Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from the Aintree Grand National Festival on 9 April 2025.
AINTREE GRAND NATIONAL FESTIVAL DAY1 BEST BETS THURSDAY
Race 1 BOODLES ANNIVERSARY 4-Y-O JUVENILE HURDLE (Grade 1)
No6 MINELLA STUDY (Nap)
Trainer: Adam Nicol – Jockey: Ryan Mania
MINELLA STUDY travelled best turning for the final hill in the Triumph Hurdle before being run out of it in the final 150 yards. He is going to be more effective on the easier Mildmay course and can turn the tables on runner-up MAESTRO CONTI. Reports from Northumberland suggest he’s been going as well as ever in his work. WINSTON JUNIOR brings Cheltenham form to the table from his second to Saratoga in the juvenile handicap hurdle and should also be involved. Irish hopes rest with SELMA DE VARY and MANGE TOUT who figure at the top of the market and should also get into the argument.
Prediction: 1st MINELLA STUDY, 2nd Winston Junior, 3rd Maestro Conti, 4th Mange Tout
Race 2 WILLIAM HILL MANIFESTO NOVICES’ CHASE (Grade 1)
No4 LULAMBA
Trainer: Nicky Henderson- Jockey: Nico de Boinville
This equivalent of the Arkle Trophy has cut up favourably for LULAMBA, who though weakening into third in that race does not cross swords with the two that beat him. He holds fourth home JAX JUNIOR and his main threat is probably KOKTAIL DIVIN who travelled powerfully until the tap was turned on in the Brown Advisory Chase and now cuts back on the trip ladder. LULAMBA had taken out the Graded Game Spirit Chase on his previous outing and is going to be right at home on this flatter course. MAMBONUMBERFIVE will enjoy the quicker ground after getting bogged down in the heavy in the Kingmaker Chase at Warwick, and could also trouble the selection.
Prediction: 1st LULAMBA, 2nd KOKTAIL DIVIN, 3rd Mambonumberfive
Race 3 AINTREE 09 APR 2026 RACING WELFARE BOWL CHASE (Grade 1)
No2 JANGO BAIE
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
JANGO BAIE can pay a first compliment to Gold Cup winner Gaelic Warrior by bossing his rivals in this similar race, but run on a park course. Though staying on up the hill, he was still eight lengths adrift of the winner of chasing’s blue riband and can be thankful that horse is not amongst the opposition. Cotswold Chase winner SPILLANE’S TOWER makes a first appearance since the February trial and is the most likely to fill the other side of the exacta. IMPAIRE ET PASSE has something to prove after being pulled up in the Ryanair Chase, while though in great heart, hat-trick seeking PROTEKTORAT may find the task a bridge too far.
Prediction: 1st JANGO BAIE, 2nd Spillane’s Tower, 3rd Protektorat
Race 4 RANDOX FOXHUNTERS’ OPEN HUNTERS’ CHASE
No22 UNEXPECTED PARTY
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Miss Heidi Palin
Since the turn of the year UNEXPECTED PARTY hasn’t put a foot wrong in this division, coming home unchallenged at Taunton and Haydock. The former Grand Annual Challenge Cup winner at Cheltenham has a good rapport with his rider and should enjoy the challenge of the National fences. BARTON SNOW and IT’S ON THE LINE dominated the Cheltenham Foxhunters, with the latter finding one to beat him in that race for the third time in as many years. He took out this contest in 2024, and has a good chance of turning the Festival tables with Barton Snow, who though impressively unbeaten in five outings over fences has never tackled these fences. LETS GO CHAMP is unexposed in this division, and fresh from a win at Gowran Park needs respecting. At longer odds JOKER DE MAI is a name to conjure with. He troubled the judge in a handicap chase at Warwick and if taking to the fences could figure.
Prediction: 1st UNEXPECTED PARTY, 2nd It’s On The Line, 3rd Barton Snow, 4th Let’s Go Champ, 5th Joker De Mai
Race 5 WILLIAM HILL AINTREE HURDLE (Grade 1)
No5 THE NEW LION
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
There’s not much between BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD and THE NEW LION on Cheltenham Festival running and the pair can dominate this longer Grade 1. They came home second and third in that order in the Champion Hurdle but of the pair my selection will probably gain more benefit from the step up to two and a half miles. He’s already proven at the distance, and this race on better ground appears tailor made for him. GOLDEN ACE is effective over this trip but was comfortable held in the Champion and could be playing for minor honours. EL FABIOLO has returned to hurdling as if having a point to prove, and is the undoubted joker in the pack. If for any reason either of the main picks don’t show up, he’s the one that can capitalise.
Prediction: 1st THE NEW LION, 2nd Brighterdaysahead, 3rd El Fabiolo
Race 6 CLOSE BROTHERS RED RUM HANDICAP CHASE
No5 STENCIL (Each Way)
Trainer: Nick and Amanda Zetterholm – Jockey: Sean Bowen
Potentially the most alluring betting proposition on the first day card is STENCIL. Owned by JP McManus and trained in France, he powered home to open his account over fences at Chepstow but didn’t get home after travelling strongly in the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase at the Festival. He had a choice of engagements here, but the fact that he’s going for this handicap remembering the greatest of all Aintree performers encourages me to move in. INTHEPOCKET was my choice for the Grand Annual Aintree which he appeared an unlucky loser. Nothing travelled better coming down the hill, but he was confronted by a wall of horses and had made a dive for the inner when falling two out. With Jonjo O’Neill’s chasers in excellent form HIGHLANDS LEGACY must also be considered. He’s fresh from a break and will benefit from the likely strong pace in the contest. SANS BRUT looks sure to head the market for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden as he pursues a hat trick of victories in this race. Though failing to fire so far this season he’s dropped below his last winning mark, which tells you everything.
Prediction: 1st STENCIL, 2nd Sans Brut, 3rd Inthepocket, 4th Highlands Legacy
Race 7 GOFFS NICKEL COIN MARES’ STANDARD OPEN NH FLAR RACE
No19 MARTINI MAJESTY (Each Way)
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
MARTINI MAJESTY hails from a stable that is always respected with its distaffers and comes here off just one appearance when scoring at Ascot, since when she’s enjoyed a freshening break. The form has received a couple of knocks, but the daughter of Planteur is well regarded at Barbury Castle and can figure. NAN’S CHOICE was a clear cut winner of her second start at Gowran to make her an alluring proposition on a first run in the care of the Skeltons. PRINCESS DAY is probably the best mare in the West Country granted her unbeaten record that culminated in a very impressive display at Newbury. The stablemate of Golden Ace has to be respected, while at a longer price my selection’s barnmate SEVEN STARS could also get into the shake-up.
Prediction: 1st MARTINI MAJESTY, 2nd Nan’s Choice, 3rd Princess Day, 4th Seven Stars
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 1-7)
