Aintree Grand National Meeting - Saturday Selections

The most iconic race in jump racing, The Grand National takes centre stage on Saturday afternoon with 40 runners all bidding to create their own piece of history and etch their name on the famous roll of honour. Our racing editor has delved into Saturday’s card and provided a selection to follow in each of the seven contests this weekend. Check out their thoughts and selections below, alongside Bet365‘s new customer offer of Bet £10 Get £50 In Free Bets.

PARTY BUSINESS – 1:45 (EFT Construction Handicap Hurdle)

The opening contest on Saturday looks like a fiercely competitive handicap with several holding claims in some shape or form. Anthony Honeyball’s unbeaten hurdler Serious Charges commands plenty of respect as does race favourite Winter Fog, who has only raced twice for trainer Emmet Mullins and was last seen finishing fourth at the Cheltenham Festival in the Pertemps Network Final. 

Another individual that was last seen at the Festival was Ian Williams’ PARTY BUSINESS, who endured a torrid passage in the concluding Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle. Hampered over the second and fourth flight of hurdles, Party Business remained settled towards the rear of the field before making eye-catching headway as they climbed the famous Cheltenham hill. Forced to switch late in the day, Ian Williams’ charge was beaten less than seven lengths at the line after staying on strongly and was certainly unlucky not to finish closer to those in front. 

Party Business should relish stepping up to 3miles on the evidence of his latest performance and considering the trainer has experienced notable Aintree success in the past with the likes of Wayward Prince (2010 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle), it would be no surprise to see the lightly-raced six-year-old outrun his current odds and take a sizeable step forward after his recent Festival misfortune. 

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THREE STRIPE LIFE – 2:25 (Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle)

Gordon Elliot and Davy Russell didn’t get the result they were after on Thursday as Pied Piper was demoted from first and placed second in the Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle. The team will be looking to get off the mark on Saturday, however, with THREE STRIPE LIFE, who lost little in defeat when last seen at the Cheltenham Festival, finishing behind the impressive Sir Gerhard once again in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.

Despite only winning once over hurdles this season for connections, Three Stripe Life has developed into a very smart novice. Fourth in last season’s Champion Bumper behind Sir Gerhard, Gordon Elliot’s charge made a successful transition over timber on seasonal return at Fairyhouse, keeping on well under hands and heels to readily score by six lengths over the 2mile trip. 

Runner-up behind stablemate Mighty Potter in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown over Christmas, the six-year-old returned to the venue in February when renewing his rivalry with Willie Mullins’ stable star at the Dublin Racing Festival. Despite seemingly travelling the best turning into the home straight, Three Stripe Life was unable to quicken in the closing stages and ultimately finished six lengths behind Sir Gerhard. However, that margin was significantly reduced when the pair clashed at last month’s Festival over 2m5f in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. 

Gordon Elliot’s six-year-old has the strongest form on offer in this particular event and whilst he only has one win to his name so far over hurdles, Three Stripe Life appreciated the step up in trip when last seen and remains completely unexposed over trips beyond 2miles. With improvement to come, he is a confident selection to return to the winner’s enclosure this weekend. 

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EDWARDSTONE – 3:00 (Poundland Maghull Novices’ Chase)

Gentleman De Mee has taken his form to new heights since switching to the larger obstacles this season. Finishing fifth and second on his opening two starts over fences, the six-year-old scored by a whopping thirty-four lengths at Thurles before thumping the 140 rated Grange Walk by sixteen lengths in Grade 3 company at Navan earlier last month. 

Willie Mullins’ trailblazer will be suited by the flatter track at Aintree this weekend, however, he is likely to face stiff competition for the lead with the likes of For Pleasure in the lineup and could set this up perfectly for clear form choice, EDWARDSTONE. 

Brought down on his opening chase start last November, Alan King’s charge has gone from strength to strength this season over the larger obstacles. Off the mark at the second attempt at Warwick, a first Grade 1 triumph soon followed for the eight-year-old at Sandown in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase in December where he displayed a professional attitude to defeat War Lord by sixteen lengths. 

After impressively recording back to back Grade 2 victories at Kempton and Warwick in the Wayward Lad and Kingmaker, Alan King’s star novice lined up in the Arkle at last month’s Cheltenham Festival. Despite being hampered at the fourth last and bumped when challenging two from the finish, the eight-year-old stayed on well on the climb to the line to run out a comfortable winner by four and a quarter lengths, taking his record over fences to five from six in the process and cementing his reputation as one of the best 2mile novice chasers seen in Britain and Ireland this term. 

Alan King’s charge will bid to become the fourth horse in the last ten years to win the Arkle and Maghull Novices’ Chase and whilst he is unproven over fences at the Merseyside track, Edwardstone should have little trouble in registering his third Grade 1 success and is confidently expected to justify favouritism on Saturday afternoon. 

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THYME HILL – 3:35 (JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle)

Flooring Porter landed back to back Stayers’ Hurdle titles at the Festival last month and Gavin Cromwell’s talented stayer will be expected to strike once again. Victory last time out for the seven-year-old provided a memorable moment in the winner’s enclosure for his loyal owners, and similar post-race scenes could be on display on Merseyside this weekend. 

However, this can go the way of THYME HILL, who is taken to turn the tables on the aforementioned Irish raider after their clash at Cheltenham, now returning to the scene where he was last successful. 

Prevailing by a neck from Roskana in this very race 12 months ago, Philip Hobbs’ stable star was expected to take high rank amongst the staying division this campaign. However, after a below-par performance at Auteuil on seasonal reappearance, those early season aspirations certainly took a dent or two. 

Returning in the Grade 1 Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December, the eight-year-old faired significantly better than his previous outing, keeping on well for second behind eventual winner Champ. 

A respectable effort behind Flooring Porter at the Festival confirmed his well-being after an 89-day break, and whilst he has some work to do to reverse that form, Phil Hobbs’ stayer is taken to come out on top now returning to Aintree and he can deservedly get his head in front this weekend. 

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TEA CLIPPER – 4:15 (Betway Handicap Chase)

Plenty to consider in this Grade 3 handicap, with the likes of handicap debutant Shan Blue and last time out winner Cap Du Nord all worthy of a second look given their profiles and connections. 

However, TEA CLIPPER caught the eye with his fourth-place effort in the Ultima at the Festival when last seen and considering that was his first run after recent wind surgery, there could be plenty of improvement forthcoming with that Cheltenham run under his belt. 

The seven-year-old enjoyed a productive campaign over hurdles last season, winning four times including a Grade 3 handicap contest at Chepstow before going on to reach the frame in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival and in the 3mile Handicap Hurdle on this particular card 12 months ago. 

Returning over the larger obstacles this campaign, Tom Lacey’s charge made a successful chasing debut against Listed opponents at Chepstow before being comfortably held in novice company at Newbury and Kempton behind the likes of Ahoy Senor and Bravemansgame.

Contesting the Ultima Handicap Chase off a mark of 145 on his latest outing, the seven-year-old shaped well for the majority of the 3m1f contest. Turning for home with a share of the lead, Tea Clipper was unable to sustain his challenge on the climb to the line but only weakened out of contention in the closing stages before eventual winner Corach Rambler burst clear. 

That effort at the Cheltenham Festival should have put Tea Clipper spot on for Saturday’s assignment and with previous experience contesting big field handicaps at the Aintree Grand National meeting, Tom Lacey’s charge is worth supporting at the prices and is taken to come out on top. 

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LONGHOUSE POET – 5:15 (Randox Grand National Handicap Chase)

40 runners in this year’s renewal and as always, a very difficult race to pinpoint the eventual winner. We’ll start, however, by assessing a few of the runners who are currently towards the top end of the betting. 

Minella Times capped off a magical season for jockey Rachael Blackmore in last year’s contest, becoming the first female jockey to win the prestigious event. Henry de Bromhead’s nine-year-old will bid to follow in the hoofprints of back-to-back winners Red Rum and Tiger Roll, although failing to complete on two starts this season and a 15lb higher mark certainly won’t aid his cause this time around. 

Current race favourite Snow Leopardess has been the one for sustained market support and it’s fairly obvious to see why. The talented grey mare followed up an opening season win at Bangor before displaying her aptitude for the National fences with a game win in the Becher Chase back in December. An emphatic victory in a Listed mares’ race at Exeter leaves her chasing a fourth win on the bounce and off a low weight, she holds solid claims despite being 6lb higher for that victory in the Becher Chase. However, history is certainly against her as she would become the first mare to triumph since 1951.  

Any Second Now endured no luck whatsoever when finishing third in last year’s contest, severely hampered at the 12th, the ten-year-old recovered exceptionally well under jockey Mark Walsh and somehow managed to get back into contention turning for home. The ten-year-old resumed winning ways this season when landing a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse back in February and will be on many people’s shortlist this year despite a 7lb higher mark. 

Not surprisingly, Irish trained runners have been the ones to follow in recent seasons, largely down to dual National winner Tiger Roll of course. And while the likes of Elliot, Mullins and de Bromhead will be on many people’s radar this weekend, very few will be keeping a close eye on trainer Martin Brassil. 

The County Kildare trainer has only previously run three horses in jump racing’s most famous contest, Numbersixvalverde triumphed for the Irish handler back in 2006, whilst eight-year-old Double Seven finished third behind Pineau De Re in 2014. He is clearly a trainer who can ready one for the big occasion and with that being said, LONGHOUSE POET can shine on the biggest stage and provide the trainer with his second Grand National winner. 

A former point winner, the eight-year-old was always going to excel over fences. However, he still managed to put up some notable performances over the smaller obstacles, finding the frame in Grade 1 novice company back in 2020 behind the likes of Envoi Allen and Latest Exhibition. 

Martin Brassil’s charge returned the following season and embarked on his chasing career. Runner-up to subsequent Grade 1 winner Janidil on his second start over fences at Naas in November, he was soon off the mark the following month at Punchestown when upped 3m1f, defeating Gordon Elliot’s Run Wild Fred after staying on best of all in the closing stages to win by one and a half lengths. 

Absent for 362 days following that first chase victory, Longhouse Poet finished down the field on seasonal return at Limerick over the festive period before justifying strong market support at Gowran Park in the valuable Thyestes Handicap Chase – the same race the yard’s Numbersixvalverde triumphed in before going on to win the Irish National and Grand National. 

The eight-year-old is bred to be suited by this weekend’s marathon test and while he has no experience over the National fences, he is a sound jumper who travels supremely well in his races. At 16/1, Martin Brassil’s charge is worth supporting and a big run can be expected. 

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ERNEST GRAY – 6:20 (Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open NH Flat Race)

Plenty in with a shout but this can go the way of ERNEST GRAY, who created a striking impression on his debut for Alan King at Warwick back in March and can take the significant rise in grade in his stride. 

Formerly with Irish trainer Colin Bowe, the five-year-old displayed a willing attitude when prevailing by a neck in a point-to-point flat race at Punchestown last season, rallying well under pressure after surrendering the lead inside the final furlong. 

Returning for new connections after a 363-day break, Alan King’s recruit faced a simpler task when taking his record to two from two. Despite running green in the last couple of furlongs, the five-year-old drew clear in effortless fashion to win by thirteen lengths at the line. 

Ernest Gary clearly possesses plenty of ability on the evidence of what we have seen so far, and considering he has previously shown he can knuckle down when it matters most, the five-year-old also has a likeable attitude and won’t mind if this turns into a real scrap in the closing stages.  

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