Two days of racing remain before the Grand National of 2026. They include the opening two days of Aintree‘s premier meeting, featuring multiple Grade 1 prizes.
Our top tipster Matty Sutcliffe has a huge six selections for the opening day. They include a few runners who can gain Cheltenham compensation.
Aintree Racing Tips (Thursday 9 April)
Aintree’s opening day includes four Grade 1s, as well as a race over the famous fences. Matty’s six selections all run at the track.
1:45 Aintree – Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo)- Minella Study 10/3 1pt WIN
It was an agonising defeat on Minella Study for the column at Cheltenham last month, but he can avenge that effort here. He travelled strongly into contention and looked to be coming with a winning run having jumped the last in front, before running out of steam late on.
My only slight concern with him at Cheltenham was a lack of recent run, and I think that told after the last as he didn’t appear to finish with the same strength as he did there in December. With that run under his belt, I’d expect him to strip fitter and this flatter track on slightly better ground can suit him given his flat breeding.
2:55 Aintree – Racing Welfare Bowl Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Jango Baie Evs 2pt WIN
Beaten horses in the Gold Cup have a strong record in this contest, with Gerri Colombe, Kemboy, Might Bite and Cue Card all landing the Bowl after their Cheltenham efforts in recent years. Jango Baie can continue that trend after his excellent second to Gaelic Warrior, with the winner putting up one of the most scintillating displays in the Gold Cup in recent years.
Nicky Henderson has won this twice in the last seven years with Shishkin and Might Bite, both placing at Cheltenham en-route, which further bodes well for Jango Baie. His course form reads well, having finished second here over 2m4f twice, but he’s a much classier animal this season and his figures suggest he’s yet to hit his peak.
3:30 Aintree – Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase (Class 2) (6yo+) – Willewonga 50/1 0.5pt EW 4 places
Joe O’Shea has won this twice since 2021 with horses priced 22/1 and 66/1, including with Gracchus Du Balme last year who pulled up on his previous start, which suggests we can’t write off his outsider Willewonga despite never being in contention at Cheltenham last month.
The ten-year-old son of Multiplex is winless since landed a Cartmel Hunter Chase in 2024, but he’s placed in five of his last seven starts and would’ve won at Bangor last season had he not made a bad error at the last, causing his jockey to lose her irons. He split rivals rated 130 there and the form was franked nicely thereafter.
The talented Alan O’Sullivan is a strong booking for a race of this nature, and if putting his best foot forward after that first run off a 110-day layoff then he’s entitled to outrun his odds despite the trainer fielding two stronger candidates.
4:05 Aintree – William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Potters Charm 14/1 0.5pt EW 2 places
A chance is taken on Potters Charm in a division that’s still puzzling enough without the inclusion of Lossiemouth, and the fresher angle of Potters Charm could prove significant here.
His form isn’t quite at the level of some of these, but he’s only 6lbs shy of The New Lion who tops the ratings and I don’t think we’ve quite seen the best of him this season. Connections have deliberated with trips through this campaign, but his last two efforts came in and around this trip when winning both the Select Hurdle and the National Spirit.
I don’t think he was seen to best effect despite winning last time at Fontwell, as he hit the front awfully early for all he might not have had that much choice passing weakening rivals. He looked to get lonely on the run in, so the gap to Brewinupastorm wasn’t that much of a concern given that one was staying on after passing beaten rivals late on.
He returns to Aintree for the first time since winning the Grade 1 Formby which bodes well, and his record at 2m4f reads 1111 which further exudes confidence and while he might not be as classy as some of these, he’s seemingly on an upward curve this season and these are his optimum conditions.
4:40 Aintree – Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Sans Bruit 2pt WIN + Boothill 33/1 0.5pt EW 4 places
Sans Bruit has been kind to the column in this race the last two seasons and I can’t not let him go unbacked in a race his whole season has been tailored around.
He was a comfortable winner of this race last season off a 3lbs lower mark despite form figures of 33P5P4 going into the race, and he backed that up next time out at Plumpton off a 9lbs higher mark. He began this year off 144 and with form figures of 66544, he now finds himself 11lbs lower on 133, 6lbs below that last winning mark.
I’d also like to play Boothill, who I thought shaped with a ton of promise in the Grand Annual when returning from a 74-day break and wind surgery. His form had completely tailed off with figures of F4P53, failing to come closer than 24 lengths, but he signalled a return to form last time out.
He was dropped 4lbs for that run, and is now 16lbs lower than his opening mark this season. If stripping fitter for that return, then along with the addition of first time cheekpieces he can run a big race off this lowering mark.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Best Bets
1:45 Aintree – Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo)- Minella Study 10/3 1pt WIN
2:55 Aintree – Racing Welfare Bowl Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Jango Baie Evs 2pt WIN
3:30 Aintree – Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase (Class 2) (6yo+) – Willewonga 50/1 0.5pt EW 4 places
4:05 Aintree – William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Potters Charm 14/1 0.5pt EW 2 places
4:40 Aintree – Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Sans Bruit 2pt WIN + Boothill 33/1 0.5pt EW 4 places
Matty Sutcliffe’s Top Tips – Thursday 9 April
FAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets for the racing at Aintree on Thursday 9 April.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s racing tips were published at 8.40am on Thursday 9 April.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
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