Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from the Aintree Grand National Festival on 11 April 2025.
Race 1 HALLGARTEN & NOVUM WINES MAGHULL NOVICES’ CHASE (Grade 1)
No8 KALA CONTI
Trainer: Gordon Elliott – Jockey: Jack Elliott
Ireland should dominate the two miles novice chase, with KALA CONTI taken to overturn hot favourite SALVATOR MUNDI. The mare hasn’t done much wrong since switching to fences, and after back-to-back triumphs at Cork chased home Sixmilebridge in the Scilly Isles (Grade 1) at Sandown. There should be more to come from the selection, who is fresh from a two month break. Salvator Munti took out the Top Novices’ Hurdle here n 2025 and had little to prove when opening his chasing account against inferior rivals at Thurles. He still needs to cement his reputation, but has the class to trouble the best of them. NO QUESTIONS ASKED attracted support for the Cheltenham Plate but after a poor start could never get into it. If a line is drawn through that disappointment he has a definite earning chance.
Prediction: 1st KALA CONTI, 2nd Salvator Munti, 3rd No Questions Asked
Race 2 WILLIAM HILL HANDICAP HURDLE
No2 SUPREMELY WEST
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
The carefully manufactured gamble SUPREMELY WEST pulled off in the Pertemps Final proved a shocker for the book but I doubt the Skeltons have finished yet with this unexposed eight-year-old. He’s taken a hike in the weights but looked to have a lot more in hand than his winning margin suggests, leaving the impression there will be more to come. HOLD THE SERVE is operating on a hot streak for top connections and has looked a different horse since coming back from a breathing operation. He graduated into handicaps with a clear cut triumph at Kempton, and could easily build on it. KAKA’S COUSIN was two from three in novice company before posting a frame finish in the EBF Final at Sandown, where he was only collared in the final strides. He’s very unexposed and needs monitoring for a market move. PUSH THE BUTTON is one that could figure at a massive price, looking the type to put pep into the exotics returns. JERIKO DU REPONET has the ability to take away a cheque but is a thief who continues to underwhelm.
Prediction: 1st SUPREMELY WEST, 2nd Kaka’s Cousin, 3rd Hold The Serve, 4th Push The Button, 5th Jeriko Du Reponet
Race 3 TURNERS MERSEY NOVICES’ HURDLE (Grade 1)
No12 CHARISMA CAT (Each Way)
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
This is a big jump up the class ladder for CHARISMA CAT following her victory in the Mares’ Final at Newbury but her trainer wouldn’t run her unless he felt she could be competitive. The 7lb mares’ allowance can help her get into the money in an open affair, where she appeals an excellent value if near to her paper price. Champion trainer in France Mickael Seror saddles a similarly lively outsider in ROOSTER CROWING who looked in good form when I watched him school in Chantilly before Easter. He can enter calculations under an experienced jockey. At the head of the market stablemates BOSSMAN JACK and SOLDIER REEVES arrive with strong claims and especially the former, who ran well at Cheltenham and enjoys this better ground.
Prediction: 1st CHARISMA CAT, 2nd Rooster Crowing, 3rd Bossman Jack, 4th Soldier Reeves
Race 4 WILLIAM HILL HANDICAP CHASE
No9 CRUZ CONTROL (Each Way)
Trainer: Tom Lacey – Jockey: Stan Sheppard
A horse who usually comes to hand at this time of the season, CRUZ CONTROL can prove dangerous to all returned to his favourite course where he has prevailed in this race for the last two years. This would prove a magnificent hat-trick for the nine-year-old who with just two outings this season has been trained specifically with this race in mind. He returns from a four month absence but don’t let that put you off, as this is very much his ‘Gold Cup’. BRAVE FORTUNE is not dissimilar in the way he’s been trained this season, signalling with a near miss at Thurles in January that he’s firmly in the zone, while Joseph O’Brien will have him trained to the minute. Money in favour of MR HOPE STREET could be looked upon as significant, as this is only a fourth run over fences for the very unexposed Jet Away gelding.
Prediction: 1st CRUZ CONTROL, 2nd Brave Fortune, 3rd Mr Hope Street
Race 5 JET2 LIVERPOOL HURDLE (Grade 1)
No6 HONESTY POLICY
Trainer: Gordon Elliott – Jockey: Mark Walsh
Three horses that clashed in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham lock horns again, headed by the winner of that race HOME BY THE LEE. The veteran rolled back the years and had HONESTY POLICY around seven lengths adrift in fifth, although there’s a theory that those placings could be narrowed or even turned round given this is a very different course and the race will be run on drying ground. My selection was having just a second outing of the season that day, and almost certainly can derive considerable benefit from it. IMPOSE TOI had enjoyed a bountiful season before being pulled up in the Stayers, making him hard to side with, but JINKO BLUE powered up the final hill to take out the MGM Cup, and if as effective over this longer trip can definitely have a say. His connections struck with Jango Baie here on Thursday. STRONG LEADER ran well in Graded races before a lack lustre effort at Cheltenham in January and needs to demonstrate the benefit of a subsequent wind op.
Prediction: 1st HONESTY POLICY, 2nd Jinko Blue, 3rd Home By The Lee, 4th Impose Toi, 5th Strong Leader
Race 6 RANDOX GRAND NATIONAL HANDICAP CHASE
No22 JAGWAR (Nap)
Trainer: Oliver Greenall – Jockey: Mark Walsh
The name Greenall has been synonymous with this famous course for many years and it would be wholly appropriate if Oliver Greenall can hone his training skills to winning the race that will stop not one but 130 nations at around 1800 hrs South Africa time. That’s how many countries will be able to watch the Grand National Live as it happens, and I fancy the green and gold colours of legendary owner/gambler JP McManus can lead home the field via JAGWAR or IROKO. Both horses have been aimed at the race and arrive in great heart, with Iroko looking to better his fourth placing behind I AM MAXIMUS in the 2025 contest. The eight-year-old has enjoyed a good season, looking unlucky not to score on his first run back before stylishly taking out an intermediate chase at Ascot. He was sympathetically handled when his chance had gone in the Ultima at Cheltenham, and that was very much a readying experience for him. JAGWAR is a flashy piece of raw jungle power whose white blaze will be easy to pick out during the four and a half miles. He’s progressive, and but for a couple of notable errors would surely have taken the spoils in the Ultima. Those jumping issues need to be ironed out, but given any luck at all, and with cheek pieces added for the first time, he can put in a huge run. PANIC ATTACK bids to become the first mare to win this in more than 70 years and needs to be taken seriously. She’s a very good jumper who plundered the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, and if getting the trip off an 8lb higher mark must go well. JOHNNYWHO gives McManus yet another string to his bow after taking out the Ultima in spite of being hampered. He’s a strong traveller and economical jumper, assets that are going to stand him in good stead for trainer Jonjo O’Neill. BEAUPORT ran well for a long way before fading in this 12 months ago. He needs plenty of give in the ground and won’t get it, but as a 100-1 shot he could outrun those odds.
Prediction: 1st JAGWAR, 2nd Iroko, 3d Panic Attack, 4th Johnnywho, 5th Beauport
Race 7 WEATHERBYS NHSTALLIONS.CO.UK STANDARD OPEN NH FLAT RACE
No12 ONE KNIGHT (Each Way)
Trainer: Emma Lavelle – Jockey: Jack Tudor
ONE KNIGHT displayed that rare quality of being able to quicken twice when hacking up at Hereford to supplement an equally convincing victory at Southwell. Making all in today’s company might prove an altogether different task, but he’s a horse with any amount of scope for progression. LOOK ME had changed stables when scoring easily for Willie Mullins at Fairyhouse and this French bred must be respected. He will progress on what he’s achieved while BASS HUNTER backed up his Newbury and Ascot triumphs by finishing an excellent third in the Festival Bumper.
Prediction: 1st ONE KNIGHT, 2nd Look Me, 3rd Bass Hunter
