Randox Grand National Festival: best bets on Day One

Willie Mullins has won this contest in two of the past three years with horses arriving on Merseyside after being defeated at Cheltenham and history can repeat itself courtesy of the talented filly Selma De Vary.

The Zarak filly was a hugely impressive winner on final French start before only finding Narciso Has too strong in the Spring Juvenile at the Dublin Racing Festival where she ran on from the rear to finish second despite failing to settle as well as connections would have hoped.

She ran to a similar level last time when finishing fourth in the Triumph, but appears to be learning all the time to this style of racing the other side of the Channel. She settled better and again saw her race out well despite not getting the clearest run at the business end of the race.

A couple of things are likely to be in her favour at Aintree and she can reverse form with two of the horses that finished ahead of her last time.

Firstly, the tongue-tie she worse in France to good effect is back on (the hood is also retained), and secondly, this flatter track with less emphasis on stamina and more jumping to be completed in the final half of the race should enable her to show the best of herself.

She gained more lengths jumping than any other horse in the Triumph and this was despite having to be restrained and held up by Paul Townend. She is currently a best-priced 11-4 which I think underestimates her chances. The ground should be no issue.

Nicky Henderon’s seven-year-old has standout claims in the Bowl and can gain a first Grade One victory over fences in open company after his solid second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and close-up fourth in the King George.

Those two most recent pieces of form are simply the best on offer in this race and, whilst he will have had a tough race last time, he has had four weeks to get over that and will be tough to beat if anywhere near his best.

The nagging concern is that he was beaten by the re-opposing Impaire Et Passe in the Manifesto at this meeting last year, but that was over a trip still short of his optimum and his mistake earlier in the race did not help his cause either.

Over this trip of 3m1f on ground that could be on the lively side, he is the one to side with and the even-money currently on offer makes strong appeal.

This race could be run to suit Gordon Elliott’s star hurdler and she also holds strong claims on her form this season.

Her only previous run at Aintree was in 2024 over this exact trip, where she landed the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle by an emphatic seven and a half lengths.

Other than her two runs at the end of last season when she was clearly not right, she has been incredibly consistent and can handle any ground. There was no shame in chasing home the exceptional Lossiemouth at her beloved Cheltenham in the Champion Hurdle last time, and there is no obvious reason why those in behind can reverse form with the blue-blooded daughter of Kapgarde.

Despite being defeated last time, she recorded an outstanding RaceiQ Jump Index of 9.6 and gained over five lengths in the air. She is a hardy sort when on a going day and I’m not sure her chief market rival The New Lion, whilst clearly talented, will have the speed to get past her. She can sign off her hurdling career with a win before a belated chasing campaign awaits in the autumn.

This competitive two-mile handicap chase sees Sans Bruit bidding for a third successive win in the race and, whilst the market has Henry de Bromhead’s Inthepocket as his main danger, I think the fellow British-trained Javert Allen could be the one they all have to beat.

The son of No Risk At All has been a frustrating horse to follow, having been beaten on all five occasions he has headed the market, but he could be well-suited by this test.

He has cheekpieces applied for the first time, which should help sharpen him up down in trip, and he ran well over this course and distance on similar ground on his seasonal reappearance in a strong race won by Mambonumberfive. That contest also saw subsequent December Gold Cup hero Glengouly and subsequent Windsor winner Highlands Legeacy finish ahead of him, the latter of whom he meets again here off significantly better terms.

All three of Javert Allen’s wins have come at left-handed tracks, so I am confident of a stronger showing from the Jane Williams-trained chaser after failing to fire at Kempton when last seen and having been dropped 2lb by the handicapper.