Placepot Pointers: Tote racing's guide to day two of the Grand National meeting

After an exceptional opening day at Aintree, we roll on to day two of the Grand National Festival. The Placepot has paid three figures on day two of this meeting in the last three years, so there’s value to be had for those managing to navigate the six legs.

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Nicky Henderson may have failed to hit the his usual galactic heights this season but his record in Leg 1 (13:45) speaks for itself, with five of the last ten winners being saddled by the Seven Barrows maestro.

He’s double-handed here, but the one we like is MISTER COFFEY. We last saw him finishing seventh in the Betfair Hurlde, where he just got tapped for toe a couple of furlongs out, before staying on strongly into seventh place. He contests this off 1lb lower and we can see the step up in trip suiting. He still looks like he’s filling out, so we could see some further improvement here.

It’s a competitive looking race, however, so we’ll have a couple on our slip and JACAMAR looks like one who could run a very big race. He won here back in October and was last seen over hurdles denying Southfield Harvest at Wincanton, where they pulled well clear of the rest of the field. He probably has a better chance than the betting suggests.

Fusil Raffles did little to inspire confidence in the form of the Marsh on day one, but nevertheless we’re sticking to our guns with CHANTRY HOUSE (14:50, Leg 3). He’s a horse who has plenty of class, finishing third in a strong Supreme back in 2019. Had Envoi Allen stayed on his feet at the Festival, it would have provided a truer gauge of where he’s at but the speed figures indicate that it was no weak contest. He shapes as though he’ll enjoy this step up in trip and he could be a live outsider for the 2022 Gold Cup.

THIRD TIME LUCKI (14:20, Leg 2) ran a belter in the County Hurdle, a race which was ran in faster time than the Triumph. He hit the front a little too soon and the race was set up for a closer. This doesn’t look as deep a contest and, while he might not go off favourite, you can be confident he’ll hit the frame here.

With eight of the last 10 winners of the Topham returning at a double-figure dividend, it’s certainly worth looking at those further down the betting in the hunt for a chunky a Placepot payout. Willie Mullins has the favourite here, but it’s ROBIN DES FORET (16:05, Leg 5) who could well run a big race. He won last time out at Clonmel and is a big bold jumper who should enjoy the test these fences present.

In the Melling Chase, arguably the race of the day, NUTS WELL (15:25, Leg 4) has a live chance of making the frame. He’s beaten Aye Right and Clondaw Castle this season, the latter of which was over course and distance, and that form stacks up well. He’s been kept nice and fresh for this and he could run a big race.

Leg 6 (16:40) is a tricky race, with several of these seemingly underperforming in the Albert Bartlett turning up here. Cape Gentleman was very good when grinding down Calico at Kempton, but this is a different test entirely. Streets of Doyen ran well enough at Cheltenham, but he’s exposed here and vulnerable to improvers.

ALAPHILLIPE was one of those aforementioned underperformers, but on his win at Haydock he has to have a good chance here. SIZABLE SAM is a chaser in the making, but looks worth another chance in this sphere. He was a bit keen last time out but prior to that this imposing 6yo had been impressive when scoring a double at Wincanton. If he can settle better, he could run a big race.

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Leg 1: Mister Coffey, Jacamar

Leg 2: Third Time Lucki

Leg 3: Chantry House

Leg 4: Dashel Drasher, Nuts Well

Leg 5: Livelovelaugh, Robin Des Foret

Leg 6: Alaphillipe, Sizable Sam

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