Bainbridge (2-1) opened the 2023 Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse with victory in the opener, the Racehorse Lotto Manifesto Novices’ Chase.
Having bypassed last month’s Cheltenham Festival, Joseph O'Brien's seven-year-old was a fresh horse and on some better ground landed a fine length-and-a-half victory over Willie Mullins' Saint Roi (3-1). Paul Nicholls' Stage Star was sent off the 6-4 favourite to follow up his victory in the Grade One Turners Novices' Chase at Cheltenham. And under Harry Cobden, Stage Star led for much of the way in the Aintree novices' contest. But after a couple of errors, he dropped away and under JJ Slevin, Banbridge came through to lead over the final two fences. He has to be pushed out all the way to the line as Saint Roi tried to close, but O'Brien's rising star scored comfortably in the end.
READ MORE: Full list of final 40 runners for the 2023 Grand National