Aintree Grand National Meeting: Day 1 Tips
The Grand National meeting is back on Thursday and day 1 has no fewer than four Grade 1 contests on the card.
The feature race on Thursday is the Aintree Hurdle (16:05) where The New Lion and Brighterdaysahead face off again.
We have selections and analysis for all seven races on the card, including a couple of value picks at attractive odds.
13:45 Aintree - 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle
The action kicks off with a cracking Grade 1 juvenile contest and it could be a good chance for Maestro Conti to get a first Grade 1 on the board.
He wasn’t seen at his best when held up off the pace in the Triumph Hurdle at last month’s Cheltenham Festival but that effort still sets the standard for this race.
Selection: Maestro Conti
14:20 Aintree - Manifesto Novices' Chase
This could be a bit more open than the betting suggests and one that might be capable of plenty of improvement stepping up in trip is Mambonumberfive.
He’s looked outpaced at times, even when winning this season, but it’s worth putting a line through his Warwick effort when last seen as he did not take to that unique track.
Selection: Mambonumberfive
14:55 Aintree - Bowl Chase
Jango Baie has done very little wrong in his career so far. He wasn’t beaten far in the King George before finishing runner-up in the Gold Cup last time out and if he doesn’t find this run coming too soon, he should be too good for these rivals.
Selection: Jango Baie
15:30 Aintree - Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase
Last year’s winner, Gracchus De Balme, may have pulled up at Cheltenham last month but the return to the scene of his greatest success may have always been the plan and he won this contest with plenty in hand last season.
This looks tougher, particularly with an in-form stablemate in opposition, but he’s been completely forgotten about in the market.
Selection: Gracchus De Balme
16:05 Aintree - Aintree Hurdle
A step up in trip could be the key for The New Lion, who looked outpaced when third in the Champion Hurdle last month.
He still looks like a work in progress but the way he finished off at Cheltenham suggests this distance will be more to his liking.
Selection: The New Lion
16:40 Aintree - Handicap Chase
Jasko Des Dames could be the one worth chancing at the odds. He ran better than his finishing position suggests at Cheltenham last month and looks like a major threat to those towards the head of the market with a 1lb lower mark this time.
Selection: Jasko Des Dames
17:15 Aintree - National Hunt Flat Race
Princess Day could be the one to send favourite backers home happy. This daughter of Success Days is unbeaten in three runs so far, a point-to-point and two bumpers.
Furthermore, she’s proven on this sort of ground and she looked like she was well worth a crack at graded level when winning at Newbury last month.
Selection: Princess Day
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation