2026 Aintree Festival Preview - Day 1

Aintree Festival Preview - Day 1

The Cheltenham festival was only 4 weeks ago but it seem like a world away now as we quickly turn our attention up north as the Aintree Festival gets under way. 3 days of action to get through including 11 grade 1's as well as the big one on Saturday.. Let's get into it! 

13.45 - 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle

If you've read my column for the Racing App you'll know I'm plotting my revenge from the triumph Hurdle with my first selection as I'll be siding with the filly Selma De Vary again here. She looked a tricky ride for Paul at the festival as she never seemed to settle but she came home strongly after getting stuck in traffic up the run in finishing 4th.

She's only had 2 starts for Willie Mullins and although she's yet to get her head in front, I think there's still bags of improvement to come from her. The long straight at Aintree should suit her running style perfectly, she has a high cruising speed as well as a lightning turn of foot which she can hopefully put to good use and kick us off with a winner in the opening race of the week.

Maestro Conti is next in the market who was also eye-catching in the Triumph finishing 2nd so he'd be the obvious danger, but Id expect the Mullins mare to reverse the form here.

Selection: Selma De Vary

Danger: Maestro Conti

14.20 - Manifesto Novices Chase

The first short price favourite off the week comes in this race and its one that I'm pretty keen to take on. Lulamba heads the betting after finishing 3rd in the Arkle 4 weeks ago but there's some pretty damning stats against him that have to be considered before you think about taking the short odds on price. Much like the Arkle 5 year olds have a horrid record in this race with a return of 0/9 whilst favourites are also vulnerable with no winners from the last 11 renewals! 

For that reason I'm going to side with the next in the market which is Koktail Divin for Henry De Bromhead. He finished 6th in the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival however dropping back down to 2m4f can only bring out more improvement and the drying ground will work right in his favour too. He won over this trip at Leopardstown over Christmas so impressively so I'm hoping for a repeat performance again here. 

Selection: Koktail Divin

Danger: Lulamba

14.55 - Aintree Bowl 

If you follow me on X you'll see that I've already had a bet in this race but I still think he's worth a go at his current price and that is Impaire Et Passé once again for Willie Mullins. You'd have to put a line through his previous start in the Ryanair where he was pulled up after a pretty flat performance which is very uncharacteristic for him so I'd be willing to forgive him for that.

He won the Manifesto over 2m4f 12 months ago and was mighty impressive, this horse comes alive and this time of year & with only 2 starts this campaign, I'd say he's entitled to come on and peak at the right time as he so often does in the spring.

Jango Bai is the current favourite but is drifting slightly and I'd expect the betting to be much closer on the day. As much as I think the favourite should be respected I do wonder how much the Gold Cup run left a mark, he had a hard race that day and with such a quick turnaround I'd say he could be vulnerable in this.

Selection: Impaire Et Passé 

Danger: Jango Bai

15.30 - Foxhunters Chase

I must admit I was quite confident on one here earlier in the week but much like at Cheltenham, the favourite Barton Snow has been absolutely smashed in over the last 24 hours or so which isn't a great sign. 

Having said that I am going to stick to my guns here and side with Unexpected Party for Dan Skelton. This is a horse I've had a soft spot for for some time after winning the Grand Annual back in 2024 and he's showed no signs of slowing down since switching to the hunter Chase route. There's just something about a front running grey pinging fences for fun and that's exactly what this lad does. I'm hoping on decent ground at a flat track like Aintree he can get himself into a nice rhythm on the front end and could prove to have too much class for his rivals.

The favourite has to be respected and if I'm honest I wouldn't put you off backing him, but at the prices I'll be having a small play on Unexpected Party.

Selection: Unexpected Party

Danger: Barton Snow

16.05 - Aintree Hurdle

As it stands the market cannot split the top 2 here and quite frankly, neither can I. Earlier in the week I was all over The New Lion in the hope that over 2m4f he'd have too much for the Mare here but the more I look into it, the more my opinion is starting to shift. She won over course and distance as a novice against the boys on similar ground a few years ago and that's the race that keeps sticking in my mind. 

Over 2 miles I think its fair to say she'd prefer a softer surface but the extra half mile on this kind of ground will be absolutely fine and I think she'll confirm the form with The New Lion from the Champion Hurdle last time out. 

Again this wouldn't be my strongest play of the day and I wouldn't put you off either of the top 2 but I'm just about going to side with Brighterdaysahead here.

Selection: Brighterdaysahead

Danger: The New Lion

16.40 - Red Rum Handicap Chase

A competitive handicap next and whilst I do think this is one of the deeper races on day 1 I'm really struggling to see past the favourite Sans Bruit but it's easy to see why. He's won this 2 years on the bounce and connections have made no secret that this has been the plan again this campaign. He gets in off a mark of 133 which is exactly the same mark that he won the race off 12 months ago, I don't have to say too much on this - It's simply rinse and repeat!

Highlands Legacy brings in some solid form to the race after wins at Worcester and Windsor this season as well as a 2nd place finish to Mambonumberfive here in November so I'd give him a small chance but the favourite should take all the beating here.

Selection: Sans Bruit

Danger: Highlands Legacy

17.15 - Mares Bumper

I've looked through this race a number of times to try and find one to side with but to put it simply.. I just can't. Ti'mamzel is a horse that impressed me last time out at Sandown but I'd expect she'd prefer some softer ground so I'm happy to let this race go.

NAP: IMPAIRE ET PASSE

NEXT BEST: SANS BRUIT

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