Grand National Day 1 Tips: Five selections for Aintree on Thursday

There are five bets for the first day of Aintree’s Grand National Festival.

Aintree Tips

13:45 – 2m4f SSS Super Alloys Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

The Grade 1-winning hurdler FUSIL RAFFLES (1 point win bet at 5/2) has done little wrong since switching to the larger obstacles with his only blip coming when pulled up on testing ground at Cheltenham in November. He has won three times over fences and put in a very good performance to finish second to stablemate Chantry House in the Marsh Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham last month. He went from the front that day, jumped well and showed a good attitude. A repeat here would make him very difficult to beat. Protektorat, runner up the last twice, retains plenty of potential and can chase home the selection.

14:50 – 3m1f Betway Bowl Chase (Grade 1)

Patience certainly has been the key with WAITING PATIENTLY (1 point win bet at 4/1), who has made just 15 career starts. Out of the first three just once (unseated in the King George), this hugely talented chaser now looks set to land a second Grade 1. Having finished an excellent second to Frodon at Kempton on Boxing Day, he looked to have found 2m1f too sharp at Ascot. The step back up in trip on better ground looks ideal and he arrives here fresher than most having skipped Cheltenham. Native River should go well as usual and it won’t be too long before everything falls right for Mister Fisher.

15:25 – 2m4f Betway Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1)

This looks a really good opportunity for MCFABULOUS (NAP – 1 point win bet at 10/3) to record a first Grade 1 success. The decision to miss Cheltenham last year and go to Kempton instead was justified when he bolted up by 6.5-lengths. He then impressed again when winning by three-lengths on his seasonal reappearance at Chepstow before losing nothing in defeat behind Thyme Hill and Paisley Park in a thrilling renewal of the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury. He returned to the winners’ enclosure with a Grade 2 success next time out and can bounce back from an uncharacteristically poor performance at Fontwell when second 39 days ago. Two-and-a-half miles around Aintree should be ideal and he can once again benefit from not running at Cheltenham. Jason The Militant, the mount of Rachael Blackmore, and Brewin’upastorm, ahead of the selection last time, complete the shortlist.

16:40 – 2m Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Getaway Trump bounced back to form in really good style at Doncaster (tipped here) last time out and should go well again. However, the step back up in class and burden of top weight in this competitive handicap will make things much tougher. Preference is therefore for two at bigger prices.

Donald McCain won this in 2017 and with the race named in honour of Red Rum, he is likely to have GAELIK COAST (0.5 point win bet at 12/1) fully tuned up. Jockey Brian Hughes is in a real battle to retain his Champion Jockey status and this looks a decent ride. Hughes has been aboard this horse for all but one of his ten career starts and has ridden him to four victories. Two of those have been over fences, over which he has made a good start with form figures of 12513. The drop back in trip in what is likely to be a strongly run race will be in his favour, as will the return to better ground.

At an even bigger price, THE KING OF MAY (0.5 point win bet at 20/1) also looks to have plenty in his favour and represents another leading northern trainer in Brian Ellison. A recent spin on the All-Weather will have put him spot on for this and he can resume the good form he had shown over fences over the winter. Runner up on two occasions and a close third at Wetherby, he has looked a progressive young chaser despite ground conditions arguably being softer than ideal. He is unbeaten in three starts on good to soft and gets in here off just 10-10.