jockey Cillian Leonard is good value for his 5lbs claim and especially so in a race confined to Conditionals and Amateur riders. Provided it doesn’t pour, Whizz Kid has an excellent chance here.