@RoadCheltenham Previews The 2024 Grand National Festival At Aintree

We’re now into April and Cheltenham is well and truly in the rear view mirror. Aintree is just around the corner and all roads lead to Merseyside, but which horses do we want to keep onside ahead of the north west’s biggest week for jumps racing?

The Grand National itself will attract attention from all four corners of the globe, with an estimated audience of over 500 million tuning in for the Aintree feature. For most ardent racing fans though, the meeting is about so much more than one race.

Here, I’m going to look through some of the standout races and potential runners ahead of the 2024 Aintree Grand National meeting. It all kicks off on Thursday 11th April and the opening race of the meeting seems the logical place to start!

The Manifesto Novices’ Steeple Chase (2m4f)

The first of four Grade 1 races gets us underway on the Thursday and I’m hoping to see the Henry de Bromhead-trained INTHEPOCKET in the entries. He didn’t make it back in time for a Cheltenham Festival entry but will connections roll the dice at Aintree?

If not, I would be looking at GINNY’S DESTINY – who finished second to Grey Dawning in the Turners Novices Chase at Cheltenham. Paul Nicholls recently confirmed that he is pencilled in to go to Aintree and this looks the obvious target.

The Boodles Anniversary 4-y-o Juvenile Hurdle (2m1f)

I’m hoping the Nicky Henderson yard get back to form ahead of Aintree as I’m really looking forward to seeing SIR GINO again. I’m a big fan of Triumph Hurdle winner Majborough but I’d say the Henderson horse would’ve taken some beating.

The yard won back-to-back renewals of the race in 2018 and 2019 and I’d give Sir Gino a favourite’s chance of earning Nicky Henderson a fourth success in the Grade 1 juvenile race at the Merseyside track.

The Aintree Bowl Steeple Chase (3m1f)

I’m expecting PROTEKTORAT and ENVOI ALLEN to run here, although the latter could of course be saved for Punchestown. Harry Skelton gave the former a super ride to win the Ryanair Chase and he has course form at Aintree – he ticks plenty of boxes.

However, 2023 Aintree Bowl winner SHISHKIN could line up in a bid to defend his crown and the six-time Grade 1 winner would be clear of those two on ratings. A lot will depend on Henderson’s yard, but I can see him producing a big performance.

The William Hill Aintree Hurdle (2m4f)

Nicky Henderson has confirmed that last year’s winner CONSTITUTION HILL will not be ready in time for Aintree. While it is disappointing we won’t see him bid to defend his crown, it does make the race more appealing from a betting perspective.

I’ve always had a soft spot for BOB OLINGER and I would love to see him add another Grade 1 success to his resume. He hasn’t quite lived up to the hype, but he’s still a six-time Graded winner and he’ll certainly be seeing my money.

IMPAIRE ET PASSE, five lengths behind the Henry de Bromhead runner in the Irish Champion Hurdle, may reoppose and going up in trip will suit. I’ll also give a shoutout to LUCCIA after her excellent third in the Champion Hurdle – she could go well.

The Mildmay Novices’ Steeple Chase (3m1f)

Connections have confirmed that IROKO will step up to three miles at Aintree and this race looks tailor-made for him. He jumped well enough at Cheltenham but it was always going to be a tough ask on only his second start over fences. Don’t write him off.

GIOVINCO has had a busy campaign but he would interest me if he gets an entry for the race. He won round the Mildmay course in November and I thought he ran a superb race to finish third in the Brown Advisory last month.

The TrustATrader Top Novices’ Hurdle (2m)

It’ll be interesting to see how DYSART ENOS fares against the geldings as the form of her bumper win at this meeting last year was given an almighty boost when GOLDEN ACE bolted up in the Mares Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.

I was gutted for Fergal O’Brien and connections when a late overreach meant she had to miss the Festival but Grade 1 glory at Aintree would more than make up for that.

Of those who ran in the Supreme Novices Hurdle, Ben Pauling’s TELLHERTHENAME would interest me on a quicker surface. The ground at Cheltenham went against him and he could go close.

The My Pension Expert Melling Chase (2m4f)

BANBRIDGE didn’t handle the ground at Cheltenham but spring ground at Aintree will suit – as proven in his 2023 Manifesto Novices Chase success. Providing he is A1 after the Festival, I’d imagine Joseph O’Brien will bring him over for the race.

The obvious contender to oppose him is PIC D’ORHY. The Paul Nicholls horse was less than two lengths off Banbridge while giving him 3lbs at Kempton in January and I’d say connections will fancy their chances of reversing the form off level weights.

The Randox Supports Race Against Dementia Topham Chase (2m5f)

It’s hard to predict the final field for this race but I’ve always liked JAMES DU BERLAIS and I’d say he could be relatively well handicapped. This is a race that Willie Mullins has targeted in recent years, winning two of the previous four renewals and I’d say we could see Paul Townend on board.

There is still plenty of wiggle room in CREBILLY’s mark of 143 – I thought it was a rather lenient raise of 3lbs for his second in the Plate Handicap Chase at Cheltenham. He is joined by fellow JP McManus horse IN EXCELSIS DEO at the head of the market and I’d imagine both could take their chance. 

The Cavani Sartorial Menswear Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (3m)

Ruth Jefferson has had this race pencilled in as the target for KERRYHILL for a while, not even entering the horse for the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle. He was superb in the River Don at Doncaster and I’d expect him to confirm form with Welcom To Cartries.

However, SHANAGH BOB is the one who fascinates me. He is unbeaten in two races under rules and his trainer pulled him from the Albert Bartlett on account of the yard’s form. Oh, and he finished seven lengths clear of Kerryhill in a Grade 2 in December.

The Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (2m4f)

I had JIMMY DU SEUIL in my tracker long before he made his Irish debut at Thurles in December and I was slightly underwhelmed with that effort. However, he has come on leaps and bounds since then and he was excellent at Cheltenham last month.

He was beaten by an absolute freak in Ballyburn but connections of the runner up must have been delighted on only his third start over hurdles. I hope Willie Mullins brings him over for Aintree as I’d fancy him quite strongly in this race.

There are no early entries for this race so it’s hard to guess who will turn up but I’d fancy him against the British contingent.

The JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle (3m)

I’d like to see Gordon Elliott send IRISH POINT to this race but I’d say he’s a fairly short price to go for the 2m4f race instead. I’ve always been a fan of this horse and I’d say he is one of the more versatile horses in training.

Things didn’t go to plan for Fergal O’Brien at Cheltenham but CRAMBO is one who may be worth chancing if you can forgive him for his Stayers Hurdle disappointment. It would be great to see connections pick up another Grade 1 with him.

The Randox Grand National Steeple Chase (4m2f)

MEETINGOFTHEWATERS caught my eye in the Ultima Handicap Chase and I’d say he is well handicapped off 147. He’s now rated 149 in Ireland and one would imagine the BHA handicapper would have him in the low 150s after his third at Cheltenham.

As it is, he could be ‘well in’ and I’ll certainly be keeping a close eye on jockey bookings for the JP McManus team ahead of the race.

The Cross Country Chase was the primary objective for GALVIN this season but missing the Festival may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

He’s a National Hunt Chase winner and a Cross Country runner up – if the word ‘good’ is in the going description, he’ll have his chance. He is a big price at 20/1 and he is worth an each way play in my book.

The Maghull Novices’ Steeple Chase (2m)

I’ve been sweet on ETALON for a big two mile race for some time now and Dan Skelton clearly holds this horse in high regard. They made use of his low handicap mark and he is now rated 142 and I’d say he is a Grade 1 chaser in the making.

MY MATE MOZZIE didn’t run his race in the Arkle at Cheltenham, with the ground going against him and impacting his chances. Some nicer spring ground at Aintree could see him at his best and he may be worth a punt if he goes here.