Sportsmail's racing expert Robin Goodfellow dishes out his tips for day two of the Aintree Festival featuring the Mildmay Novices' Chase.
Topofthegame has improved since impressive win in the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival
AINTREE
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
1.45 Brio Conti (nb)
2.20 Itchy Feet
2.50 Topofthegame
3.25 Waiting Patiently
4.05 Born Survivor (nap)
4.40 Champ
5.15 Ebony Jewel
GIMCRACK
1.45 Brio Conti
2.20 Sofia’s Rock
2.50 Lostintranslation (nap)
3.25 Waiting Patiently
4.05 Activial
4.40 Lisnagar Oscar (nb)
5.15 Mcfabulous
2.20: BETWAY TOP NOVICES' HURDLE
The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle form is well represented here with third-home ITCHY FEET renewing rivalries with Felix Desjy (5th) and Aramon (6th) — and each of the trio appear to have excellent claims to land this Grade One prize.
The former narrowly gains the nod as the recent rain may make this more of a stamina test and the Cheltenham form was handed a boost when Fakir D’oudairies was narrowly beaten in the juvenile Grade One. Southfield Stone was purposely kept away from the Cheltenham undulations as he has proved his effectiveness on flat tracks this winter. A cosy defeat of Angels Breath at Kempton gives him a huge chance, with conditions likely to play to his strengths.
Sofia’s Rock has a little to find after a Ludlow romp, but it would be unwise to write him off given he is a battlehardened handicapper off the Flat.
BEST BET: ITCHY FEET
MAIN DANGER: SOUTHFIELD STONE
2.50: BETWAY MILDMAY NOVICES' CHASE
TOPOFTHEGAME could barely have been more impressive in winning a strong RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and, with connections suggesting he has improved since then, he ought to take plenty of beating.
A switch to more patient tactics paid off handsomely last time as the selection swooped to defeat Santini and Delta Work in one of the best times of the week. Even a repeat of that level would be more than good enough to secure another Grade One and it would be disappointing if he can’t enhance next year’s Gold Cup claims with an authoritative performance.
Lostintranslation would be a huge threat judged on his fine second in the JLT Chase, but his yard have been a little quiet this spring, so the forecast berth may go the way of Drovers Lane, who was 20 lengths behind Topofthegame at Cheltenham but may find today’s conditions more to his liking.
BEST BET: TOPOFTHEGAME
MAIN DANGER: DROVERS LANE
3.25: JLT MELLING CHASE
Connections reach for the cheekpieces for WAITING PATIENTLY and that may prove a shrewd move as he looked to weave around a little when trying to chase down the classy Cyrname at Ascot last time.
The selection sustained a 17-length defeat that day, but that was his first completed start of the season after suffering an early exit in the King George through no fault of his own. He should be sharper mentally and physically and has only been beaten once in fields of eight or less runners.
Politologue was a further three lengths adrift that day, but he too had an
