Aintree day 1 tips: Paul Kealy's best bet as the Grand National festival kicks off

Alexei

4.05 Aintree

The bookmakers can't seem to split Brighterdaysahead and The New Lion in the William Hill Aintree Hurdle (4.05), and that's understandable given only a half a length separated them when they were second and third to Lossiemouth in the Champion Hurdle.

However, I thought Alexei had every chance of finishing second ahead of them before hitting the last and almost losing his hind legs on landing and I can't let him go unbacked at a much bigger price.

A winner over 2m3f on his debut a couple of seasons ago, he does have to prove himself at that sort of trip in this grade, but he has always looked strong at the end of his races and he's well worth his place in this line-up.

His only defeat in four runs before the Champion came when he was third at Ascot, but he was giving 12lb to the subsequent County winner Wilful, who is 18lb higher now, 24lb to the runner-up, who then beat Wilful at Windsor and finished second in the Martin Pipe, and the same to the fourth, who then won the Imperial Cup. There is no hotter handicap form in Britain or Ireland.

Alexei16:05 Aintree

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Jky: Brendan Powell Tnr: Joe Tizzard

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'He's well worth his place in this line-up' - Paul Kealy with four selections for Aintree on day one 

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