Aintree Day One Tips
- Selma De Vary (Aintree, 13.45) – 1pt win @ 11/4 (Bet365)
- Jango Baie (Aintree, 14.55) – 1pt win @ 11/10 (William Hill)
- Brighterdaysahead (Aintree, 16.05) – 3pts win @ 9/4 (PricedUp)
- Jasko Des Dammes (Aintree, 16.40) – 1pt each-way @ 12/1 (Betfred)
The Grand National Festival gets underway this afternoon and it promises to be a cracking opening day. I’ve picked out four to follow at Aintree today and included the best odds available at betting sites for each selection.
Super Selma can claim Aintree opener
This is a cracking start to the meeting and features the second, third and fourth from last month’s Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.
I went with Minella Study that day and he ran a cracker under Ryan Mania, giving best to the big-priced Willie Mullins-trained winner Apolon De Charnie and Maestro Conti (Dan Skelton), who finished a short head in front of him.
There is clearly little to choose between them and the fourth that day, SELMA DE VARY. However, the selection was hampered at a vital stage, having to be switched, before coming up the hill really well.
There are fewer runners in this race and, therefore, hopefully the filly will be able to fully reveal her hand and get us off to a good start.
Aintree tip 1: Selma De Vary (Aintree, 13.45) – 1pt win @ 11/4 (Bet365)
Jango set for Bowl compensation
A small field, as so often is the case for this post-Gold Cup contest and it has the look of a compensation mission for JANGO BAIE.
Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old was beaten only by the impressive winner Gaelic Warrior in the Gold Cup and, if that effort hasn’t taken the edge off him, he looks the best horse in this field and is priced accordingly on betting apps.
Conditions will suit him and he’s not been out of the first three in three previous starts here. Admittedly, he was beaten by the reopposing Impaire Et Passe, in last year’s Manifesto Novices’ Chase here, but he’s been the greater improver of the two since then.
Protektorat, Spillane’s Tower and Pic d’Orhy make up a strong but select field.
Aintree tip 2: Jango Baie (Aintree, 14.55) – 1pt win @ 11/10 (William Hill)
Brighterdaysahead is a cut above Aintree Hurdle rivals
This looks another intriguing post-Cheltenham Grade 1, with 2025 Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace, this year’s third in the Blue Riband hurdling event, The New Lion, the improving Alexei, who finished a place behind The New Lion at Cheltenham, plus the talented El Fabiolo all involved.
Then there’s BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD, who won the Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle over C&D in 2024, her only previous trip here. On her day she is very good and her best form over hurdles is better than the rest of the field, if she can reproduce it.
The Gordon Elliott-trained mare does seem better suited to here, or perhaps just flatter tracks, than Cheltenham and she goes on pretty much any ground, so with watering taking place to maintain good to soft, she’ll be fine. I’m taking her to gain compensation for her second to Lossiemouth in the big one last month and I think she still has untapped potential over this longer trip.
Aintree tip 3: Brighterdaysahead (Aintree, 16.05) – 3pts win @ 9/4 (PricedUp)
Jasko a value runner in penultimate race
Sans Bruit arrives seeking a hat-trick of wins in this race and, given the strength of those efforts and his general form in the spring, he looks likely to put up another huge effort from a mark just 3lb higher than when landing it last year.
The two JP McManus-owned runners, Hercule Du Seuil and Petit Tonnerre need keeping an eye on in the market on horse racing betting sites. The former won a Grade 3 last spring and is now 4lb lower again, while the latter also won over a similar trip at last year’s Punchestown Festival and is just 3lb higher. A market move for either would probably be significant.
However, also representing potential value in this is JASKO DES DAMMES. Still only seven, Henry de Bromhead’s gelding has improved this season and ran a cracker in the hustle and bustle of the Grand Annual at Cheltenham, when he led two out before not quite getting up the hill.
He’s a double-figure price on Grand National betting sites and can be backed each-way and this flatter, sharper track should be to his liking. He stays beyond two miles, so I wouldn’t expect him to be stopping down the home run and he might just run the sting out of the finishers out in the country.
Aintree tips 4: Jasko Des Dammes (Aintree, 16.40) – 1pt each-way @ 12/1 (Betfred)
Free bets for Aintree
Virgin Bet are offering money back on selected races throughout the Grand National Festival and on the opening day, punters can get their stake back as a free bet if their selection doesn’t win the 13.45 at Aintree.
Just place a bet on the race, for which I’ve put up Selma De Vary, and if your selection doesn’t win, Virgin Bet will refund all losing stakes in free bets. The max free bet will vary per customer, so check before placing your bet.
Free bets will be credited within 24 hours and expire after seven days.
Responsible Gambling
If you’re having a bet on day 1 of the Grand National Festival, it’s vital to practice responsible gambling.
Betting can be addictive, and it’s important to stay in control of your gambling, whether you’re using online bookmakers, casino sites, slot sites, bingo sites or any other gambling platform.
Never treat gambling as a way to make money, never bet more than you can afford and when the fun stops, stop.
Gambling sites offer punters tools, like deposit limits, profit and loss trackers and self-exclusion options, to help you stay in control.
Try not to get carried away by free bets or casino bonuses, which are widely available.
But if you ever feel like you need help or advice on gambling addiction, don’t hesitate to contact one of the charities or organisations below.
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