Aintree Grand National Festival: Day 1 Picks

13:45 – EBC Group Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) – Jango Baie

DESPITE the quick turnaround from the Cheltenham Festival, Jango Baie gets the pick thanks to qualities he put on show last month. Quick, efficient jumping and an ability to stay beyond two miles were key to his victory in the Arkle. With sun forecast Henderson’s runner is guaranteed ground some description of good and should continue his impressively consistent record of never finishing outside the top two in nine starts. Croke Park boasts two grade ones as a novice chaser, including a victory by a neck to Ryanair Chase runner-up Heart Wood, a really good bit of form considering the brave effort that horse put in behind a brilliant winner in Fact To File. Croke Park would have got the pick here if ground was softer but the speed of the surface may just give the selection the edge. A forecast or even a tricast is very doable in this race in my opinion thanks to the quality at the top of the market compared to the field. Impaire Et Passe rounds off these places, with a grade one success in the Faugheen Novices’ Chase to his name and solid festival form after last year’s Aintree Hurdle success.

14:20 – Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1)
(GBB Race) – Puturhandstogether

ONCE again, this pick defies the quick Cheltenham turnaround but the victory in last month’s Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap looked like this horse could have been competitive in the Triumph Hurdle. The ability to cruise late into the race and the extra gear in the final furlong was very impressive with athletic ability clearly passed down from his sire Caravaggio. He boasts form ahead of a few rivals here from that run and hasn’t been out of the top three since changing disciplines so justifies favouritism. Live Conti runs for the Skeltons and
Sir Alex Ferguson who can be very prolific at this meeting. He looked like he could be anything when bolting up at Wetherby in February and has only missed out thanks to the solid evidence the favourite produced last time out in a big field at a big meeting. Mambonumberfive makes 3rd spot after winning a grade two at Kempton last time out against some useful horses where he easily coped with the pace and looked like he could step up in competition for the
Ben Pauling yard.

14:55 – Brooklands Golden Miller Chronograph Bowl Chase (Grade 1)
(GBB Race) – Spillane’s Tower

THIS runner would probably be my pick of the day. Jimmy Mangan has kept this horse fresh since finishing 5th in the King George VI Chase in December, where a rapid pace was set and his jumping wasn’t up to his usually good standard. This horse has tonnes of ability which was perfectly demonstrated when a close 2nd to Fact To File at Punchestown in November. The winner most recently put in the most impressive performance of the meeting at Cheltenham last month when winning the Ryanair and that form alone feels too difficult to ignore in this race. Ahoy Senor boasts great form at this meeting from previous seasons and the good ground should see him make the picture here provided he jumps as soundly as he is capable of. I wouldn’t risk betting on a forecast or tricast for this race however because the 2nd and 3rd pick here do have a mistake in them at times. Grey Dawning could make the remaining place after getting a win on the board at Kelso last month. Missing Cheltenham seems important as, although he won there last season, the exertion to get the win seemed to make him run flat at Aintree and after winning an easier race last time he might be fresher.

15:30 – William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) – Constitution Hil

THE winner of this race in 2023 returns after a dramatic renewal of the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham saw Nicky Henderson’s superstar take a dramatic fall at the top of the hill. It was very uncharacteristic for what we have come to expect from this horse from the past few seasons but there were warning signs that nobody could have anticipated would lead to a fall. He often stands outside the wings over some of his hurdles and clears them spectacularly, but he put in a messy jump in the back straight at Kempton when winning the Christmas Hurdle and he blundered massively at the last in the Unibet Hurdle in January. The ridiculous pace set by King Of Kingsfield and Brighterdaysahead forced the mistake from Constitution Hill because of the intensity, as well as State Man who fell at the last when drawing clear but looked tired when trying to land. The prediction is that the pace should be quick given the quality on show but that this horse will bounce back to his best and that the mistake has been ironed out. It is also forgivable because this is jumps racing and it is the nature of the sport. Lossiemouth could finish 2nd to
Constitution Hill for a second time after what was a routine win for her in the end in the Mares’ Hurdle. She fell in February when losing to State Man but much like the Constitution Hill fall, the pace that day was very quick and the decreased intensity in the Mares’ suited her much better. Wodhooh has built an incredibly impressive winning streak of six wins, with a win in the Martin Pipe last time out. If the other two don’t fire she should be able to pick up the pieces but it is difficult to pick against the big two.

Aintree Grand National 2025 Early Thoughts

STUMPTOWN

FOUR of the last six winners have won at the Cheltenham Festival before running at Aintree, with Tiger Roll winning the Cross Country before both of his victories in 2018 and 2019. Stumptown is coming off the back of a victory in that race and just meets positive age trends being an eight year old, while more winners tend to be nine or ten. A win here would be his fifth win in a row going back to May and he has developed into a really efficient, tough chaser who travels very late into a race. This was evident in his victory over the cross country course at Cheltenham in December, before carrying top weight to victory over the same course at the Cheltenham Festival last month. He makes his National debut which is a positive trend. A massive 13 of the last 15 winners have won on their first national run. He runs for Gavin Cromwell who has hit a nice bit of form lately. During the Cheltenham Festival he recorded two winners, but it could easily have been three with Sixandahalf pipped on the line in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and plenty of places in the week too. He was only 2nd to Willie Mullins who boasted a ridiculous ten winners and will likely saddle plenty in this race. The travelling ability and jumping accuracy of Stumptown could be a difference maker here though and he gets first pick and also has a fair amount of support with his price going from 14/1 to around 10/1 since Cheltenham.

PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS

ANOTHER Gavin Cromwell runner, Perceval Legallois, has won on his previous two runs and consistently performs well in big fields, with those wins coming in fields of 25 plus runners which can be crucial here. He finished ahead of a promising looking runner Nick Rockett for Willie Mullins last time and the weights even more in favour of Perceval Legallois this time round. Mark Walsh was quick to sing the horse’s praises after the earlier of his two recent victories in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown in December, saying the horse got him out of trouble. It feels like after competing at listed and grade 3 level for a while, this horse has developed some good form so might just be ready for a race of this magnitude. He could run a personal best to make the frame here and it feels unlikely that a J P McManus horse won’t feature in the business end. This horse could be the owner’s best chance, with last year’s winner
I Am Maximus yet to show his best form this season and lumbered with top weight. multiple Grand National winning jockey Derek Fox is set to miss the National through injury this season but has been quoted by the Racing Post recently saying this is the horse he would pick to ride from the whole field. He also heaped praise on Mark Walsh who is likely to take the ride.

HYLAND

Hyland has squeezed into the field at the bottom of the weights thanks to recent withdrawals. Nicky Henderson’s grey gave the Cheltenham Festival a miss and would have been my pick for the Ultima. With hindsight he may have just come up short against an athletic Myretown that day, but his late inclusion knocks Nick Rockett down a place to slot him in at 3rd in the verdict. Good ground, a low weight and staying ability are in his favour over this long 4-mile 2^1/2 furlong trip and he ran well in a big field when 2nd of 13 runners last time out at Kempton. His downfall that day was probably having to carry top weight which won’t be a concern here under a very generous 10 stone 6lbs. He started the season as a novice, but he ran regularly through the summer last year and has developed into a consistent staying handicap chaser. The competitive handicap he placed in last time out with a change of tactics only confirmed to me that he wouldn’t be out of place in a Grand National field and the yard sound positive about his chances.

NICK ROCKETT

JUST one of what is likely to be many Willie Mullins runners, Nick Rockett beat the current favourite at the time of writing, Intense Raffles in the grade three Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February. This is strong form considering it came at the course where Intense Raffles won the Irish National last season on his preferred soft ground. He also placed 4th behind Perceval Legallois in December whilst conceding an 8lb advantage to Cromwell’s runner. He appears to be coming into his own at the age of eight, just scraping in at the bottom end of the age trends for the race and a win here would make it a hattrick. Giving Stumptown a 6lb advantage in the weights feels like a tough ask, but this horse makes the top four thanks to recent results, good form in big fields and the yard being in red hot form after dominating the Cheltenham Festival. With seven of his likely to make the field at the time of writing, it is hard to imagine that at least one of Mullins’ runners won’t at least make the places and he is a very big price considering his profile.

Verdict

Cheltenham Festival 2025 Picks: Day 4

13:20 – JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) – East India Dock

JAMES Owen’s yard specialise in juvenile hurdlers and East India Dock is his standout horse this season. He has won two graded trials for this race in November and January and although the likes of Stencil and Torrent went into the Fred Winter Handicap instead, the performances were brilliant. He excelled on the undulations of Cheltenham and he is incredibly efficient at his hurdles. Stencil and Torrent have finished behind this horse in those results and although they ended up in the Fred Winter, it doesn’t take anything away from this runner’s cruising speed and finishing. Lulamba contests favouritism at the time of writing and was just as impressive when winning a juvenile hurdle at Ascot in January. His form probably holds more substance than the
East India Dock form with Mondo Man who lines up here finishing in 2nd on that occasion. However, having seen the way East India Dock cruises and jumps over this course and distance sticks in the mind and the fact he comes from a yard that specialises in this division I just favour James Owen’s runner. Lulamba of course gets 2nd place on the verdict but this feels like a proper 50/50. Personally I can’t see beyond the top two in this race but for 3rd spot in the verdict I would look at Blue Lemons after Rachael Blackmore went on a winning spree yesterday.

14:00 – William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) – Kargese

ON seasonal debut looked to retain her ability but something was off so possibly she wasn’t sharp. She travelled well late into the race as usual and got fought off by Take No Chances. This result has since been boosted in my opinion, considering Take No Chances finished 3rd in the Mares’ Hurdle earlier in the week. Now Kargese has had a run she should be a bit sharper and she can continue the Mullins team’s winning ways. McLaurey takes 2nd spot here and would have been the original pick due to his recent winning form, including his last run ahead of Storm Heart in a listed hurdle last month. Last year’s winner Absurde is still producing good form and comes here after winning the listed Chester Stakes in August and a 5th place finish in the Melbourne Cup last time out so should make a place despite carrying 11st 8lbs.

14:40- Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Registered as the Liberthine Mares’ Chase) (Grade 2) (GBB Race) – Dinoblue

SIMILARLY to Jonbon, clearly a class horse but it hasn’t gone right for her yet at Cheltenham in both the Grand Annual and the Mares’ Chase, having finished 2nd in both. Also similar to Jonbon, it could be argued that some notable challengers are absent or out of form, in this case Impervious and Limerick Lace respectively. However she has stepped into serious grade-level races and never looked out of place when chasing home some of the better horses Irish racing has to offer. She also beat one of the contenders in this field,
Allegorie De Vassy, last time out by a neck. There is a slight weight advantage going against Dinoblue but Allegorie De Vassy has a tendency to jump out to the side at times (potentially reduced here due to the left-handed course) and the way she tired in the final stages in last year’s renewal has put me off a bit. Shecouldbeanything completes the verdict in 3rd for her toughness and ability to surge late on, regardless of how she is jumping on the day.

16:00 – Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) –
Galopin Des Champs

WILLIE Mullins’ superstar has won the last two renewals of this race and is bidding to become the first horse since Best Mate to win three on the bounce. He was his typical dominant self at the Dublin Racing Festival where he confirmed impressive form over Fact To File when running over a trip of three miles. The conversation building up to the festival has been that this might be the best horse Willie Mullins has trained and a third Gold Cup would surely confirm that. The other positive is that the opposition possibly isn’t as testing as his previous two wins on paper, with a small field of nine runners confirmed. The biggest danger here is probably Banbridge who won the King George VI Chase in December, hunting down Il Est Francais and showing smart jumping late on. Monty’s Star completes the top three as the presumably strong pace will suit and he can pick up the pieces in the closing stages behind the front two.

17:20 – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) – Woodhooh (Each Way)

GORDON Elliott has been very quiet so far and had no winners at the time of writing. The Stayers’ Hurdle went horribly wrong for him with Teahupoo and The Wallpark battling each other to the line until Bob Olinger swooped over the top to steal the prize. Woodhooh could finally give him a win in the final race. She will concede weight to most rivals here but she is rated highly for a reason. Those who finished in the top four behind her in a mares’ hurdle here in December all went on to produce grade-winning form in their next run.
Take No Chances also gave a great account of herself in the Mares’ Hurdle earlier this week, finishing 3rd and she kept on well. The last time we saw Woodhooh was also impressive because of the way she stayed on the bridle and cruised home in front of tough opposition, which makes me think she an defy the weight she is carrying. Taponthego, although distant, finished 3rd behind Supreme Hurdle 2nd William Munny last time out and goes for
Henry de Bromhead whose runners have started performing. Meanwhile,
East India Express won a competitive handicap at Kempton with Samuel Spade in 3rd going on to win next time out. East India Express is also carrying a relatively low weight so these two can make the places. Nurse Susan should be considered as well despite a 13-month-layoff to overcome. Her record is consistent and Dan Skelton has been too quiet this festival so far, so might just spring up with something in a handicap like this.

My Picks: 12th & 13th January 2024

Friday 12th January

13:42 Naas – Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) – Firefox

AFTER this race was rescheduled last week due to heavy fog, Firefox will take on a competitive field but should have the edge over this field. Gordon Elliott has won four of the last eight renewals with the likes of Ginto, who won this race for the same ownership two years ago, and Envoi Allen. Firefox has won four in a row and won on hurdling debut last time out against a smart prospect in Ballyburn, who has won the rest of his runs with four wins. This included his next start which was a massive 25 length victory in a maiden. Firefox also boasts a victory ahead of his market rival Ile Atlantique who runs for Willie Mullins which is a plus. If the ground goes heavy however that may level the playing field in Ile Atlantique’s favour after he won in testing conditions at Gowran Park in his last run.

Saturday 13th January

13:10 Wetherby – William Hill Towton Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) –
Colonel Harry

THE price at the time of writing may have already gone on this one but it still might be worth covering due to the quality of his form. He finished second behind the impressive, powerful travelling Le Patron in the grade one Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown just before Christmas. He has been stepped up in trip after that run because he hit a flat spot before finishing very strongly, making up plenty of ground on the eventual winner in the process. Not only was the run impressive in defeat, but the rest of the runners in this race have yet to run in a graded contest over fences. A third-place finish in a grade two novice hurdle by The King Of Ryhope is the highest quality form he will face here.

14:42 Kempton – Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle – Impose Toi

NICKY Henderson’s runner is currently favourite at the time of writing and it’s understandable. With three wins so far from five runs over hurdles, he was brilliant in defeat to stablemate Luccia last month at Ascot at odds of 11/1. He lost by a neck after travelling sweetly into the race uphill before the final bend, but made a costly mistake at the last hurdle before making ground again to lose by a narrow margin. It was his first step up from novice company and will only carry 2lbs more here. If he can replicate his recent prolific form and reproduce something similar to what he showed at Ascot he should be close. Grade-two winner Nemean Lion and Cheltenham festival winner from last season, Langer Dan, have great appeal on paper but they are carrying a hefty amount of weight for their past successes.

15:00 Warwick – Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) – Guetapan Collonges

THIS horse is a seriously consistent performer for Charlie Longsdon, who always seems to be in the picture in these long distance chases. Due to the testing nature and unpredictability of staying chases that are over three miles long, that consistency is very important. This season he picked up a win at Carlisle in October, before finishing third behind runaway winner Malina Girl at Cheltenham in November. On that occasion he carried 11 stone 8lbs in arguably his toughest race since last year’s renewal of this race. He will carry 4lbs less than that here, while Malina Girl fell in her last run and will carry top weight for this race. Guetapan Collonges won’t want heavy going after a brave but tired effort in fourth behind Iwilldoit here last season, so the weather must be monitored. if the weather forecast is accurate, it should be cloudy but dry leading up to the race. His trainer, Charlie Longsdon, opted to skip the New Year’s Day meeting at Cheltenham to target this race. Longsdon sees this horse as a potential future Grand National runner and a win in this race would be a big step towards that.

My Picks: 30th December Challow Novices’ Hurdle

15:00 Newbury – Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – Willmount

NICKY Henderson splashed £340,000 on this horse after two bumper successes for Neil Mulholland. His debut over hurdles was spectacular. The field he ran in hasn’t produced many winners yet, but an easy 13-length victory with the margin growing as he crossed the line suggested this horse could be something special. He pulled his way into the lead before halfway and did all the hard work himself, jumped well and he didn’t seem to use much stamina, running through the line strongly. A step up to 2-and-a-half miles should therefore suit well.
At the time of writing, this horse is 12/1 for the Ballymore Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham next March and he won’t be that price for long if he wins impressively again here.
He will face another smart unbeaten prospect in Johnnywho, who has three wins from three starts. However, he might be up against it as the galloping nature of Newbury appeared to suit Willmount perfectly last time. Lookaway should also be in the picture, with three wins from four starts since May, including grade two success at Cheltenham in the Skybet Novices’ Hurdle. His consistency and experience relative to the field should mean he will be close but may struggle to match the two mentioned for ability.

Verdict

Predicted tricast returns for £1 stake at time of writing: £32.33 (via Bet365)

My Picks: 29th December 2023

13:10 Leopardstown – BeattheBank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle (Grade 3) – Space Tourist (Each way)

WILLIE Mullins has clearly stated that this horse is probably at her best in quicker summer conditions, but she won a listed mares’ hurdle in October on heavy going over a further distance. This is a much better field but, conditions should keep the race from being too fast, whilst the level of opposition should also see an injection of pace before the straight. If she can replicate the relatively strong travelling speed on similar testing ground conditions and clean jumping she should be in the picture late. Grade three would probably be the limit for this horse. Mullins’ mare has drifted in the market and her price allows for an each way punt and is probably a big part of the appeal.

13:40 Doncaster – KC Sofas Doncaster Yorkshire Silver Vase Mares’ Chase (Listed) – Zambella

THIS would make it a hattrick of victories in the Silver Vase for Nigel Twiston-Davies’ mare. She would probably prefer more cut in the ground but has won this race when the going was good before. She was at her best in her previous start when running out a 17-length winner at Aintree in a listed mares’ chase on heavy ground. Her ability over fences and engine came to the fore. This win came ahead of Pink Legend who also runs here. The alternative pick on good ground would probably be Fantastic Lady who has form over Zambella from a listed mares’ chase at Market Rasen last year. She has since been unsuccessful in four starts against tougher fields than this with two places. Her last run was in the Grand Sefton at Aintree 35 days ago, and it was a tough race over the famous Aintree fences whilst carrying top weight. Her route to this race may have been tougher on her than the route Zambella has been on, who picked up a win in her last start which is also important. Fantastic Lady must be considered and could very easily win herself, but something about this race has suited Zambella in the last two years, which is why she just edges this pick.

13:45 Leopardstown – Neville Hotels Novice Chase (Grade 1) –
Favori De Champdou

IF Favori De Champdou can replicate his last run, it will take a mighty effort to beat him. He tracked a free-running Flooring Porter and put in an excellent round of jumping. Flooring Porter set his usual frantic gallop from the front and was quirky in front occasionally wondering across the course before being corrected. Favori De Champdou would have been forgiven for tiring after the fast pace but he didn’t. He naturally travelled past Flooring Porter late on and, despite being clear, kicked on and finished emphatically. That race was not only an important piece of form, but was probably the most testing previous run of any of the horses in this race. He passed the test with flying colours and could be the nap of the day, with the only concerns will be his lack of runs on left-handed tracks and a possibility of Flooring Porter finding his old spark.

14:05 Limerick – Parkway Shopping Centre Rated Novice Hurdle –
Splashing Out

CURRENTLY joint favourite at the top of the market with Henry de Bromhead’s mare She’s A Fine Wine. There isn’t a lot of form that catches the eye in this race but the two market leaders both boast a win over course and distance on heavy going this season. This horse is carrying 7lb claimer Peter Smithers, whilst 3lb claimer Mike O’Connor takes the ride on She’s A Fine Wine. Therefore, this horse, despite carrying 12 stone, is effectively 4lbs better off than her rating when compared to her rival. She carried the same weight to victory last time out at Limerick. Meanwhile, She’s a fine Wine carried 11 stone 7lbs in her win in October over course and distance in the same conditions. Her run was three seconds slower than this horse managed.

My Picks: Savills Chase 28th December 2023

13:50 Leopardstown – Jack De Bromhead Christmas Hurdle – Irish Point

GORDON Elliot’s grey capped off last season with a grade one win at Aintree in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle. This came ahead of the likes of Hermes Allen and You Wear It Well who were successful grade-winning hurdlers. The way he ran through the line after a trip of two miles and four furlongs suggested this horse would get three miles. He made his seasonal debut at Gowran Park last month over a trip of two miles, finishing 1_^3/4 lengths ahead of Magical Zoe who has success at grade three level and was carrying 13lbs less. Whilst the rest of the field here are more established at the distance but this horse may have speed the others don’t have and this would make it four wins in a row.

14:25 Leopardstown – Savills Chase (Grade 1) – Gerri Colombe

THIS horse has a glittering record so far in his career, with 10 wins from 11 starts and the only defeat coming by a short head to The Real Whacker at Cheltenham earlier this year. He has won four grade ones over fences and has extraordinary battling qualities in the closing stages. With two Gold Cup winners, a former winner of this race in the shape of Conflated and an Irish Grand National winner in I Am Maximus, this will undoubtedly be the toughest field he has faced on paper. He missed the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day due to a lack of rain specifically to run here. This is a horse with a lot of ability whose career has been thoughtfully plotted so far, so his inclusion in the field warrants great interest.

Verdict

My Picks: 27th December 2023

13:10 Leopardstown – Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase (Grade 1) –
Captain Guinness

LAST season’s Champion Chase runner-up impressed late last month when making his seasonal debut in a grade two contest at Navan. He ran out a seven length winner ahead of Riviere D’etel, with Dysart Dynamo and grade one winner over fences Saint Roi in behind. Dysart Dynamo set a decent pace and this horse appeared to have a lot left in the tank at the finish. In that run he only carried 2lbs less than he will in this race, which should provide confidence in his ability to give away weight to Dinoblue who will carry 7lbs less. He will only have to reproduce form ahead of Saint Roi and Dysart Dynamo, with the latter carrying 11lbs more here than he did at Navan. Gentleman De Mee in that case remains the only horse left to assess and he normally doesn’t hit form until February or March. Captain Guinness is a consistent performer who finished the runner-up in this race last season behind Blue Lord, who won’t run here. Racing is almost never simple but this horse appears the most likely winner for these reasons.

13:45 Leopardstown – Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) – Daddy Long Legs

THIS horse won his maiden in his second start at Thurles at the end of last month by an impressive 13 lengths. The Willie Mullins trained Almanzor gelding was bought for €210,000, after finishing a close second on the flat in France. His maiden performance over hurdles couldn’t have been more impressive, despite some regularly placed runners in behind, who on form are struggling to get rid of their maiden tag. Down Memory Lane also looks like a smart prospect but this horse gets the pick because when comparing both of their previous starts, Daddy Long Legs appeared to face a more testing pace and showed good jumping ability which will be needed in a grade one race. At the time of writing this horse has also gained favouritism over his market rival and it would be no surprise to see him justify his place in the market.

14:30 Kempton – Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Handicap Chase (Grade 2) – Boothill

AFTER Haddex Des Obeaux wasn’t declared in the final stage of declarations so Boothill appears to be the obvious pick here, despite being near the top of the weights. Boothill is one of two runners in this field who has had recent winning form, with the other being Elixir De Nutz. Boothill’s form seems a tad more impressive, considering last month he beat a consistent performer and grade one winner in First Flow, before finishing ahead first ahead of Triple Trade at Ascot. Triple Trade, although hasn’t won at graded level, won a smart handicap in his next run. Boothill should be primed to take on Nube Negra and Editeur Du Gite, who have won impressive grade-level races in their career but haven’t been near their best form recently.

My Picks: Festive Racing 2023

13:05 Aintree – William Hill Formby Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (Formerly registered as the Tolworth Hurdle) – Jango Baie

JANGO Baie represents one of Nicky Henderson’s most promising prospects this season, after he was bought for £170,000 and claimed a dramatic close victory over Tellherthename at Ascot last month. He put in the hard work and tired the majority of the field, after Nico de Boinville set him free after some keen travelling early on. The runner-up, who won his next start, headed this runner before he fought back well to win by a nose. the run displayed an impressive engine, some clean jumping and good battling qualities. In recent years Nicky Henderson has won the Tolworth with none other than Constitution Hill, and although it would be a tough ask for this horse to match the achievements of his stablemate, he would appear to be a very smart horse who is in with a great chance of winning his first grade one.

13:10 Leopardstown – Mercedes-Benz South Dublin Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) – Mighty Bandit

GORDON Elliott’s gelding by Order Of St George caught the eye when winning his maiden towards the end of last month. after a race that was ran well he accelerated impressively to win by nine lengths and increasing as he hit the line. Behind him were Harsh who finished in third and stablemate Pacini in fourth, who both ran out as easy winners in their next starts. Interestingly, as reported by the Racing Post, this horse beat the time set later in the card by State Man by two seconds, although it should be noted State Man was carrying 12 lbs more. Jack Kennedy takes the ride on this horse over stablemate Kala Conti, who will be likely to make the running as she did in a narrow defeat to Nurburgring, who also runs here. Gordon Elliott has trained a few previous winners of this race in recent times and Mighty Bandit appears to justify favouritism in this renewal.

27th December

14:30 Kempton – Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Handicap Chase – Haddex Des Obeaux

DESPITE being near the top end of the weights, Haddex Des Obeaux should go close based on the quality he has shown in two defeats this season. He was only carrying 2lbs less when he put in a very impressive shift at Cheltenham in October, and after making the running looked the likely winner when he fell at the last. The race produced subsequent winners in Triple Trade and Madara, and Notlongtillmay would go on to finish a runner-up to the impressive Stage Star in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. Haddex Des Obeaux then took a massive step up in class when he ran in the grade one Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown earlier this month and finished a respectable third. This was just four lengths behind the multiple grade-one winner Jonbon and just over two lengths behind Edwardstone in second. A drop back down to handicapping, with many of the runners carrying similarly high weights may see him return to winning form. Boothill appears to be the toughest opponent on paper, with form ahead of Triple Trade whilst carrying 12 stone to win at Ascot last month. The run behind Jonbon is the deciding factor in this pick however because Haddex Des Obeaux coped so well. To add to this, a recent move to Nicky Henderson’s yard can only be positive given the success of Seven Barrows.

Aintree Grand National Festival Day 1: My Picks

13:45 – Racehorse Lotto Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) – Stage Star

CHELTENHAM-Aintree doubles can be very rare and tend to only be completed by the best in class, such as Buveur D’Air after his first Champion Hurdle, and more recently Shishkin and of course Tiger Roll. Stage Star has had a brilliant season over fences and his superb jumping should see him in with a great chance of doing the double against only four opponents. Joint favourite Banbridge isn’t without a chance and gave Cheltenham a miss last month, but has come up short to top class opposition in his last two starts against the likes of El Fabiolo and Mighty Potter. This horse has the best form in the field after winning the Turners Novices’ Chase last month, where he finished ahead of multiple grade one winners Mighty Potter and Appreciate It.

14:20 – Jewson Anniversary 4yo Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) – Nusret

THIS horse has placed behind top class opposition like Lossiemouth and Blood Destiny during the course of the season but has been saved for Aintree. He will also appreciate the ground if it stays good as his last start showed, where Perseus Way and Scriptwriter both finished in behind him at Kempton. It is worth noting that the favourite, Zenta has a good chance and placed behind Lossiemouth at Cheltenham last month. It was a much closer affair than when Nusret finished 16 lengths behind the star mare on Boxing Day. The reason Nusret gets the pick is because Zenta is coming off the back of a tough contest at Cheltenham, Nusret picking up a win in his most recent outing and some similarities to O’Brien’s Fakir D’oudairies. He is Joseph O’Brien’s most successful Aintree runner, a dual grade one winner at Aintree who could also perform on good going. He also often placed behind top class horses and last season skipped Cheltenham before winning the Marsh Chase.

14:55 – Alder Hey Aintree Bowl Chase (Grade 1) – Ahoy Senor

FESTIVAL form can be at a premium at the Grand National meeting and this horse could make it three wins in three seasons here. Despite the classy Bravemansgame finishing behind this horse on both occasions, the withdrawal of Paul Nicholls’ Gold Cup runner-up will only improve the chances of this horse. He often runs enthusiastically out front on the good ground at Aintree at this time of year and his trainer Lucinda Russell as descried him as a “spring-time horse”. She has remained positive after this horse suffered a fall in the later stages of the gold cup last month, but based on his previous results from the last two years he will take some beating. His powerful travelling ability should be able to cause A Plus Tard, Shishkin and Conflated problems, provided his jumping has improved as it did here last season.

16:05 – Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase (National Course) – Winged Leader

THERE will be an element of unfinished business with this pick for anyone who backed this horse at last year’s Cheltenham Festival. He travelled powerfully once in front, displaying excellent jumping and, for a hunters’ chaser, great agility. The one thing the performance was missing was restraint and a brilliantly judged late surge by Billaway under Patrick Mullins saw the race slip from his grasp in the final strides up the hill. This horse is a perfect three from three this season in point-to-points and steps down in trip to two-miles-five-furlongs here. If he displays the same relentless late gallop here, with a flatter course and the shorter distance, he will be hard to stop.

17:15 – Goffs UK Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race (Grade 2) – Seeyouinmydreams

THIS horse really caught the eye at a bumper at Newbury six weeks ago. The run followed a wind op and provided similar conditions to what is expected here. She looked like pure class and although it is difficult to put into context due to many runners on that occasion being lightly raced bumper horses, the nature of the victory was very promising. She set a strong pace, stretched the field putting in all the hard work herself and cruised late on, all whilst on the bridle and extended the lead to a winning margin of 11 lengths. The eye test says this is a very worthy favourite and could be the pick of the bunch.