Four leading Friday fancies with ratings - including 'a potential star'

After the Cheltenham humiliation, a less powerful Irish contingent allowed British-based runners to bounce back to form at Aintree on Thursday, and there are four more homegrown talents towards the head of the betting for Friday's four Grade 1s.

Here's an assessment of the quartet, with a rating out of five on the respective chance of each . . .

Forecast odds: 9-4

The Nicky Henderson-trained five-year-old announced himself as a potential star in the making when beating subsequent Betfair Hurdle winner and Supreme fourth Soaring Glory in impressive style on his debut in November.

However, Dusart hasn't been seen since then after he picked up an injury over Christmas, and he is now thrust into Grade 1 company on only his second start.

This is a much weaker contest than the Supreme, which had been the original plan, and if he reproduces the form of his Newbury bow then he should prove very difficult to beat.

Rating: Four out of five

Forecast odds: 13-8

We'll never know what would have happened if Envoi Allen hadn't fallen in the Marsh Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but that is of no concern to Chantry House, who was nonetheless an impressive winner.

He was the strongest stayer on that occasion and that bodes well as he races beyond three miles for the first time on Friday afternoon.

Chantry House: favourite for the Mildmay Novices' Chase on FridayCredit: Michael Steele

There are plenty of dangers lurking elsewhere in the field, though, which makes this a difficult assignment.

Colin Tizzard has an excellent record in the race and sends Fiddlerontheroof and The Big Breakaway, who both chased home Monkfish in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase and although Shan Blue was a long way behind Chantry House at Cheltenham, he has winning form over this longer trip.

But if Chantry House is to cement himself as a King George contender for next season, then this is the type of opposition he needs to be beating.

Four out of five

Aintree tips: one key runner from each of the five races on ITV on Friday

Forecast odds: 11-4

The loveable grey was denied the chance to defend his Queen Mother Champion Chase crown last month at the last second after he bled from the nose.

Paul Nicholls took no chances and withdrew him from the race, but all appears well now and he is vying for favouritism as he bids to continue his excellent record in the Grade 1 Marsh Chase, more commonly known as the Melling. After triumphing in 2018, he found only the high-class Min too good a year later.

Politologue looked as good as ever when winning the Tingle Creek at Sandown in December and is a long way clear of his rivals on official ratings. The danger is that there is a younger improving horse ready to overtake the ten-year-old, such as main rivals Dashel Drasher and Fakir D'Oudairies.

Four out of five

The Punt Daily: Tom Collins' free horse racing tips at Aintree on Friday

Forecast odds: 7-4

Paul Nicholls' best chance of a day two winner could be Bravemansgame, who was a highly creditable third in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle behind two top-class Irish raiders last month, and who should be more than suited by the step up to three miles.

The strapping six-year-old was hugely impressive in three runs beforehand with a defeat to Soaring Glory over an inadequate two-mile trip the only previous blemish on his record this season.

Bravemansgame: third in the Ballymore at Cheltenham last time outCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Once again it's the Irish who look most likely to spoil Bravemansgame's party, with the Emmet Mullins-trained Cape Gentleman – winner of the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices' Hurdle at Kempton in February – the main danger.

Five out of five

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Read more previews for day two at Aintree:

2.20 Aintree: exciting novice hurdler Dusart bidding to buck the trends for Nicky Henderson

2.50 Aintree: can Cheltenham star Chantry House back up Marsh form over longer trip?

3.25 Aintree: fit and fresh Politologue 'raring to go' after Cheltenham disappointment

4.05 Aintree: King hoping long-term planning can pay off with Senior Citizen in Topham

4.40 Aintree: Bravemansgame bids to add another Grade 1 on first try over three miles

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