Aintree’s three-day showpiece kicks off on Thursday afternoon with a star-studded seven-race card, including four feature Grade 1 contests. Will Cheltenham Festival runners rule supreme? Or will it be those who are fresh that shine on Merseyside? Our racing editor has had their say on who will come out on top on Thursday. Check out their Grand National tips, thoughts and selections below, alongside 888‘s new customer offer of £30 In Free Bets + a £10 Casino Bonus.
PIC D’ORHY – 1:45 (SSS Super Alloys Manifesto Novices’ Chase)
Only seven runners will head to post in Thursday’s opener, and although this season’s renewal perhaps lacks the quality of recent editions, very few can be totally discounted.
Irish challenger Gin On Lime receives plenty of weight from her six rivals, whilst Nick Kent’s fast-improving seven-year-old Erne River is still open to any amount of improvement on just his third chase outing.
However, the market looks to have this particular contest spot on as things stand, and despite War Lord running an encouraging race in the Arkle to finish fourth, the vote on this occasion goes to PIC D’ORHY, who has seemingly been saved for Thursday’s opening event after returning to winning ways in the Pendil novices’ at Kempton back in February.
The seven-year-old was no match for subsequent Brown Advisory winner L’Homme Presse on penultimate start in the Scilly Isles at Sandown but bounced right back to form with a determined and foot-perfect display to land Grade 2 honours when last seen. That success was his third in his last five starts over the larger obstacles and if turning up on Thursday in a similar mood, he will be tough to beat once more.
You can find the Grand National Results for every race by clicking here.
Back PIC D’ORHY here and Claim A Bet £10 – Get £40 Bonus
PIED PIPER – 2:20 (Jewson Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle)
Brazil provided trainer Padraig Roche with his first taste of success at the Cheltenham Festival last month, staying on resolutely in the closing stages to get the better of Gaelic Warrior in the Grade 3 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, despite conceding 8lb to Willie Mullins’ highly regarded French recruit.
The four-year-old certainly commands respect now upped in Grade after that Festival victory, however, it will be interesting to see how much that success at Prestbury Park took out of him and it’s worth noting that no previous Boodles winner has followed up at Aintree.
With that being the case, it’s hard to see beyond PIED PIPER who will be expected to return to the winner’s enclosure after posting a solid effort in defeat when finishing third behind Vauban in the Triumph Hurdle.
Gordon Elliot’s charge had previously defeated the aforementioned Mullins runner on stable/hurdling debut at Punchestown back in December before producing a staggering performance at Cheltenham’s Trials meeting in January, sauntering to an effortless 9l success under Davy Russell in the Grade 2 Finesse Hurdle.
Blessed with plenty of speed and stamina, Pied Piper should relish the return to a flatter track on Thursday and with that penultimate effort still fresh in the mind, the four-year-old is difficult to oppose in search of his third success over hurdles.
Back PIED PIPER here and Claim A Bet £10 – Get £40 Bonus
CLAN DES OBEAUX – 2:55 (Betway Bowl Chase)
A highly competitive renewal of the Betway Bowl Chase and certainly a difficult puzzle to solve with a host of worthy contenders looking to take home the valuable prize on offer.
Irish trained runners have taken 3 of the last 10 runnings of the Betway Bowl, most recently in 2019 with Kemboy. Willie Mullins’ star rounded off that 2019 season with a superb success in the Punchestown Gold Cup the following month but has since struggled in his most recent outings, winning just one of his last ten starts at the highest level.
A creditable third on penultimate start in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown indicates that he still possesses plenty of ability at this stage of his career, however, the ten-year-old is certainly not one for maximum faith given his questionable strike rate.
There should be more to come over staying trips from Conflated, who should appreciate the return to 3miles after coming to grief two from the finish when trying to catch runaway winner Allaho in the Ryanair Chase over 2m4f at the Festival.
Gordon Elliot’s eight-year-old had previously produced a taking display when thumping his rivals in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup back in February and should run well back up in trip if none the worse for that recent Cheltenham tumble.
Paul Nicholls endured a troublesome Cheltenham Festival, to say the least, but the yard will be confident they can bounce back at Aintree with some strong chances across the three days. Reigning champion CLAN DES OBEAUX will be looking to follow up last season’s demolition where he routed his eight rivals by 26l.
The dual King George winner followed up that impressive Aintree success with an equally remarkable performance in the Punchestown Gold Cup, defeating Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo and registering a fourth success at Grade 1 level in the process.
Paul Nicholls’ highly talented chaser returned this campaign with an encouraging second in Kempton’s Christmas feature behind Tornado Flyer and whilst many were questioning his subsequent tame effort in defeat at Newbury in the Grade 2 Betfair Denman Chase, that run can be easily overlooked as the yards runners at that particular time were operating way below their best.
First-time cheekpieces helped spark last season’s revival and if blinkers have the desired effect on Thursday, Clan Des Obeaux could roar back to form and provide champion trainer Paul Nicholls with a sixth success in this event.
Back CLAN DES OBEAUX here and Claim A Bet £10 – Get £40 Bonus
ZANAHIYR – 3:30 (Betway Aintree Hurdle)
With recent Champion Hurdle form on offer, this could turn into a match between Epatante and ZANAHIYR. Both are returning off the back of respectable efforts in defeat behind Honeysuckle, and whilst Nicky Henderson’s mare will be the pick for many punters at the weights, Gordon Elliot’s charge is given the nod with the step up in trip promising to suit.
Zanahiyr proved to be a useful juvenile for connections last season, recording a hat-trick of wins on home soil before going on to finish fourth in last year’s Triumph Hurdle. Gordon Elliot’s talented five-year-old regained the winning thread on seasonal return at Down Royal in Grade 2 company and although four subsequent starts have failed to yield further success, Zanahiyr has run with plenty of credit in defeat against Grade 1 opposition including the likes of Sharjah and unbeaten mare Honeysuckle.
The five-year-old will have to reverse the form with Epatante from their recent encounter at Cheltenham on Thursday afternoon, however, Nicky Henderson’s multiple Grade 1 winner has often raced keenly in the past and that could scupper her chances of staying the trip. Zanahiyr should have no stamina reservations on Thursday afternoon and considering connections landed this race with a similar type in Abacadabras last season, the five-year-old is taken to come out on top and get the better of Epatante this time around.
Back ZANAHIYR here and Claim A Bet £10 – Get £40 Bonus
LATENIGHTPASS – 4:05 (Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase)
Cousin Pascal provided a shock in last season’s contest, obliging at a whopping 66/1 in a race that has traditionally gone the way of those towards the top end of the betting.
The ten-year-old will certainly be a much shorter price to follow up in this year’s contest, however, Cousin Pascal made some noticeable jumping errors before pulling up at Cheltenham last time out and will need to cut out those kinds of mistakes if he is to bounce back to winning ways.
Connections of Jett and Cat Tiger are always worth following in these sorts of events but the vote goes to LATENIGHTPASS, who finished runner-up 12 months ago for trainer Tom Ellis and will be expected to go one place better after some encouraging displays in point to points.
Although not seen under Rules this season, the nine-year-old has been kept busy in the pointing scene, recording two wins from his three starts in that discipline and has seemingly been brought along with a tilt at this year’s contest very much in mind.
Connections led home the British contingent in the Cheltenham Foxhunters last month with the well supported Dubai Quest, and whilst it’s hard to assess the value of his recent point victories, the nine-year-old is clearly in form at present and should be going close.
Back LATENIGHTPASS here and Claim A Bet £10 – Get £40 Bonus
GUNSIGHT RIDGE – 4:40 (Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase)
Global Citizen put in a smart front running effort when seeing off all challengers in the Grand Annual last month. The ten-year-old was making just his sixth start over the larger obstacles on that occasion and although he is not guaranteed to get his own way in front on Thursday, there should still be improvement to come in this sphere despite a 7lb hike in the weights.
Frero Banbou finished 6l behind Ben Pauling’s charge at the Festival and would have arguably finished closer to those in front if it wasn’t for a shuddering error at the final obstacle. On significantly better terms on Thursday, Venetia Williams’ seven-year-old will be fancied to reverse the form of that recent encounter and has been well supported in the betting to do so.
However, that was a particularly gruelling race in attritional conditions and it will take a fine training performance for either of the pair to prevail at Aintree. GUNSIGHT RIDGE bypassed the Grand Annual in favour of the Red Rum Handicap Chase and perhaps connections’ patience can pay dividends.
A former winning pointer, Gunsight Ridge made his chasing debut on seasonal return over course and distance, finishing a respectable third behind Darling Du Large back in November. Shaped like a non-stayer over 2m3f on his second outing over fences at Exeter, despite finishing just 6l behind subsequent dual Grade 1 winner L’Homme Presse.
Olly Murphy’s charge made it third time lucky at Sandown when reverting back to 2miles, staying on strongly in the closing stages to defeat Bun Doran on testing ground. His latest start back at the Esher track can be best forgiven as the seven-year-old was taken on for the lead by former rival Bun Doran, the pair ultimately folding tamely in the closing stages after setting the early fractions.
If ridden with more restraint on Thursday afternoon, Gunsight Ridge could still be feasibly handicapped off 134 and after just four starts in this sphere, improvement should be forthcoming and he rates a solid selection at the current prices.
Back GUNSIGHT RIDGE here and Claim A Bet £10 – Get £40 Bonus
LAW ELLA – 5:15 (Goffs UK Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race)
The concluding mares bumper looks fiercely competitive with nine last time out winners to consider as well as several who have performed well in defeat.
It could be worth taking one at a price in this particular contest and LAW ELLA fits the bills at around 11/1. Gavin Cromwell’s five-year-old only made her debut three weeks ago at Down Royal on the same day stable star Flooring Porter landed back to back Stayers Hurdle titles at the Cheltenham Festival.
Law Ella was held on to for the majority of the 2mile contest before producing a smart turn of foot to quicken right away from her eleven rivals in the final stages under 7lb claimer Joey Dunne. Although the form from that victory has yet to be tested, it was still visually impressive from the five-year-old and she looks like a useful prospect in the making for connections.
Aidan Coleman is an eye-catching jockey booking for the yard and whilst this is a sharp rise in Grade on just her second racecourse outing, Gavin Cromwell’s mare will be expected to go close and is certainly one to take interest in, especially at the current odds.
For more Grand National Betting Offers, check out our Grand National Free Bets page
Sign up to 888sport and Claim £30 in Free Bets + a £10 Casino Bonus
Min deposit of £10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expires after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time • Withdrawal restrictions & Full T&C’s apply. gambleaware.org