Tom Stanley's top tips for Friday: Ultragold can stage repeat at 16-1

Aintree is generally a friendly meeting punting wise. The swings provided by Cheltenham not as severe due to fewer horses backed and I have happy memories over the years. Fingers crossed that continues.

On that, I do think the extra week between the two meetings this year is a big factor and concerns of hard races at the Festival may be overplayed.

I’ve always thought this horse was talented but he’s not shown it of late. In fact he’s shown little since winning his first two starts for Tom George last season.

I remember being at George’s last year when looking at this horse, in among a host of others who have have gone on to bigger and better things, and he was complimentary about his ability.

He’s had a wind-op and that does have to work the oracle but he’s well treated and a big price at 25-1. He’s better than he has shown of late.

Colin Tizzard enhanced his great recent record at this meeting when winning the opening race on Thursday with Finian’s Oscar and he runs two in this.

I like both but Vision Des Flos is a horse who looks like he will appreciate dropping back to two miles.

His trainer has won the race he won at Exeter with some good horses, Native River included, and he looked as though the extra trip was too much for him in the Ballymore. This should suit the 6-1 chance far better.

I’m a big fan of this horse but he’s not quite at the top level over two miles, not of Altior’s class anyway.

This is a step into the unknown and he will have to be at his best to beat the Ryanair winner, who thumped Un De Sceaux last time, but he’s worth a go over this trip.

He will face lesser horses than he did over the minimum and I just wonder if Balko Des Flos was flattered last time with the ease of his win, for all he looked very good.

There was no disgrace in what the selection achieved last time and I’m on his side at 13-8.

Always Waining was a dual (well treble) winner of the Topham and Ultragold looks a fair price to follow up on last year’s win at 16-1.

He is 5lb higher now, but he will have been campaigned with this in mind and I fancy connections will be happy with his weight.

Harry Cobden is back for more, the horse ran well in the Sefton when second on heavy ground in December and, for all the ground on Friday is a niggling concern, I’m surprised he is the price he is.

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