BREWIN'UPASTORM is set to land victory in the Betway Aintree Hurdle (3.25pm) on the opening day of the 2022 Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse.
Olly Murphy's nine-year-old bypassed the recent Cheltenham Festival and it can pay off with another victory at Aintree.
Having been a decent novice hurdler, Brewin'upastorm's chasing career went awry after initial success and he reverted back to the smaller obstacles last season. Two impressive wins at Taunton and Fontwell saw him pitched back into Grade One company in this Aintree Hurdle at last year's Grand National meeting.
DAY ONE: Grand National 2022 runners, riders and odds for Thursday race
The gelded son of Milan ran well enough to be fifth and had wind surgery over the summer. That seemed to do the trick as he stormed to victory in the Betway Hurdle at Aintree in the autumn.
He has won one, been second in another and was an unlucky faller at Cheltenham in his three starts since. But it appears he has been aimed at this race since that fine win over course and distance in November.
He faces tough opposition in Unibet Champion Hurdle second and third Epatante and Zanahiyr and he will have to be at his best. But this track and trip look ideal and he can cause a slight upset.
Another horse who scored at Aintree earlier in this season, PROTEKTORAT , can go in again in the Grade One Betway Bowl Chase (GBB Race) (2.50pm).
Dan Skelton's seven-year-old, who also won the Manifesto Novices' Chase on this day last year, heads back to Aintree on the back of a fine effort when third to A Plus Tard in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup last month.
Having also won the Grade Two Many Clouds Chase when stepping up in trip for the first time over course and distance in December, he looks well capable of scoring again in this Grade One.
A good jumper, he goes on most goings and any softening of the ground wouldn't inconvenience him.
He faces the last two winners of the Bowl in Willie Mullins' Kemboy and Clan Des Obeaux , from the stable of Skelton's old boss Paul Nicholls, and Gordon Elliott's Irish Gold Cup winner Conflated .
But the progressive young chaser may be able to hold them at bay to triumph for a second successive year at Aintree.
The first race run over the Grand National fences of the meeting is the Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase (4.05pm) for amateur riders.
Last year Cousin Pascal was a shock 66-1 winner and is back again. But a chance is taken on Ciaran Murphy's similar massively-priced DOWN THE HIGHWAY to cause another upset.
Murphy has a big chance of glory in the Grand National itself with Enjoy D'allen, who is among the market leaders for the Aintree marathon.
And his County Westmeath stable could get a boost with victory at massive odds over the big fences on the opening day.
Favourite Jett, who led for a long way in last year's Grand National and is partnered by Aintree specialist Sam Waley-Cohen, and Will Biddick's Porlock Bay are others to consider in what is likely to be another spectacular contest.
Nicholls may land the opener to the meeting, the Grade One SSS Super Alloys Manifesto Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (1.45pm), with PIC D'ORHY .
The Ditcheat handler drew a blank at Cheltenham, but looks to have plenty of chances of victory over the three days at Aintree. And Pic D'Orhy – who landed an excellent victory in the Grade Two Pendil Novices' Chase at Kempton last time – can get the three days off to a winning start for the Nicholls' team.
Gordon Elliott's PIED PIPER sets the standard in the Grade One Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.20pm).
The four-year-old was third, just under three lengths behind impressive winner Vauban, in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham last time.
He had been unbeaten in two previous starts over hurdles and looks the class act in the Grade One contest. He can return to winning ways ahead of Cheltenham Festival scorer Brazil .
Merseyside-born trainer Donald McCain won the Grade Three Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (4.40pm) with Katachenko in 2016. And he can take it again with GAELIK COAST .
READ MORE: Get a copy of the ECHO's Grand National Special
The eight-year-old finished 10th in this race last season and has won one of his four starts this season, but he has been running over two-and-a-half miles. Back down to the same handicap mark he won off at Musselburgh earlier in the season and down in trip to two miles, he can go close to giving McCain victory in the race named in honour of his father Ginger's triple Grand National hero Red Rum.
And in the finale on day one, the Grade Two Goffs UK Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (GBB Race) (5.15pm), a horse partially named after the aforementioned Aintree legend, ROSY REDRUM , can also score.
Milton Harris' four-year-old won on her debut Under Rules at Wincanton and was second at Newbury last time. She was taken out at the Cheltenham Festival and comes to Aintree a fresh horse. She can win ahead of the Skelton-trained Kadeira and Irish raider Ashroe Diamond from the Willie Mullins' stable.
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Grand National Thursday day one tips: Wright Ones
AINTREE DAY ONE TIPS FROM CHRIS WRIGHT
1.45pm Pic D’Orhy
2.20pm Pied Piper
2.55pm Protektorat
3.30pm Brewin’upastorm
4.05pm Down The Highway (NAP)
4.40pm Gaelik Coast
5.15pm Rosy Redrum
