The Grand National Festival gets underway on Thursday afternoon.
Seven races will be run on the opening day, and the first race of the 2023 festival is the Manifesto Novices Chase, where some of the smartest chasers get another shot at Grade 1 glory.
One of the big races during the three days is the Aintree Bowl, which will also take place on Thursday afternoon. While the William Hill Aintree Hurdle will offer spectators the chance to see Constitution Hill after his emphatic Champion Hurdle success.
READ MORE: Grand National 2023: dates, tickets and how to watch on TV
READ MORE: It's all systems go for Grand National favourite Corach Rambler
Best each-way bets
In the opening race of the festival, Notlongtillmay looks a good each-way bet, while in the third race of the day, A Plus Tard (5/1), a former Gold Cup winner, looks another solid each-way bet.
Dancing On My Own, trained by Henry De Bromhead, is a good each-way bet in the Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase, while Williamstowndancer, trained by Willie Mullins, is another that could be worth a each-way bet in the Goffs UK Nickel Coin Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.
Favourites for the day
Stage Star is the current favourite with the bookies to win the first race on Thursday, with the Willie Mullins trained Zenta the odds on bookies favourite to win the Jewson Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle.
Shishkin is the favourite to win the Alder Hey Aintree Bowl Chase, while Constitution Hill is the bookies’ pick to win the William Hill Aintree Hurdle.
Which finishing places will bookies pay out on?
Typically, bookies will pay out on three places each-way on the Bowl Steeple Chase, but only two for the Aintree Hurdle. This is because there are fewer runners in the latter, however, this could change between now and the start of the race.
