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

ANDREW: A tricky puzzle to start the week off. 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 . 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 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 npw. Fred Winter winner 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 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, and . 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 . 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 - 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 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: looks like he will take this engagement up rather than heading to the intermediate trip, which probably seems a sensible option 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 small bit more improvement, he should go very close at 8/1. 

JOSH: I expect 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 ran against . 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 can follow suit, and I would be interested to see whether he can regain the winning thread without to worry about. He faces a good horse in the shape of Tripoli Flyer, who also ran very well here last season, and was impressive at Kempton last time out in the Dovecote. That form needs to improve 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 based on their proximity to Willie’s 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 Jonbon on in the Champion Chase, and I am wary about trying to do the same again, and not perhaps having the same amount of luck. I see no bet in this race at the current prices, as I would be a lot more concerned about taking Jonbon on 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. 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 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 in this race. Russell has a very good record in the race and has won the race 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: A race that might cut up given how the rest of the week goes before it, I think this might be the race to keep onside for - with Olly Murphy's youngster continuing to improve at a rate of knots. He was impressive on good ground at last time, when taking a prize scalp of in the process, and connections have been on record saying how much they look forward to stepping this horse up in trip. This is the prime chance to do so, and everything about Aintree should suit this horses' galloping style. I think he is a more than life each way player. 

JOSH: I’ll be having a solid bet on last year’s Grade 2 bumper winner, . 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 is going to turn up here, as he does hold the key to the race form wise. If he was to turn up, I think he will be able top defy unsuitable ground to win, as for looks primed to sweep up the goods, should the Gordon Elliott horse defect.

JOSH: comes 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 fairs earlier in the week from an Arkle form standpoint, but I think this flatter track might play more into the hands of - who I firmly believe is a better horse on a sounder surface. Harry Skelton confessed he got to the front too soon in the Arkle, and I assume will be ridden with more patience on this occasion. 

JOSH: I think 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 . He’s proven he loves left-handed flat tracks, comes here fresh, and simply didn’t see out the trip when finishing behind 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 in the market to have feasible chances. I quite like Hewick, who has come in for support in recent weeks, with the forecast ground really going to play to his strengths. Gavin Sheehan, who won the King George on the horse, has been booked to ride - and 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 - who has still shown enough this season to suggest that a big run might still be on the cards despite his aging years. He is 50/1 with plenty of bookmakers, which will appeal 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 at 11/1, but my main bet will be 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 at 100/1.

2.20 Friday - Listentoyouheart EW

4.05 Friday - EW

1.20 Saturday -

5.35 Saturday - EW

2.55 Thursday - Spillane's Tower

2.20 Friday - EW

5.15 Friday - EW

2.30 Saturday - EW