Grand National Day 1 Tips

With three days of intense racing action, the Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse begins on Thursday 15th April 2023. The Merseyside city brings the worlds most iconic steeplechase to our television screens as 70,000 people turn up to the festival for each day of action.

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Lottery made history by winning the first Grand National meeting back in 1839 but that isn't the race that we're focusing on today. The opening day features a number of fantastic races, including the Grade 1 Aintree Bowl and Aintree Hurdle. However, if you're looking for Grand National tips for all the races on day one, look no further than our betting tips to see who are the leading contenders for each race of the 2023 Grand National.

Grand National Festival Day 1: Racecard

The opening afternoon of Aintree's finest festival sees a number of Grade 1 races with jumps over the biggest Aintree Grand National fences, the highlights may be the 14:50 and 15:30 races but there is plenty of action across day 1 of the Aintree Festival to go around.

Aintree Festival Day 1 Tips

The National Hunt season is approaching its conclusion but there’s some quality racing to enjoy before that happens. It’s the first day of Aintree’s three-day Grand National Festival on Thursday and it should be a cracker.

Thursday’s card runs from 13:45 to 17:15 and includes no fewer than four Grade 1 races, with the main highlights being the Bowl (14:55) and the Aintree Hurdle (15:30).

We’ve had a detailed look through the entire card and picked out our best bets for each of the seven races on the day.

13:45 - Close Brothers Manifesto Novices' Chase (Grade 1, 2m4f)](https://www.betuk.com/betting/horse-racing#racing/event/1020681983)

GREY DAWNING would probably have beaten Ginny’s Destiny at Cheltenham in December without any jumping errors and that theory was supported by Dan Skelton’s grey getting his revenge at the Cheltenham Festival last time out. The seven-year-old son of Flemensfirth put in an assured display of jumping and showed a strong finishing kick to go two lengths clear of his rival.

There’s no real reason to take on Grey Dawning as he’s the best horse in the race and the gap between Cheltenham and Aintree is almost a whole month this year. It would be a bit of an upset if he fails to follow up.

Selection: Grey Dawning

14:20 - Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m1f)

Nicky Henderson runs Cheltenham absentee Sir Gino in this race but he could be worth taking on as there are still question marks surrounding the form of the yard.

Kargese was second at Cheltenham but Paul Nicholls’ KALIF DU BERLAIS has been aimed at this race and he remains unbeaten in three starts over hurdles.

He probably had more in hand than the winning margin of three-quarters of a length suggested at Kempton last time out and he certainly didn’t look like the finished article. There should be more to come and he’s a very nice prospect for the future.

Selection: Kalif Du Berlais

14:55 - William Hill Bowl Chase (Grade 1, 3m1f)

This can always be a tricky race to work out as it’s always hard to tell how badly the Cheltenham Gold Cup horses are feeling the effects of that gruelling race.

Shishkin arrives fresh but he’s enigmatic and could be worth opposing. AHOY SENOR has a record of 1-1-2 at the Aintree Festival and is usually at the top of his game there.

Lucinda Russell’s nine-year-old has been a tad disappointing this year but always has a big win in him and a return to Aintree can reignite the spark.

Selection: Ahoy Senor

15:30 - William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m4f)

BOB OLINGER is a resurgent force this season and the return to hurdles has got him back on track. Full credit goes to the Henry de Bromhead team and he’s surely the one to beat in the Aintree Hurdle.

He won a 2m4f Grade 2 at Navan on his seasonal reappearance, getting the better of Zanahiyr by a length. It was an impressive display in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham in January and the form has been boosted since.

State Man beat him over two miles at Leopardstown in February but there’s no shame in that and the return to 2m4f will certainly be in his favour.

Selection: Bob Olinger

16:05 - Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase (2m5f)

You need plenty of stamina to win this race, despite the 2m5f distance, and Emmet Mullins’ IT’S ON THE LINE was a narrow second in the Cheltenham equivalent over 3m2f last time out.

Crack amateur rider Derek O’Connor is on board and there’s no better man for the job. JP McManus purchased this horse just before the Cheltenham Festival and a victory would see a return in his investment.

The seven-year-old has been a standout figure in Irish hunter chases this season and he should go close again.

Selection: It’s On The Line

16:40 - Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap, 2m)

HOMME PUBLIC has taken really well to fences this season and has a record of three wins and a second in four starts over the larger obstacles.

It has to be said that this includes a rather fortuitous success in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham but he was a good winner in handicap company last time out. There should be more to come and a big run is expected off just a 3lb higher mark.

Selection: Homme Public

17:15 - Goffs Nickel Coin Mares' National Hunt Flat Race (Grade 2, 2m)

BABY KATE is two-from-two in bumpers and was an easy winner of a Listed race at Cheltenham when last seen in November.

She has clearly been kept fresh for this race and is very much the one to beat, on the evidence of that four-and-a-half-length success. Willie Mullins won this race in 2022 with Ashroe Diamond and there’s a good chance he’ll be adding to his tally.

Selection: Baby Kate

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