Horse Racing Tips: Paddy Power’s Cheat Sheet for Day 1 of Aintree’s Grand National Festival

Millers Bank was only a length behind Pic D’orhy at Kempton and if he jumps slicker could be a value play against the likely favourite.

The step up in trip is going to suit War Lord. He was in the box seat but didn’t have the gears when they quickened into the third last in the Arkle at Cheltenham but this trip may suit him better.

GIN ON LIME has been rested through the winter with this race in mind and providing the rain stays away, she’ll prove hard to catch under optimum conditions.

ERNE RIVER goes up in grade but he has won his last four races and this is not the deepest Grade 1 ever run.

A Grade 1 Novice Chase to start the three-day fiesta and I’m siding with Pic D’Ohry to get trainer Paul Nicholls off to a flying start as he chases down another UK Trainers’ Championship.

Pied Piper bumped into the very smart Vauban in the Triumph Hurdle and ticks all the boxes. The biggest danger could be the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle winner, Brazil.

I just favour Brazil over Pied Piper. He gave Gaelic Warrior 8lb at Cheltenham and did exceptionally well to win the Juvenile Hurdle. He’s improving.

Pied Piper had a hard race at Cheltenham so Jonjo O’Neill’s Petit Tonnerre appeals at a decent price.  He did well to win on his UK debut and is talented enough to make his presence felt here.

This is very tricky. Petit Tonnerre is an unknown quantity so I’m going to play him in the ‘without Pied Piper and Brazil’ market but feel free to go each-way.

Another Grade 1, this time for juvenile hurdlers over 2m 1f. PIED PIPER will be very hard to beat for Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell. The Triumph Hurdle third was probably just outstayed by two top class youngsters at the Festival but this sharp track should be right up his street.

Protektorat was a decent -but distant – third to A Plus Tard in the Cheltenham Gold Cup but was a ready winner at this venue before. Conflated rates the danger based on his Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup win before tipping up at the Festival.

Neither Clan Des Obeaux nor Kemboy are getting any younger and any rain will help Royal Pagaille massively. Protektorat ran really well in the Gold Cup but had a hard race so I’ll side with Conflated who would have beaten Eldorado Allen except he fell.

Royal Pagaille ran well in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on ground faster than ideal and the return to his preferred left-handed flat track with rain softened conditions can see him score.

Eldorado Allen was the only one to try and go with Allaho in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham and that cost him second. A return to 3m on a flat track will suit and he’s my each-way play

It’s hard to think PROTEKTORAT didn’t prove his stamina when third in the Gold Cup behind A Plus Tard and we have already got evidence this tight track is absolutely what he enjoys.

Epatante roared back to form when second to Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle and can return to the winner’s enclosure now.

Epatante would have been a good bit further in front of Zanahiyr in the Champion Hurdle except for a bad mistake. She needs to prove she stays 2m 4f but she may just be too good for them.

Brewin’upastorm has long looked destined for top honours and a jockey change with Sean Bowen replacing Aidan Coleman and the added cheekpieces may just give him the edge in a wide-open contest.

Zanahiyr has been crying out for a step up in trip to 2m 4f and if he improves for it like I think he will, then he should prove tough to beat.

I want to take on Zanahiyr. I’ll go with the stamina of BREWIN’UPASTORM for Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen. The former Ballymore fourth has turned into a useful performer over the trip and was far from disgraced in the National Spirit at Fontwell last time. I’ll take him to cause a small upset.

LATENIGHTPASS was an unlucky second last year as the winner Cousin Pascal got a dream run up the inside rail. Gina Andrews’ mount has had a wind op and won his prep race in a point-to-point at Charm Park. He can go close again.

Dropping back in trip will suit Jett who ran a great race in last year’s Grand National. He was beaten last time over 3m 2f but this 2m 5f trip should be more to his liking.

Sam Waley-Cohen’s record over the ‘spruce’ fences has been a recipe for profit in recent years and his mount Jett looks very solid to provide him with a fourth victory in the race.

Jett ran a cracker in last year’s Grand National, relishing these  fences and could take a bit of catching now.

PORLOCK BAY has not quite been in the form that took him to Cheltenham glory in 2021 but he really should have each-way claims here for trainer-jockey William Biddick

Evan Williams’ THE LAST DAY (each-way) has a big chance. He’s lightly-raced, travels strongly and has a good racing weight.

Henry de Bromhead’s Dancing On My Own was disappointing behind Global Citizen in the Grand Annual but could be interesting at a big price in a race the trainer has had success in before. 

I’ll take another chance on last year’s Grand Annual winner Sky Pirate who disappointed in this year’s renewal at Cheltenham on soft ground. He can bounce back at a decent price in this very open contest.

Donald McCain’s Gaelik Coast shaped really well at Cheltenham in January when last seen and that race has worked out well. He will do me each-way at a price.

FRERO BANBOU was never going the pace at Cheltenham behind Global Citizen and did really well in the end to finish third in the Grand Annual. Has solid each-way claims for Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch.

Naughtinesse won very nicely at Fairyhouse and is related to horses that were placed at Aintree before. The Skeltons’ Kateira was impressive when winning at Huntingdon.

Patrick Mullins is going to make the weight of 11 stone to ride Ashroe Diamond and that’s a good sign to me.

Kateira was relatively unfancied on debut at Huntingdon before powering home impressively. She appears to have been saved for this race by the shrewd Skelton team and can provide an emotional success for the Chugg family.

Rosy Redrum was poorly positioned last time at Newbury against the geldings and she could prove tough to beat now against her own sex and getting the four-year-old allowance.

Rosy Redrum has the right name for this track after the three-time Grand National winner and flew home on her last start when second to Top Dog at Newbury. A reproduction of that form will see her go close again.