A sparkling seven races will take place on day one of Aintree’s Grand National Festival on Thursday 3rd April, 2025. There’s some mouth-watering Grade 1 contests with Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth set for an epic battle in the Aintree Hurdle, while the Aintree Bowl is another highlight on the afternoon. Add in a few tough handicap contest and it’s set to be a superb day of top quality Jumps action, and our in-house tipster Steve Chambers is here with his bests for the day.
1:45pm Aintree – EBC Group Manifesto Novices’ Chase
Nicky Henderson’s Jango Baie rocketed home in the closing stages to claim glory in the Arkle at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, but the Seven Barrows inmate will step back up in trip for the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase, which kicks off the day’s action at 1:45pm. Entitled to be at the forefront of the betting for this event, Henderson’s raider is the one to beat, but the race did fall apart that day at Cheltenham and he certainly had a hard race, so he could be worth taking on.
The one that is worth backing is the Willie Mullins-trained IMPAIRE ET PASSE, who missed Cheltenham and showed when edging out Bob Olinger and Langer Dan in last year’s Aintree Hurdle that he can excel around Merseyside. He won his first two starts over fences, but could only finish third in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival, where he was beaten by Croke Park, who lines up here. However, the drop back in trip and the quicker ground should aid the Mullins runner and he can duly turn that Irish form around and claim victory here.
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2:20pm Aintree – Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle
Impressive in his two hurdle wins to date, Dan Skelton’s Live Conti will make the huge step up to top class company for a fascinating renewal of the Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at 2:20pm, but he could be vulnerable to a more experienced rival, and the one that makes most appeal is the Fred Winter winner PUTURHANDSTOGETHER, who steps out of the handicap sphere for this contest.
One of the most impressive winners of the entire Cheltenham Festival, Joseph O’Brien’s youngster made a mockery of his mark of 130 to saunter to a six-length victory and it would be no surprise to see him follow up here. Rated in the mid 80s on the Flat, he has shown he can act on all grounds and having had a pretty easy race at Cheltenham he’s more than capable of stepping forward again and claiming this prize.
Andrew Mount’s Aintree Analysis – How Does the Time Between Cheltenham and Aintree Affect Results?
Easter can play havoc with the positioning of horse racing fixtures at this time of year and the recovery time from the Cheltenham to Aintree festivals can vary markedly. Last year, Grand National Day fell on April 13th, 32 days after the runner jumped off for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, whereas in 2022 the gap…
Tue 01 Apr 20254:05pm Aintree – Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase
A huge field are set to go to the 2m 5f 19y Foxhunters’ Chase at 4:05pm and it’s set to be a hugely competitive betting contest for punters. Famous Clermont, My Drogo and Willitgoahead are all fancied, but the one that can bound to victory is LIFETIME AMBITION, who has experience over the Grand National fences and can deliver the goods here.
Last seen under Rules finishing second in the Punchestown Festival hunter chase, the ten-year-old has been in excellent form of late and having finished fourth in the 2022 Grand Sefton at Aintree, he showed he can get round the course. He unseated in the Grand National back in 2023, but if he can put in a clear round then on ratings he’s certainly one of the top performers in the line up and he can outclass his rivals here.
4:40pm Aintree – Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase
Many punters will look towards the Grand Annual Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival for form clues for the Red Rum Handicap Chase and My Mate Mozzie was a fine fourth in that race and has to be considered here. Primoz was left at the start that day, but Lucinda Russell’s charge has been in decent form in the second half of the campaign and is another worth keeping an eye on here.
However, the Willie Mullins-trained HUNTERS YARN is one that could well run a massive race from the top of the weights and claim this victory for Ireland. Last seen pulling up at Fairyhouse back in January, he’s one that has been given a lengthy layoff and having finished fifth in the 2024 Arkle is one that could be open to some improvement. He’s yet to sparkle at the highest level, but in the handicap sphere he’s worth a second look and can bound to glory.
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