Grand National Festival: tips and preview from Let's Talk Racing

ANDREW: A tricky puzzle to start the week off. Jango Baie was impressive in winning the Arkle at Cheltenham, especially over a trip that would have never suited. He should be more at home here, but I'm still not convinced about the value of that form, and he could be a bit vulnerable. I would be very keen on Impaire Et Passe, who arrives here fresh after skipping Cheltenham. He would have to improve on his run last time at Leopardstown, but I think that is possible and he should be at home back at a track where he has tasted Grade One success before. 

JOSH: I agree with Andrew — Impaire Et Passe is highly appealing having bypassed Cheltenham, which should leave him fresher for this. That said, this trip, track, and ground all look ideal for Jango Baie and the Arkle winner seems to be improving rapidly. I can see him developing into a leading Ryanair Chase contender next season. It’s a close call, but I’d give a slight edge to Impaire Et Passe in what should be a cracking race.

ANDREW:  Lulamba was a notable omission from the final declarations, which leaves this race with a very open view now. Fred Winter winner Puturhandstogether won in the manner of a Graded animal at Cheltenham, but it is always a big step from handicaps to Grade One company and he could be slightly vulnerable. I wouldn’t have a major view on the race, but I know connections are very fond of Live Conti and he might be worth a small nibble at the prices. 

JOSH: While Lulamba was the standout here before declarations, I thought Puturhandstogther was hugely impressive in the Fred Winter and I genuinely thought he’d give Nicky Henderson's juvenile a test. If anything, Aintree should suit him even better now given his Flat background. Live Conti could the one to chase him home and I’ll be having a little tricast.

ANDREW: Another lively race with a few of these purposely skipping Cheltenham to line up here, such as Grey Dawning, Spillane's Tower and Stage Star. This means that none of them have any edge freshness wise over each other, which is often an angle to approach this race with. I would be siding with Grey Dawning myself, who put in an exhibition of jumping when winning a small-field contest at Kelso early last month when beating leading Grand National hope Iroko. He was only just outstayed late on in the Betfair Chase and my overriding feeling is that he has unfinished business in open Grade One company. 

JOSH: Spillane’s Tower would be my pick. You can put a line through his King George run at Kempton and he’s been freshened up since. His previous effort, a close second behind Fact To File, suggests he has the measure of Grey Dawning. The trip and ground should be ideal for him.

ANDREW: Constitution Hill v Lossiemouth - the rematch of the clash we are so desperate to see is a step closer. It was a huge shame to see Constitution Hill come to grief at the half way stage of the Champion Hurdle and plenty will be hoping that redemption awaits here. It won't be easy though, and with lively each-way contenders such as Wodhooh this is a strong race on paper. It doesn't feel like a race I need to have a bet in to enjoy and therefore I will be sitting on the fence in that regard, but I do hope for all racing fans that we see a big race between the big two. I'd lean just towards Con Hill, but only just. 

JOSH: It’s hard to look past just how good Constitution Hill can be, but can is the key word. Over two miles, he’s been electric, but I’m taking him on this week for three reasons. First, he’s coming off a fall at Cheltenham — that has to leave a mark. Second, even before his setbacks, he didn’t fully convince me over this trip when beating Sharjah in this in 2023. And third, we’re talking about a mare as good as Lossiemouth! If there’s ever a day to catch him, it’s this one. The trip, ground, weight allowance, and recent form all work in the mare's favour. I might end up with egg on my face, but at this distance, she’s special.

ANDREW: Handstands looks like he will run here rather than heading to the intermediate trip, which probably seems sensible given the likely ground conditions. He has done nothing but improve this season and he has every chance of going very close, but for some reason I find myself being a small bit lukewarm about his chances. I will chance the Brown Advisory form in the shape of Stellar Story, who has run some big races the last twice and gradually seems to be getting his act together over fences. If finding a bit more improvement, he should go very close at 8/1. 

JOSH: I expect Dancing City to shorten significantly from 8/1. His poor run in the Brown Advisory does leave a negative impression, but it’s hard to ignore just how impressive he was at this meeting over hurdles last year. Nothing else really stands out, and I’m happy to take a chance on a horse who has underwhelmed at Cheltenham before but then taken a big step forward at Aintree. At 8/1, he’s a fair bet.

ANDREW: This race reminds me of the Maghull Novices' Chase last season, when Found A Fifty ran against Master Chewy. Despite Found A Fifty objectively being the better horse, he only just managed to get the job done against a slightly fresher rival. I am hoping that Romeo Coolio can follow suit, and I would be interested to see whether he can regain the winning thread without Kopek Des Bordes to worry about. He faces a good horse in the shape of Tripoli Flyer, who also ran very well here last season and impressed at Kempton last time in the Dovecote. That form needs improving on to get to Romeo Coolio though, and my gut tells me he won't be able to bridge that gap.

JOSH: Romeo Coolio, surely? If Kopek Des Bordes is as good as I believe, then Romeo Coolio has to be beating Tripoli Flyer based on their proximity to Willie Mullins’ star novice in the Supreme at Cheltenham. I’d actually love to see Coolio over 2m4f at some point—I think he’ll improve for the step up in trip—but if connections stick to this race and he’s ridden as aggressively as he was almost three weeks ago, I can’t see Tripoli Flyer having the gears to catch him.

ANDREW: I rightfully managed to take on Jonbon in the Champion Chase, but I am wary about trying to do the same again and perhaps without having the same amount of luck. I see no bet at the current prices as I would be a lot more concerned about taking on Jonbon away from Cheltenham. He can win at his current price without me having to be invested. 

JOSH: I’m seriously concerned about the toll Jonbon’s Queen Mother Champion Chase run may have taken. Even now, I can’t quite believe he managed to get up for second after that massive jumping error approaching the top of the hill. Maybe he’ll just be too good, but I couldn’t back him with confidence. Heart Wood each-way for me.

ANDREW: I'm sure I won't be the only person telling you this week that this is quite an ordinary race for its type, and I feel it might be worth trying to play something at a bigger price and hoping we can find some big improvement. I was very taken with Jupiter Des Mottes when winning a bumper last season for Nicky Richards and, although he hasn't kicked on as I thought he might for Lucinda Russell this season, he is still unexposed enough to chance at a big price. Russell has a very good record in the race and has won this with horses coming in with similarly quiet profiles. He is as big as 66/1 in a few places, which is a more than big enough price to tempt me into a small each-way bet. 

JOSH: I wouldn’t be surprised if 15 horses finished within a length of each other. Nothing stands out to me.

ANDREW: This might cut up given how the rest of the week goes beforehand, and I think this might be the race to keep Fingle Bridge onside for. Olly Murphy's youngster continues to improve at a rate of knots and he was impressive on good ground at Exeter last time when taking a prize scalp in Regent's Stroll, and connections have been on record saying how much they are looking forward to going up in trip. This is the prime chance to do so, and everything about Aintree should suit his galloping style. I think Fingle Bridge is a more than live each-way player. 

JOSH: I’ll be having a solid bet on last year’s Grade Two bumper winner Horaces Pearl. He hasn’t looked particularly impressive in either start this season but he’s still unbeaten, has track form and might just be the type who only does what’s needed. At 8/1, I’m more than happy to back him each-way.

ANDREW: It is quite hard to know at the moment whether Teahupoo is going to turn up here and he holds the key to the race form-wise. If he was to turn up I think he will be able to defy unsuitable ground to win. Should he stay away,Home By The Lee looks primed to sweep up the goods.

JOSH: The Wallpark comes here off a strong third in the Stayers' Hurdle and should relish everything this test has to offer. If he runs, I’ll be backing him each-way.

ANDREW: This is probably not one of the best Grade Ones of the week and not a race that I will be thoroughly invested in. It will be interesting to see how Jango Baie fares earlier in the week in terms of assessing the Arkle form, but I think this flatter track might play more into the hands ofL'Eau Du Sud - and I firmly believe the grey is better on a sounder surface. Harry Skelton confessed he got to the front too soon in the Arkle and I assume we will see a more patient ride this time.

JOSH: I think Only By Night will confirm the form with L'Eau Du Sud, who’s had a busy season and reminds me a bit of Grey Dawning heading into this meeting last year. Despite that, I won’t be backing either of them. Instead, I’ll have a small play on Kalif Du Berlais. He’s proven he loves left-handed flat tracks, comes here fresh, and simply didn’t see out the trip when finishing behind Handstands and the Arkle winner in the Scilly Isles over 2m4f on soft ground.

ANDREW: The signature race of the entire festival looks to be a hot renewal, and you could make a case for plenty. I quite like Hewick, who has come in for support in recent weeks and the forecast ground is really going to play to his strengths. Gavin Sheehan, who won the King George on him, is back in the saddle and he should get a good spin from this likeable gelding, who showed he still remains plenty of zest when winning over hurdles last month. On the theme of old Grade One-winning form, I will also be dipping into each-way markets to get a good price on Minella Indo, who despite his aging years has still shown enough this season to suggest that a big run might still be on the cards. He is 50/1 in plenty of places and that will appeal to a lot of bigger-price backers.

JOSH: I’ve been trying to figure out what kind of race this will be, especially given how last year’s renewal was so different from the usual war of attrition — it basically played out like a Gold Cup. While this year’s race may not be as dramatically different, I’m leaning towards the idea that it will suit the classier horses over the more one-paced types that have often prevailed in the past. With that in mind, I’ll be having an each-way bet on Hewick at 11/1, but my main bet will be Minella Cocooner at 25/1, who looks to have been carefully prepared since his win in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in April. I’ll also throw a fun each-way punt on Fil Dor at 100/1.

2.20 Friday - Listentoyouheart EW

4.05 Friday - Glengouly EW

1.20 Saturday - Mr Hope Street

5.35 Saturday - Storming George EW

2.55 Thursday - Spillane's Tower

2.20 Friday - Wade Out EW

5.15 Friday - Cavern Club EW

2.30 Saturday - Imperial Saint EW