Aintree Grand National Day 2026: Full Card Tips

Aintree Grand National Day 2026: Full Card Tips

The biggest day in the National Hunt calendar. Forty thousand racegoers, a £500,000 pot for the main event, and a card stacked with Grade 1 talent from the first race to the last. Good to soft ground at Aintree suits horses that travel through their races rather than grind, and today's conditions look ideal for bold-jumping, prominent-racing types. Here is the full card, race by race.

12:45 — Maghull Novices' Chase (Grade 1, 2m)

Eight runners, small field, Grade 1 speed test over two miles. This is really a two-horse race on paper between Salvator Mundi and Kala Conti, but the market has it slightly wrong.

Kala Conti is the selection at 3/1 (Bet365). The Gordon Elliott mare carries an RPR of 167, the highest in the field by a clear margin, and her TS of 162 confirms she has been running to that level recently. Her form reads 70-112, which means two wins on the bounce coming into this. Elliott has sent out 8 from 82 runners in the last fortnight, a yard ticking along steadily, and Jack Kennedy takes the ride. She does have to concede weight to the males but her raw ability makes that irrelevant. Salvator Mundi is the obvious threat at 10/11, but Mullins is not firing at his usual rate in the past 14 days (10/80) and Kala Conti's class edge on ratings is significant. Back the mare at the bigger price.

1:20 — William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap, 3m½f, 22 runners)

Premier handicap over three miles with 22 declared. Five places at 1/5 odds. This is the race where you fish for a price.

Absolutely Doyen Each-Way is the pick at 11/1 (Unibet). Harry Cobden takes the ride for Paul Nicholls, who has sent out 7 from 24 in the last fortnight. That is a yard in form. The horse's recent record reads 111118, which translates as virtually unbeaten in his last six completed starts. He has won five times already this season. The RPR of 148 puts him right in contention at the weights and on good to soft ground he will stay every yard of the trip. At double-figure odds with a trainer firing and form that screams confidence, this is the standout each-way play on the card outside the National itself.

Secondary interest: Supremely West (7/1, William Hill) for Dan Skelton, who is in cracking form at 10 from 44. Harry Skelton rides and the form figure of 1 on his most recent run is promising. Solid each-way alternative if the Nicholls horse trades in.

1:55 — Turners Mersey Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m4f)

Grade 1 novice hurdle, 13 runners, proper championship race. Three horses genuinely in it: Ballyfad, Bossman Jack, and Scorpio Rising.

Scorpio Rising is taken at 8/1 (William Hill). Olly Murphy has fired in 9 from 28 in the past 14 days, one of the hottest yards on the circuit right now. Sean Bowen takes the ride. The form reads 3-1111, four wins in a row, and an RPR of 147 with a TS of 138 confirms it has been putting up genuine performances, not just paper form. The price looks generous against Ballyfad (3/1) and Bossman Jack (11/4) when you factor in the trainer's current strike rate. Good to soft is exactly what Murphy's horses have been thriving on this month.

Bossman Jack (11/4, William Hill) for Dan Skelton is the obvious danger. Skelton's yard is arguably the form stable of the season and Harry Skelton knows this horse inside out. If backing each-way at the bigger prices, Montemares at 6/1 (Unibet) is interesting having won four of her last five starts under Tom Lacey, who is running at 2 from 5 in the past fortnight.

2:30 — Freebooter Handicap Chase (3m1f, 18 runners)

Three miles of chasing in a competitive Premier Handicap. Four places at 1/5 odds with 18 runners.

Brave Fortune Each-Way at 5/1 (Bet365/William Hill) is the value angle. J J Slevin rides for Joseph Patrick O'Brien, who has sent out 4 from 40 recently, not spectacular but consistent enough. The form reads 5-3142 and the horse is rated 144, well enough treated to feature. At 5/1 in an 18-runner handicap with four places paid, the each-way terms are generous.

Lookaway at 8/1 (William Hill) is the alternative. Neil King has a small but sharp yard (1 from 3 in past 14 days) and the form reads 3-3311, two consecutive wins. Jack Quinlan partners him and the horse looks progressive at the weights. Solid each-way shout.

Konfusion at 14/1 (Bet365/William Hill) deserves a mention. The form reads 1U113F and the horse was visually impressive when winning. Six from seven overall strike rate for Gavin Sheehan on this type of good to soft ground this month is worth noting. Interesting each-way outsider.

3:05 — Jet2 Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1, 3m½f)

The most valuable hurdle race of the Liverpool meeting. Twelve runners, proper Grade 1 talent.

Jingko Blue is the selection at 5/1 (Bet365/William Hill) for Nicky Henderson. James Bowen rides and the form reads 1U-721, with the most recent figure being a win. RPR of 158 and TS of 143 puts him right in the mix. Henderson's yard has been quieter than usual (2 from 11 in 14 days) but this is exactly the type of Grade 1 occasion where the Seven Barrows operation delivers regardless of strike rate. Good to soft suits and three miles on this flat, fair Aintree track is ideal.

The market leader Honesty Policy at 11/4 (Unibet) for Gordon Elliott deserves respect. An RPR of 161 is class and Mark Walsh is the ideal pilot. But the form reads 11-235, three placed efforts on the bounce without winning, and at a short price in a Grade 1 the value is not there. Strong Leader at 15/2 (William Hill) for Olly Murphy is the each-way interest given the yard's form, with Sean Bowen aboard and an RPR of 163.

4:00 — Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (4m2½f, 37 runners)

The one we have all been waiting for. Four miles and two and a half furlongs, 30 fences, up to 37 runners, £500,000 in prize money. Six places at 1/5 odds. Every horse below gets the each-way treatment as standard for this race.

I Am Maximus Each-Way is the NAP (see below), but let us work through the key contenders properly.

Grangeclare West Each-Way at 10/1 (William Hill) is the most interesting each-way alternative. The Spotlight data is compelling: third in last year's National and an excellent reappearance win at Fairyhouse this February after yet another last-fence dive. If he keeps his legs under him at the final fence, he is a live each-way player at double-figure odds. Patrick Mullins rides, who knows the horse, and the 3lb rise from 12 months ago is workable given his Fairyhouse performance.

Monty's Star Each-Way at 12/1 (William Hill/Coral) for Henry De Bromhead is the dark horse angle. The Spotlight commentary is intriguing: going up markedly in trip in a handicap makes him a "mouthwatering proposition" according to the expert analysis. An RPR of 173 in Grade 1 company, never winning because he keeps taking on the best horses, but in a handicap at this trip he is unexposed over the extreme distance. Darragh O'Keeffe rides and this looks a fair price.

Gerri Colombe Each-Way at 28/1 (William Hill/Coral) is the big-price speculation. Five Grade 1 wins, runner-up in the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup, and the Spotlight notes he is "well handicapped on his old form and could be on his way back." Cheekpieces have been applied for the last three starts and his latest win, at odds-on, showed the spark is returning. At 28/1 in a race paying six places, this is a calculated punt worth a small each-way investment.

Haiti Couleurs Each-Way at 25/1 (William Hill) is the stamina specialist. Welsh National winner, Irish National winner, a horse who finishes races strongly at extreme trips. The Gold Cup last time was a blip and the Spotlight acknowledges he has "bounced back before." Rebecca Curtis sends him out fresh and the pace of this race will suit his galloping style far better than Cheltenham.

5:00 — Grade 2 NH Flat Race (2m1f, 20 runners)

Closing bumper, Grade 2, and really a contest between two horses at the head of the market.

Bass Hunter at 15/8 (William Hill/Unibet) is the selection for Chris Gordon, who has hit 4 from 18 in the past fortnight. Harry Cobden rides. The form reads P1-113 and an RPR of 139 with a TS of 134 is comfortably the best combination in the race. Good to soft is fine, two miles suits, and the market has made him favourite for a reason. This is a straightforward win selection.

Mullins and Townend combine on Look Me at 3/1 (Bet365), a horse that won on debut in Ireland and has only the one run on British soil. The unknown factor makes him vulnerable to an exposed, proven performer in Bass Hunter at odds-on territory.

Today's NAP