Aintree is preparing to stage three days of quality Jumps action concluding with the world’s greatest steeplechase on Saturday.
The Grand National is the race that grinds the UK to a halt, but it is the penultimate race of the meeting and there are plenty of quality renewals and horses on show.
There are four Grade 1s on the opening day of the Aintree Grand National Festival including the Aintree Hurdle as the freak that is Constitution Hill tackles five rivals on what could be his last race over flights.
If that wasn’t enough for Thursday there’s also the Aintree Bowl, which *whisper it quietly* could prove to be one of the best contests of the whole season as A Plus Tard, Ahoy Senor, Bravemansgame and Conflated renew rivalries from the Gold Cup while Shishkin tackles three miles for the first time in his career.
There are four more Grade 1s on Friday as Fakir D’Oudairies bids to complete a three-peat in the Marsh Chase for trainer Joseph O’Brien, but the big betting race of the afternoon is the Topman Handicap Chase as a maximum field of 30 runners go to post.
Then we get to Grand National Saturday and there are three more top-level contests on the card including the Maghull Novices’ Chase as Jonbon tries for redemption after failing to win at the Cheltenham Festival.
But it’s really all about one race, the Grand National, as 40 runners and riders tackle the most iconic fences in Jumps racing. Can Noble Yeats become the third horse in modern history to seal back-to-back victories?
The latest Grand National odds can be found on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise the Aintree Festival race times for all three days of the meeting are below.
THURSDAY
13:45: Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
14:20: Jewson Anniversary 4-y-o Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1)
14:55: Aintree Bowl Chase (Grade 1)
15:30: Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1)
16:05: Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase
16:40: Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
17:15: Goffs UK Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat (Grade 2)
FRIDAY
13:45: Mildmay Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
14:20: William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
14:55: Top Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
15:30: Melling Chase (Grade 1)
16:05: Randox Supports Race Against Dementia Topham Chase (Premier Handicap)
16:40: Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
17:15: Abersoch Land and Sea Handicap Hurdle
SATURDAY
13:45: Maghull Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
14:25: Bridle Road Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
15:00: Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
15:35: Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1)
16:15: Freebooter Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
17:15: Randox Grand National (Premier Handicap)
18:20: Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Grade 2)
Aintree Day 1 Tips
- Matt Chapman’s horse racing tips for Thursday’s action at Aintree
- A 40/1 fancy features among Rory Delargy’s Aintree tips for Thursday
- Aintree tips: Mick Fitzgerald’s Thursday fancies at the Grand National Festival
- Ruby Walsh’s Aintree Cheat Sheet: Thursday betting tips for the Grand National Festival
Read These Next on the Grand National 2023
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest horse racing tips
- When is the Grand National? Aintree date, start time, runners and betting
- The full list of Grand National weights for Aintree 2023
- How Aintree Grand National favourites performed at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival
The Paddy Power Guide To Safer Gambling – Everything You Need To Know
