Aintree, Thursday 9 April 2026 — Grand National Festival Opening Day Tips
Good to soft ground at Aintree sets up a proper test of stamina and jumping. Three Grade 1s headline the card and the quality is genuine. Willie Mullins brings over a strong hand, Dan Skelton's yard is firing (10 winners from 44 runners in the last 14 days), and Paul Nicholls has a wealth of big-race course experience to draw on. Here is where the value lies.
2:20 — William Hill Manifesto Novices' Chase (Grade 1, 2m4f)
Five runners but this is wide open at the top. Lulamba carries favourite's burden at short odds following his impressive earlier season form, but the Arkle third on the figures left a question mark. A jumping error two out when challenging is forgivable, yet backing him at 4/7 asks you to trust him to handle a new trip on festival ground for the first time at odds that offer nothing in return if he runs flat.
The selection is Koktail Divin at 11/4 (Bet365, William Hill). Henry De Bromhead's six-year-old was sent to the Brown Advisory at 3m1f at Cheltenham, which looked the wrong call even at the time, and he shaped better than a sixth-place finish suggests. Wind the tape back to Leopardstown and he was hammering Grade 2 rivals over 2m5f on yielding ground by a wide margin, posting a very useful RPR of 166. He ran with credit in the Mersey Hurdle at this exact track 12 months ago, so Aintree suits. Back at 2m4f on going that will reward his jumping, this is a horse returning to conditions that unlock his best. De Bromhead has sent runners over in good order this spring (4 from 41 in 14 days is respectable given the volume) and this looks the right race for a horse who has been slightly misrouted.
Lulamba remains a genuine threat and his 6-from-6 record away from Cheltenham is not to be dismissed lightly. But the price demands near-perfection over a new trip. At 11/4, Koktail Divin represents real each-way value in a race where the favourite has something to prove.
2:55 — Racing Welfare Bowl Chase (Grade 1, 3m1f)
Five runners and one of the most compelling Grade 1 puzzles on the card. Jango Baie is a deserving favourite given his Gold Cup second and King George fourth this season, but 27 days after a brutal Cheltenham battle over 3m2f is a concern. That hard race could leave a mark, and 5/4 is a short enough price to take the risk.
The value angle is Protektorat at 11/2 (Bet365, Betfred). Dan Skelton's eleven-year-old has won both starts this season, landing a conditions race at Windsor and a Listed prize at Kelso, and he was a close second to Jonbon in the Melling Chase here 12 months ago over 2m4f on good ground. The step up to 3m1f is fine on the evidence of his earlier career, and good to soft at Aintree suits a horse who handles cut. Harry Skelton knows this horse inside out, and with the yard in its best form of the season, Protektorat could be creeping under the radar here at a very workable price.
Spillane's Tower at 5/1 is also interesting. James Mangan's eight-year-old has won two Irish Grade 1s and a Cheltenham Grade 2 this season, was withdrawn from the Gold Cup on the day due to unsuitable ground, which means he arrives here fresh. The caveat is that he is also declared for Thursday's other Grade 1, which complicates planning. Treat him as a saver rather than a headline bet.
Impaire Et Passe at 4/1 is fascinating. Pulled up in the Ryanair last month but has won at this meeting in each of the last two seasons and Mullins knows exactly how to place a horse coming back here. At that price though, the Ryanair blowout demands an explanation the market has not fully received yet.
4:05 — William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m4f)
The Aintree Hurdle is one of the best renewal in years. Brighterdaysahead and The New Lion went head to head in the Champion Hurdle and both arrive at the trip they want most.
The selection is The New Lion at 9/4 (BestOdds). Harry Skelton's seven-year-old is unbeaten over 2m4f. That record includes the Challow and the Turners Novices' Hurdle, both on good to soft, which matches today's going perfectly. He ran with real credit in the Champion Hurdle over 2m and left every impression he was crying out for this trip again. Dan Skelton's yard is in excellent form, and a horse who has never been beaten at the distance, on the going that suits, at roughly even money is a straightforward call.
Brighterdaysahead at 9/4 is equally legitimate and her Mersey win at this track two seasons ago counts heavily. This is genuinely too close to call on form, but The New Lion's perfect record at the trip and the going angle tips the balance.
Potters Charm at 16/1 Each-Way is worth a small each-way interest. He bypassed Cheltenham, won the National Spirit at Fontwell last time out, and won a Grade 1 novice hurdle at this exact track in December 2024. He arrives fresher than anything else in this field and the Twiston-Davies operation know their way around Aintree. At 16/1 in a seven-runner Grade 1 with three places on offer, the place money alone makes this attractive.
Today's NAP
Odds: 9/4 — BestOdds (others: 9/4 PricedUp Bet, 3.3 Betfair Exchange)
Unbeaten in three starts over 2m4f, including Grade 1 wins on good to soft ground that precisely mirrors today's conditions at Aintree. He ran a career-best Champion Hurdle at 2m and shaped like a horse who has outgrown the minimum trip. Dan Skelton's yard has hit 10 winners from 44 runners in the last 14 days and Harry Skelton knows this horse better than anyone. A price of 9/4 about a horse with a perfect record at the trip and the right going underfoot represents genuine value in a championship Grade 1.