But there\u2019s a few fences to negotiate \u2013 literally \u2013 before the starter raises his flag on the world\u2019s most famous horse race. <\/p>\n
To help you negotiate each day\u2019s obstacles we\u2019ve enforced some star names\u2019 contractual obligations so Ruby Walsh<\/a>, Harry Cobden, Johnny Dineen, Patrick Mullins and Matt Chapman<\/a> return with one goal. To bring you some winners.<\/p>\n You can find all the latest horse racing odds<\/a> at Paddy Power as we build up to Saturday\u2019s feature race. The showpiece is the talk of the town so get clued up with the Grand National betting<\/a> here!<\/p>\n All that\u2019s left is to engage your fingers and thumbs in unison and scroll down for our pundits\u2019 picks for the first day of 2026 Aintree fiesta. You can also download and share Paddy\u2019s Cheat Sheet by clicking or tapping HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n 13:45: Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (2m1f) Selma De Vary is a light, narrow filly, and I wonder how many runs she\u2019s going to take this season? MINELLA STUDY could be the one to improve from Cheltenham to Aintree. He\u2019s my best bet of the day. <\/p>\n I\u2019m on WINSTON JUNIOR in the opener at Aintree on Thursday and he\u2019s got a brilliant chance. This is a pretty competitive race and a few of these horses had hard races at Cheltenham. This could depend on what bounces out well but I like his chances and he should run well.<\/p>\n A few of the Triumph Hurdle placed horses reappear but the value may lie with WINSTON JUNIOR who didn\u2019t get the best of runs when second to Saratoga at the Cheltenham Festival. <\/p>\n SELMA DE VARY has come out of her Cheltenham run, where she was fourth in the Triumph Hurdle, very nicely. Aintree\u2019s flat track should suit her better. A strong gallop and the long straight will allow her to aim at the leaders and help her settle effectively. With a clear run she can go very close and reverse the form with Maestro Conti and Minella Study who finished ahead of her behind my mount that day, Apolon De Charnie.<\/p>\n The Triumph Hurdle form is bang in the mix here with all the placed horses back in action. The joker in the pack might be MANGE TOUT (each-way), who will be fresh having missed Cheltenham. The filly was third \u2013 a place behind Selma de Vary \u2013 when last seen at Leopardstown but that was in heavy ground and I suspect she just got a bit bogged down.<\/p>\n 14:20: Manifesto Novices\u2019 Chase (2m4f) LULAMBA looks better than his opposition. This 2m 4f trip will suit his market rival, Koktail Divin, but it looks right up Lulamba\u2019s street too. There should be a strong pace to aim at, which should set it up perfectly for his stamina to kick in, and he should come out on top.<\/p>\n BLUEKING DOROUX has it all to do and he\u2019s the big outsider in this field. It\u2019s going to be a very tough race for him. He\u2019s only small and fences are a fair effort for him. He\u2019s been chucked in the deep end but we\u2019ll see if we can sneak him into a place.<\/p>\n KOKTAIL DIVIN loves to front run and could get these off the bridle if those tactics are employed again. It only takes one error in behind on a speed track like Aintree to be playing catch up. He could be a vlaue play against the odds-on favourite Lulamba.<\/p>\n LULAMBA jumped and travelled much better in the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham and with the step up in trip now to 2m 4f \u2013 this race looks like his to lose.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t think we saw the best of LULAMBA in the Arkle where he was only third behind Kargese. This trip is going to really suit him and for me he\u2019s much the best for Nico de Boinville and Nicky Henderson. The condition will be perfect for a Hendo inmate and Lulamba looked special in the Game Spirit against more experienced types.\u00a0<\/p>\n 14:55: Aintree Bowl Chase (3m1f) I\u2019m opposing Jango Baie as I\u2019m always wary of horses who ran in the Gold Cup coming to Aintree. He could be vulnerable to the fresher SPILLANE\u2019S TOWER, who skipped Cheltenham, and he\u2019s the one I\u2019m siding with. I\u2019m hoping there\u2019ll be enough cut in the ground for him to line up, and if he does, those fresh legs could come to the fore!<\/p>\n This is a red-hot race and it\u2019s very competitive. PIC DORHY is very fresh and I worked him on Tuesday morning. He went quite nicely but he\u2019ll either run really well or no race at all, there isn\u2019t really an in between with him! I usually know after about two fences what mood he\u2019s in!<\/p>\n SPILLANE\u2019S TOWER was a late non-runner in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and comes into this contest fresher than most. He was a good winner over this trip at Cheltenham in January with subsequent Gold Cup fourth, Grey Dawning, well beaten that day. He\u2019s had a stop-start career, but when he\u2019s right, Jimmy Mangan\u2019s runner is very good. <\/p>\n A horse can have an off day and that\u2019s what it looks like happened to IMPAIRE ET PASSE at Cheltenham. He beat Jango Baie here 12 months ago and I think he\u2019s got the best form of his rivals in this contest. There\u2019s only five runners and he can beat likely favourite Jango Baie and the other Irish raider Spillane\u2019s Tower.<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s Arkle winner JANGO BAIE has progressed well this season and was a fine second to Gaelic Warrior in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. This track and trip probably will be ideal, and he has fair form here, having won a Grade 1 as a novice hurdler. He was third in the Manifesto Chase last season after which he had a wind operation. Will be very hard to beat.\u00a0<\/p>\n 15:30: Randox Foxhunters\u2019 Open Hunters\u2019 Chase (2m5f) The drop in trip looks absolutely tailor-made for BARTON SNOW and he can do the Cheltenham-Aintree double. He just looks extremely versatile. He has the speed, he\u2019s a low, slick and accurate jumper, and he is going to take all the beating. <\/p>\n I\u2019m not riding in the Foxhunters\u2019 Open Hunters\u2019 Chase but I do like JOKER DE MAI\u2019S chances. He\u2019s been a decent horse on his day and I can see him getting in a good rhythm around there.<\/p>\n ITS ON THE LINE was agonisingly beaten into second for the fourth time in a row at the Cheltenham Festival in the Hunter Chase. However, he won this contest in 2024 and went on to win at Punchestown last season after those defeats. He can gain some more Cheltenham compensation again for jockey Derek O\u2019Connor and Irish Grand National winning trainer, Emmet Mullins. <\/p>\n UNEXPECTED PARTY has been running well in competitive chases this season off a mark of 147 and the Skeltons\u2019 have aimed their 11-year-old at this Hunter Chase. You wouldn\u2019t be able to do that in Ireland but the rules are different in England. He could be a class above what he faces now over the 2m 5f trip. The Aintree track and fences should suit too.<\/p>\n Over the Grand National fences in the Randox Foxhunters\u2019 Open Hunters Chase over 2m5f. MUSIC DRIVE has no experience of these fences but he ran a belter at Cheltenham when third to the re-opposing Barton Snow and his long odds make him an each-way play against the hot favourite. Ellie Callwood should get a great spin for Kelly Morgan.\u00a0<\/p>\n 16:05: Aintree Hurdle (2m4f) THE NEW LION can turn around the Champion Hurdle form with Brighterdaysahead. Potter\u2019s Charm adds a solid pace angle to the race, which should play to his strengths. I\u2019m not convinced Alexei will get the 2m 4f trip, and while Golden Ace is consistent, I can\u2019t see her getting any closer to the market principals. <\/p>\n No ride for me in the Aintree Hurdle which looks a brilliant race. It could be hard to pick the winner but The New Lion is going to be primed for this. He\u2019ll be in the mix and so will Brighterdaysahead. The forgotten horse in the race is GOLDEN ACE. She looks a little bit slower than this time last year but maybe she\u2019ll like the 2m4f trip.<\/p>\n A small but select field where THE NEW LION can reverse the Champion Hurdle form with Brighterdaysahead. He\u2019s still very lighly raced and is improving with each run. He\u2019s my best bet on the opening day at Aintree. <\/p>\n The step up to to 2m 4f should suit BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD after she chased Lossiemouth home in the Champion Hurdle. I expect her to confirm that form with The New Lion despite him also being suited by the step up in trip. <\/p>\n POTTERS CHARM (each-way) is the one who is interesting as he didn\u2019t have a hard race at Cheltenham. A former crack novice and Grade 1 winner at this track, Potters Charm rather lost his way in 2025 after wind surgery. However, he\u2019s been right back to form this term with decent victories at Windsor and Fontwell. He only has 6lb to find with the best of these and is very long odds for a horse who will be suited by everything he faces<\/p>\n 16:40: Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (2m) WONLEG at a reasonable price in a competitive-looking affair. He hasn\u2019t run since Leopardstown at Christmas time, when he was third behind Release The Beast, who franked that form when finishing fourth in the Grand Annual. He remains completely unexposed with plenty of upside, and he could be an improver off a mark of 129.<\/p>\n SANS BRUIT went to Plumpton after Aintree last year and won a big pot. He struggles with the winter ground and he\u2019s a spring horse. I saw him work nicely on Tuesday morning and he\u2019s a better horse with the sun on his back. He needs to bounce back from a few disappointing runs but hopefully he can run a big race.<\/p>\n Henry de Bromhead\u2019s INTHEPOCKET was just getting into contention in the Grand Annual when falling at the second last. I\u2019m not saying he\u2019d have won but he likely would have placed and it was another sign that he is returning to something like his best form. He was a Grade 1 winner over hurdles here in 2023. <\/p>\n HIGHLANDS LEGACY is lightly-raced and unexposed and wasn\u2019t harshly treated for his win at Windsor in mid January. The Jonjo O\u2019Neill team are having a fantastic spring and their seven-year-old can continue his improvement and win here.<\/p>\n Petit Tonnerre is a lurker, but I\u2019d be pretty sure last year\u2019s winner SANS BRUIT has been laid out for a repeat victory by Paul Nicholls. Harry Cobden can take the ride on him and he went up from 130 to 139 after his success here 12 months ago. He ended up on 144 after a victory at Plumpton. However, he\u2019s down to 133 now and could be thrown in.<\/p>\n 17:15: Goffs Nickel Coin Mares\u2019 Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (2m1f) PRINCESS DAY ran on strongly at Newbury on her last start, and the long straight at Aintree should really play to her strengths. They\u2019re likely to get racing a long way from home and as she\u2019s a point-to-point winner over three miles, that enhances her stamina claims. She can bring up the hat-trick under rules in the lucky last.\u00a0<\/p>\n Princess Day is near the top of the market and she\u2019s very good. FAIRY PARK couldn\u2019t beat her at Newbury in February but I can see Joe Tizzard\u2019s horse improving. She\u2019s the value at a bigger price.<\/p>\n The mares\u2019 bumper is wide open so it may pay to take one at a price. FAIRY PARK was second on her rules debut at Newbury in February for the Joe Tizzard stable, having joined from Ireland after her point-to-point win. That was a decent effort and at the prices, she looks an each-way play.<\/p>\n If I wasn\u2019t suspended and had a choice in this, I\u2019d put my hand up for TI\u2019MAMZEL for Gary & Josh Moore. I was down the field on Wonderful Everyday when she won a Listed race at Huntingdon and I was impressed with her then. She followed up at Sandown and can bring up the hat-trick now.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll chance TI\u2019MAMZEL (each-way) for Gary and Josh Moore and Caoilin Quinn. Already a winner at Huntingdon and Sandown, the mare stayed on well last time.<\/p>\n read More on the Grand NationalTap here for PP.com racing odds<\/a>The Paddy Power Guide To Safer Gambling \u2013 Everything You Need To Know<\/a>![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775392330_457_newcustomeroffer.jpg\"\/)
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0140-300x189.webp.webp\")
Ruby Walsh<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Harry-cheltenham-1-300x189.webp.webp\")
Harry Cobden<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/J-Dineen-Test2-300x189.webp.webp\")
Johnny Dineen<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Paddy-Mullins-cheltenham-300x189.webp.webp\")
Patrick Mullins<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Matt-Pose-4-300x189.webp.webp\")
Matt Chapman<\/p>\nRuby Walsh<\/p>\nHarry Cobden<\/p>\nJohnny Dineen<\/p>\nPatrick Mullins<\/p>\nMatt Chapman<\/p>\nRuby Walsh<\/p>\nHarry Cobden<\/p>\nJohnny Dineen<\/p>\nPatrick Mullins<\/p>\nMatt Chapman<\/p>\nRuby Walsh<\/p>\nHarry Cobden<\/p>\nJohnny Dineen<\/p>\nPatrick Mullins<\/p>\nMatt Chapman<\/p>\nRuby Walsh<\/p>\nHarry Cobden<\/p>\nJohnny Dineen<\/p>\nPatrick Mullins<\/p>\nMatt Chapman<\/p>\nRuby Walsh<\/p>\nHarry Cobden<\/p>\nJohnny Dineen<\/p>\nPatrick Mullins<\/p>\nMatt Chapman<\/p>\nRuby Walsh<\/p>\nHarry Cobden<\/p>\nJohnny Dineen<\/p>\nPatrick Mullins<\/p>\nMatt Chapman<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/104868-PP-News-Editorial-Banners-1430x194-Banner5.jpg\"\/)
<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Three top-class days of jumps racing lie ahead and our top team mark your card. It\u2019s only been…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":389801,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[42,43,40,38,41,39],"class_list":{"0":"post-389800","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headlines","8":"tag-headlines","9":"tag-news","10":"tag-top-news","11":"tag-top-stories","12":"tag-topnews","13":"tag-topstories"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/389800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=389800"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/389800\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/389801"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=389800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=389800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=389800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}