The Aintree Grand National Festival gets underway on Thursday for three days of top-class racing culminating in the showpiece Grand National.
Thursday sees Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Jango Baie return to action; however, Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old favourite is not the pick of Daily Star Chief Tipster Jason Heavey. The Aintree Hurdle also brings two star hurdlers Brighterdaysahead and The New Lion eye-to-eye again.
Jason is currently leading the pack in the race to be champion tipster for 2026. He is top of the Racing Post Press Challenge which started in January and goes through to December 31. He tipped 50-1 winner Silken Bay last week at Southwell. Here are Jason’s tips for Day One of the Aintree Grand National Festival on Thursday.
1.45 Boodles Anniversary 4yo Juvenile Hurdle (Grade One)
SELMA DE VARY is a tentative choice in a wide-open renewal where the second, third and fourth in the Triumph Hurdle renew rivalry.
Willie Mullins’ mare came out worse in that bunfight but was close on the heels of both Maestro Conti and Minella Study. That was just her second run since Rich Ricci splashed the cash to buy her from Emmanuel Clayeux’s yard in France.
She raced keenly, got a fair way back and was then hampered at a crucial moment, so did not get the run of the race. However, the smaller field and better ground should suit her and the sex allowance can make a difference. Minella Study and Maestro Conti are big players and both could be more suited to the flat track.
Those shunning horses who may have had a hard race at Cheltenham could do worse than Aqua Bleu who has won three on the spin, will be fresh and will like the decent ground. He is a cracking each-way punt at 50-1. Mange Tout also missed Cheltenham and has done very little wrong in four runs.
TIP: SELMA DE VARY
Each-way: Aqua Bleu
2.20 William Hill Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade One)
LULAMBA can boost the coffers of favourite backers. The five-year-old was fourth in the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham where the trip was clearly too short and a mistake at the second last ruined any chance he may have had.
The extra half mile is ideal and as long as he jumps cleanly then Lulamba should make short work of his rivals. He holds Jax Junior on Arkle form but Lucy Wadham’s seven-year-old will love the track, ground and 2m 4f trip.
She is a fair price at 10-1 to chase home the favourite. Koktail Divin ran a solid race in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase before his stamina ran out at the business end, so the drop in trip makes sense. However he may have had a hard race.
Ben Pauling’s Mambonumberfive missed the Cheltenham Festival and he has already shown a liking for Aintree with victory at the track in November. Blueking d’Oroux is 40-1 but has a squeak.
TIP: LULAMBA
Each-way: Jax Junior
2.55 Racing Welfare Bowl Chase (Grade One)
IMPAIRE ET PASSE is tipped to upset the hot favourite Jango Baie and complete a Grade One hat-trick at Aintree.
The eight-year-old is unbeaten at the track – two wins from two – and was super impressive in winning the Manifesto Novices Chase 12 months ago. He fluffed his lines at Cheltenham in the Ryanair but a return to Merseyside should relight his fire.
Jango Baie chased home Gaelic Warrior in the Gold Cup and is a worthy favourite. I just don’t like his price (4-5f) and this race has been a graveyard for Cheltenham runners down the year. The 4-1 about Impaire Et Passe makes much more appeal.
Spilane’s Tower is likely to run here instead of the Grand National but Jimmy Mangan will check the ground. The same applies to Protektorat who usually runs well at Aintree and will be fresh after missing the March jamboree. Pic D’Orhy is another big priced Paul Nicholls runner who cannot be ruled out. He’ll love the ground.
TIP: IMPAIRE ET PASSE
Each-way: Pic D’orhy
3.30 Randox Foxhunters Open Hunters Chase
BARTON SNOW looks a cut above his rivals and should win with a clear round and plenty of luck in a massive field.
He won the Cheltenham Foxhunters when he was given a confident ride from Henry Crow, who gets the leg-up again. Cheshire trainer Joe O’Shea claims his horse would beat Constitution Hill on the gallops, so there is no lack of confidence.
O’Shea won this race last year with Gracchus De Balme and the 10-year-old is a lovely each-way price at 20-1.
Its On The Line won this two years ago and was second to Barton Snow at Cheltenham – he looks a shoo-in for a place. The race should suit Unexpected Party who has a bit of class and has been well backed.
Elsewhere Sir Alex Ferguson’s Golden Son should give Olive Nicholls – daughter of Paul – a good spin around the Grand National fences and he is another with place claims, while Gaboriot (33-1) goes particularly well over these fences and the ground has come right for the 10-year-old.
TIP: BARTON SNOW
Each-way: Gaboriot
4.05 William Hill Aintree Hurdle
THE NEW LION can get the better of what looks like a shootout with Irish mare Brighterdaysahead. It is the first time this season Dan Skelton’s star hurdler has got his optimum trip of 2m4f.
He did not have the speed to trouble Lossiemouth in the Champion Hurdle over two miles and should be more at home here.
The New Lion ran on well and was just half a length behind Brighterdaysahead at Cheltenham and there will not be much between them. The ground may be a tad too quick for Gordon Elliott’s crack mare.
Golden Ace and Alexei were not far behind in the Champion Hurdle and will relish the ground. Both will be waiting to pick up the pieces if the big two perform under par. In fact, Golden Ace is a fair old each-way price at 16-1.
El Fabiolo continues on the comeback trail and has been well supported as he tries to rebuild his career back over hurdles while Potters Charm is very good at this trip and sidestepped Cheltenham to wait for today.
TIP: THE NEW LION
Each-way: Golden Ace
4.40 Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase
SANS BRUIT goes for an incredible hat-trick of wins in this competitive handicap. He comes alive at Aintree and for the past two years has jumped his rivals into the ground from the front.
Conditions should be perfect and he is only 3lb higher in the weights than 2024 and 2025. Harry Cobden can give Paul Nicholls a winner as he prepares to leave the yard and ride for JP McManus.
Highlands Legacy looks a big danger, while it will be interesting to see which of McManus’ five runners is best supported in the betting. His Inthepocket came down at the second last in the Grand Annual when he still had a small chance.
Palamon is interesting at the foot of the weights. He sneaks in via a penalty for winning at Bangor and Harry Atkins takes off a handy 7lb.
He makes some each-way appeal along with Jasko Des Dames, who led at the second last in the Grand Annuel at Cheltenham and will be more suited to this sharper track.
TIP: SANS BRUIT
Each-way: Palamon
5.15 Goffs Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race
IT WOULD BE YOU is a sporting punt to cause an upset for northern trainer Jennie Candlish. There was plenty to like about the way the four-year-old filly quickened away to win a Catterick bumper in March.
Sean Quinlan had a steering job that day and crack Irish rider Darragh O’Keeffe gets the leg-up today. It Would Be You is an outsider at 28-1 but she gets a handy age allowance and this race has thrown up a few big price winners in the past.
I liked the way Martini Majesty won her only start at Ascot and she looks overpriced at 14-1 for Alan King who has won this three times with Senorita Rumbalita, Avispa and The Glancing Queen.
The market is made by the unbeaten £170,000 recruit Princess Day who impressed in winning both starts at Newbury and Chepstow for trainer Jeremy Scott.
Her odds look fairly skinny, as do those of Dan Skelton’s Nan’s Choice who changed hands for £115,000 after winning at Gowran Park in Ireland in February.
TIP: IT WOULD BE YOU
Each-way: Martini Majesty