Aintree Festival Day 1 - Race Previews + Our Picks On Day 1
- Will Sprigg
- Apr 2
- 4 min read
After a week of crazy racing at Cheltenham we return to the Aintree Festival with questions needed to be answered. Constitution Hill returns from his shock fall and defeat to go up against Champion Mare Lossiemouth.
4 Grade 1s headline day 1 with good fields and what will be forecasted faster ground with the very dry week of weather they have had up in Liverpool. Ground is currently good to soft but on the day it could be good but the ground staff are watering to try and keep the slower ground.
Click which race you would like to view below
13:45 EBC Group Manifesto Novices' Chase (Grade 1)
Chase Turf Grade 1 Novice Class 1
Runners 9
Distance 2 miles 4 furlongs
Going Good to soft
1st place £67,524
Our selections for the race
Win Jango Baie (5/2)
Just lost in Grade 1 at Sandown (2m4f, Heavy) in February on only his second chase start. Outpaced early but ran on strongly to win the Arkle at Cheltenham (2m, Good to soft) Ran well on both previous visits here over hurdles, step back up in trip is a massive bonus but he is un-raced on good ground.
Each-way Rubaud (12/1)
Superb hurdler who did win Grade 2s. Ran in the Kingmaker at Warwick and only just went down by a length to L'Eau Du Sud on only his 2nd chase start and he has came out and only lost the Arkle at Cheltenham by 1 length so that form is very good. His peak hurdle form is on Good ground so the faster ground should be right in his ballpark.
14:20 Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1)
Hurdle Turf Grade 1 Class 1
Runners 13
Distance 2 miles 1 furlong
Going Good to soft
1st place £61,897
Our selections for the race
Win Live Conti (10/3)
Made winning debut at Auteuil (2m2f, heavy) in October then moved to new connections and won at Wetherby (2m, soft) was a weaker race but all he could is win easy which he did, could come with significant improvement and the connections have high hopes for him.
Each-way Mambonumberfive (10/1)
Bought for 450,000 Euros after placing in two hurdles in France. Pulled hard in Cheltenham Grade 2 (soft) on debut for new connections. Won the Grade 2 Adonis at Kempton (2m, good to soft) but that does not look great form, but could have improved for that and is coming from a yard in great form.
14:55 Brooklands Golden Miller Chronograph Bowl Chase (Grade 1)
Chase Turf Grade 1 Class 1
Runners 8
Distance 3 miles 1 furlong
Going Good to soft
1st place £140,325
Our selections for the race
Win Spillane's Tower (10/3)
Went of Favourite for the King George in last run (good ground) and has looked very progressive over fences. Completed a Grade 1 double (2m4f,3m1f) before running a cracker in the John Durkan at Punchestown when he beat Galopin Des Champs and finished just behind Fact To File so that form is very solid.
Each-way Stage Star (7/1)
Has won Grade 1 novice chases and hurdles but that is over 2m4f. Upped in trip at Cheltenham in Grade 2 over 3m1f when he put up a great show against odds on fav L'Homme Presse (soft) Very unexposed over this trip so he could be anything.
15:30 William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1)
Hurdle Turf Grade 1 Class 1
Runners 7
Distance 2 miles 4 furlongs
Going Good to soft
1st place £140,325
Our selection for the race
Win Lossiemouth (13/8)
Maybe missed an opportunity in the Champion Hurdle after the drama at the Cheltenham Festival. Won the Mares easily though over this trip on good to soft ground and she was very impressive. Only beat 2 lengths by Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle when seemingly did not travel a yard. 4 wins from 4 at this trip which are all Grade 1s. Could easily turn the tables here.
16:05 Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase
Hunter Chase Turf Class 2
Runners 30
Distance 2 miles 5 furlongs
Going Good to soft
1st place £24,155
Our selections for the race
Win My Drogo (5/1)
Was in these colours when winning a Grade 1 novice's hurdle for Dan Skelton at this meeting 4 years ago. Has struggled with injuries since but has swapped to Edward William Walker and has been good, Winning a point to point and comfortably seeing off Gracchus De Balme and Jet Plane at Haydock in February, could be dangerous in his current form.
Each-way Eva's Oskar (33/1)
Ran in the 2023 Grand National when unseating Alan Johns at the 21st, had a lengthy absence and came back to win a hunter chase and finished a close 2nd to Captain Tommy last time and would need to improve. Will go from the front most likely.
16:40 Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
Chase Turf Grade 3 Handicap Class 1
Runners 14
Distance 2 miles
Going Good to soft
1st place £56,270
Our selections for the race
Win Primoz (5/1)
Improved a lot to win at Ayr over hurdles last April but really took to fences when winning on Chase debut at Wetherby (1m7f, good to soft) in October. Things haven't gone as smooth since when he got trouble at an early stage in the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival Last month. Likes to race prominent and is a contender here. only has 10st 6lb.
Each-way Calico (12/1)
Can lead but will have pace pressure, one course ran, respectable when falling at the last in Grade 1 novice at the 2023 meeting. Won a nice race at Cheltenham in October (2m,good) Drying ground will suit but he needs to show abit here.
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