All Eyes on Lulamba and Jango Baie at Aintree
Thursday's action kicks off with racing from four venues — Aintree, Southwell, Wolverhampton, and Taunton — but the undeniable focus is on Aintree's seven-race card, where Nicky Henderson looks set to dominate with his high-class duo Lulamba (4/7, 14:20) and Jango Baie (6/5, 14:55). Both appear poised for success on good-to-soft going, and punters will need to decide whether to take the skinny odds or seek value elsewhere. Let’s break down the standout races and runners across all 27 contests.
Lulamba (14:20 Aintree): Henderson's Star to Shine in the Novices' Hurdle
Kicking off Aintree's feature races today is the Novices' Hurdle over 2m 3f 200y. Lulamba (4/7) heads the market with good reason. A classy performer by Fame And Glory, this six-year-old was an easy winner last time out at Ludlow, beating a strong field by four lengths on heavy ground. The drop back to today’s good-to-soft going shouldn’t present any issues — in fact, his hurdles form suggests he might even improve for it.
Add to this the booking of Nico de Boinville, who boasts a staggering 21% strike rate over jumps this year, and it's clear why Lulamba is such a warm order. Connections will expect him to dictate proceedings from the front, and the relatively small field of 8 makes this even more straightforward. For punters seeking accumulators, this may feel like a banker.
Should you fancy an alternative, keep an eye on Chianti Sunrise (5/1). He’s consistent but may lack the outright class to trouble Lulamba. View the full field on the Aintree 14:20 racecard.
Jango Baie (14:55 Aintree): A Stayer in the Making
Next up at Aintree is the 3-mile-210-yard Handicap Hurdle, where Henderson's Jango Baie (6/5) looks to cement himself as a potential chaser for next season. Punters won’t have missed his progressive form: three runs this season have yielded two wins, including an eye-catching victory at Ascot on similarly good-to-soft ground.
Despite the 6lb rise in the weights, Jango Baie’s profile suggests he’s still on an upward trajectory. De Boinville is once again in the saddle, and with only 7 runners declared, there’s a good chance this race could turn tactical. His main threat comes from Millstone Peak (3/1), who’s been knocking on the door with two runner-up efforts in testing company. For head-to-head comparisons, see the detailed analysis on our runner comparison tool.
Wolverhampton: On The Inlet (20:00) a Tapeta Banker
While all eyes will be on Aintree for the jumps action, flat fans will have their appetites whetted by Wolverhampton’s evening meeting on the Tapeta surface. The standout selection here is On The Inlet (2/7) in the 7f 36y Conditions Stakes under Hollie Doyle.
This filly is unbeaten in three starts and was last seen streaking clear in a Class 2 contest at Kempton. Trained by the Dr R Newland & J Insole partnership — who are flying with a 32% strike rate on the all-weather this season — this race should be little more than a canter for her. For punters wary of taking such short odds, she could easily anchor a multiple bet. Explore more accumulator options involving On The Inlet.
Southwell: Down To The Kid (16:55) Worth a Look
Southwell offers lesser-stakes action but still has a few intriguing betting angles. Chief among them is Down To The Kid (2/1) in the closing 1m handicap (16:55). Trained by M Herrington and ridden by Neil Callan, this four-year-old gelding comes into today’s contest off the back of an encouraging second over course and distance last time out.
The standard all-weather surface here at Southwell suits him perfectly, and the AI data marks him out as having an excellent chance with a projected 8% expected value. With 12 runners declared for this handicap, there’s just enough depth for each-way punters to look elsewhere, but Down To The Kid offers the most likely win option.
Value Bets and Each-Way Fancies
For those seeking bigger prices, there are a few noteworthy outsiders to consider:
- Moroder (25/1, 16:15 Taunton) – A solid performer at this trip in the past, and despite a patchy recent record, the price looks too big.
- Coolagh Magic (11/1, 18:30 Wolverhampton) – William Carson takes the ride on this consistent all-weather handicapper who’s well-treated on old form.
- Billey Shiftit (125/1, 17:15 Aintree) – A speculative choice for those seeking a small-stake flutter. While the odds are enormous, a third-place finish isn’t impossible in this big field.
Explore more each-way selections for Thursday.
Best Bets Summary
Here are our top bets of the day:
- Lulamba (4/7, 14:20 Aintree): Banker material in the Novices' Hurdle.
- Jango Baie (6/5, 14:55 Aintree): Henderson’s stayer to deliver again.
- On The Inlet (2/7, 20:00 Wolverhampton): High-confidence pick on the Tapeta surface.
- Down To The Kid (2/1, 16:55 Southwell): A reliable selection to round out the Southwell card.
- Moroder (25/1, 16:15 Taunton): A lively longshot with each-way potential.
Don’t forget to check for non-runners before placing your bets and use our betting calculator to manage your stakes. With 27 races to enjoy, there’s something for every punter today.
