1.45 – SSS Super Alloys Manifesto Novices’ Chase
Only seven runners go to post for this Grade 1 chase that is run over 2 miles 3 furlongs and 200 yards, making it difficult for each-way punters. But with the last 10 winners all returned at odds of 11/2 (6.50) or less, it is a race that tends to favour the market leaders.
Eldorado Allen, Protektorat, Phoenix Way, and Umbrigado are all 6/1 or bigger in the early markets, so it may pay to concentrate on Hitman, The Shunter, and Fusil Raffles.
Neither trainer Paul Nicholls nor 5-year-olds have great records in the race, while the Shunter may struggle to peak for a third time after landing a £100,000 bonus with wins at Kelso and Cheltenham.
Fusil Raffles looks a better fit, as 6-year-olds have won six of the last seven editions, and his trainer Nicky Henderson has won two of the last nine renewals of this race.
14:20 – Doom Bar Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle
Only six runners go to post for this 4-y-o hurdle over 2-miles, but winners at 10/1, 16/1, and 40/1 in the last 10 editions suggest there could easily be a shock winner.
Nicky Henderson bids for a hat-trick in the race after wins in 2018 and 2019, but his representative Paros needs to find improvement to trouble the market leaders.
Monmiral has looked classy this season and he holds Triumph Hurdle runner-up Adagio on a line through Nassalam. But with three good ground winning ex-flat horses in Carlos Felix, John Locke, and Fiveandtwenty in opposition, this will be a no-bet race for many punters.
14.50 – Betway Bowl Chase
This Grade 1 Chase over 3 miles 210 yards is always one of the highlights of the Grand National Festival, and a quality field lines up for the 2021 edition.
Dual Grand National-winner Tiger Roll and former Gold Cup winner Native River have plenty of fans but, with no horse older than 10 winning in the last decade, these 11-year-olds may be vulnerable to younger legs over a shorter than ideal trip.
Waiting Patiently and Clan Des Obeaux have a nice mix of speed and stamina but Waiting Patiently may find the ground on the quick side. Clan Des Obeaux could easily enhance the excellent record of his trainer Paul Nicholls in the race, but his best performances so far have come on right-handed tracks.
Clondaw Castle appeals as the potential value in the race. He relished the step-up to 3-miles last time and his trainer King George has won this race before with a similar type.
15.25 – Betway Aintree Hurdle
Trainer Nicky Henderson has a great record in this Grade 1 over 2 miles and 4 furlongs, but Buveur D’Air bids to become the only horse older than nine to win the Aintree Hurdle this century. Henderson also saddles Buzz, but his stamina is unproven, and he has a bit to find on ratings.
Abracadabras, Jason The Militant, and Silver Streak are others whose stamina is unproven.
McFabulous is the early favourite, but he was beaten by the re-opposing Brewin’upastorm last time.
6-year-olds have won four of the last nine renewals and, as Song For Someone missed Cheltenham for this race, he could prove the each-way value.
16.05 – Rose Paterson Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase
Winners at 100/1 and 50/1 in the last decade make it tempting to opt for an outsider in a race that is widely known as the Aintree Foxhunters. But Billaway and Cat Tiger set a tough standard for the opposition to surpass.
Billaway had a hard race at Cheltenham and these fences might catch this prone-to-an-odd-error jumper out. For that reason, Cat Tiger is taken to give owner and rider David Maxwell a deserved big-race winner.
16.40 – Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase
The last six winners of this 2-mile handicap have been rated between 132 and 139, and the 136-rated Destrier looks weighted to continue that trend. His two wins and a decent third at this meeting in 2019 all came on good or good-to-soft ground, after which he was rated 151.
All six of his runs since have come on much softer ground and returned to the forecast better ground he’s taken to take advantage of the handicapper’s generosity.
Moon Over Germany won the 2019 running of this race off a 12lb lower mark but, with Jordan Gainford claiming 7lb, he may give Destrier something to think about.
17.15 – Goffs UK Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race
There have been plenty of shocks in this concluding mares-only bumper, but the two market leaders have shown form that sets the bar higher than most of the runners are likely to achieve.
Elle Est Belle finished 7-lengths behind the potentially top-class pair of Sir Gerhard and Kilcruit at Cheltenham and the connections of that pair will be hoping she boosts the form here.
But Eileendover beat a horse called Grangee much more easily at Market Rasen previously and trainer Pam Sly thinks her 4-year-old filly may be contesting group races on the flat after this. Sly has trained the winner of a classic, so knows a good filly when she sees one, and Eileendover will be the banker of the meeting for many punters.
Free Tips Grand National Festival 2021 Day 1
There are seven competitive races on day one of the 2021 Grand National Festival. It’s hard to find any value in the Doom Bar Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle, but we’re having a crack at the other six races. Check out our Free Grand National Festival 2021 Day 1 Tips below.
13.45 – Fusil Raffles
14.20 – No Bet
14.50 – Clondaw Castle (Each-Way)
15.25 – Song For Someone (Each-Way)
16.05 – Cat Tiger
16.40 – Destrier (Each-Way)
17.15 – Eileendover
