Races
AINTREE: Friday Race Preview | Former Old Roan contender Duke Of Navan features on Merseyside
A preview for of Aintree’s Friday evening card as action on Merseyside goes on hold until October
The final race meeting until October takes place at Aintree on Friday evening as racegoers return to the stands at the Liverpool course for the first time since December 2019.
Nicky Richards’s former Old Roan fifth Duke Of Navan makes his fourth Merseyside appearance at the grand old age of 13, contesting the Racing With Pride Handicap Chase at 7:55pm under Danny McMenamin.
He reopposes Miss Amelia, who he finished three-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of in a contest at Stratford last month, with the pair now only 1lb closer in the weights.
Solar Impulse chased home subsequent Worcester winner Captain Tom Cat at the track last time out and has been given 3lbs of leeway by the handicapper, as has Thecraicisninety, who represents 2010 Grand National-winning connections JP McManus and Jonjo O’Neill.
Earlier in the card, The Tourard Man remarkably makes his second appearance as a 15-year-old for Alan King following his Southwell third in May.
He once finished fifth in the Grade 3 EFT Systems Handicap Hurdle back in 2015, and chases a first success since July 2017 for connections here under claimer, Alexander Thorne.
In doing so, he will have to overcome the likes of Bbold, who chases a second success for Dr. Richard Newland since his switch to the Worcestershire yard from Dan Skelton.
Empire De Maulde steps back up to three miles since chasing home Newland’s aforementioned Captain Tom Cat, repartnering former champion jockey Brian Hughes, with one of Fergal O’Brien’s two runners on the evening Ocean Cove carrying top weight in the 6:50pm Inkerman London Handicap Chase.
After victory at Hexham, David Pipe’s Koi Dodville is likely to head the betting for the 6:15pm Join Racing TV Now Juvenile Hurdle.
The French recruit made the perfect start to life over hurdles and carries a penalty here under Tom Scudamore, facing only inexperienced rivals and once again taking on Jamie Snowden’s Saramenha who was tailed off in Northumberland.
Seven contests take place between 5:45pm and the conclusion of the 9:00pm, with National Hunt returning to the track for October’s Autumn meeting.
