Aintree Day 1 Betting Tips for Thursday 3rd April 2025
Our Aintree Grand National betting tips kick off with Thursday’s card and the action gets underway at 1.45pm. Ciaran has been through the card and picked his best bet for each race.
The Grand National takes place at 4pm on Saturday but first we have the day 1 racing on Thursday, including a preview of each race.
Aintree Day 1 Tips
- 1.45pm – Croke Park (4/1) & Boombawn EW (33/1)
- 2.20pm – Murcia (10/1)
- 2.55pm – Spillian’s Tower (10/3)
- 3.30pm – Lossiemouth (7/4)
- 4.05pm – Willitgoahead (6/1)
- 4.40pm – Sans Brut (13/2)
- 5.15pm – Bettys Daisy (10/1)
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CLAIM!
1.45pm – EBC Group Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
Jango Baie heads the market after winning the Arkle and a return to what most assume is his best trip. However, there is a suspicion that he is flattered by the form of a race that fell into his lap. CROKE PARK (4/1) is a perennially underestimated dual Grade 1 winner who arrives fresh here after skipping Cheltenham. He holds Impaire Est Passe on their DRF form, and his jumping will put others under pressure. He should allow his stamina to kick in. Gidleigh Park’s defeat of Caldwell Potter reads well but the ground may be lively enough for him. BOOMBAWN (33/1) must rate as a good each-way shout on his 1 length defeat by the reopposing Rubaud (who he is now 5 pounds better off with and double the price).
2.20pm – Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1
The 4yo Anniversary Hurdle has opened up after the declaration stage, with Lulamba defecting to the 2m 4f Novice Hurdle on Saturday. At the head of the market, while Puturhandstogether was wildly impressive winning the Fred Winter with any amount in hand, that was off a mark of just 130. Another who swerved the Festival was the Dan Skelton trained Live Conti. However, his French form hasn’t worked out amazingly, and winning at 1/9 on his British debut doesn’t tell you much. The vibes about this horse from those associated with the yard seem very strong, but at 7/2, he is a bit short.
The Triumph hurdle showed us that we should never be afraid to back an outsider, so I wouldn’t rule any of these out (apart from Willy Da Houelle, obviously). A chance is taken on MURCIA (10/1), who is nearly a stone better off with the favourite from that Fred Winter and who will love the drying ground. Any time you get Paul Townend and Willie in a Grade 1 at double figures, it’s worth taking note!
2.55pm – Brooklands Golden Miller Chronograph Bowl Chase (Grade 1)
The Aintree Equivalent of the Gold Cup, but this is far from a Gold Cup field, with only Ahoy Senior and The Real Whacker attempting to win here after running in the Cheltenham contest. Both are easily dismissed, while the decision of Paul Townend to ride Embassy Gardens over Gaelic Warrior would rule both out for me. I make this a match between the 2 at the top of the market who both come here fresh (notice a trend?) Of the 2, slight preference is for SPILLANE’S TOWER (10/3) whose 2nd place in the John Durcan edges Grey Dawnings Turner’s win as the standout piece of form in the race.
3.30pm – William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1)
The 4th of 4 Grade 1s to kick off the card and certainly the main course. While this match up ultimately disappointed at Christmas at Kempton, over 2m 4f I expect this to be much closer. The last time Constitution Hill appeared at Aintree in this very race, he didn’t seem to have much left in the tank when beating Sharjah by 3l at odds of 2/15. LOSSIEMOUTH (7/4) posted a career high RPR when demolishing a Grade 1 field at Cheltenham, and while it is pretty clear that she is at her best at that track, the extended distance here will be massively in her favour.
Again, the Champion Hurdle shows that we can’t discount any horse, and Wodhooh is certainly a mare going in the right direction. However, it would be a massive shock if anything outside the top 2 were to get the victory here.
4.05pm – Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase
Certainly not my area of expertise here in the Hunter Chase, being the first race of the week over the national fences. I had tipped WILLITGOAHEAD (6/1) at Cheltenham, and despite a big drift, he travelled as well as anything in the race before potentially struggling up the hill. He may prefer the flatter track here, and if he has come out of that race ok, his jumping will certainly give him a chance. Lifetime Ambition is also a horse I have always liked, although I couldn’t say how well the form of his P2P season has worked out.
4.40pm – Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
Interestingly, the only handicap of the day comes over just under 2m over the normal fences. SANS BRUIT (13/2) aims to win this race for a second year in a row and has managed to get down to the same winning mark of 130. There have been glimpses of promise in his last couple of runs, and at just 7, there is no reason to suggest that he isn’t still progressive. I think he will go close in what is certainly a competitive contest.
5.15pm – Goffs Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race (Grade 2)
20 lightly raced mares line up here in the mares bumper. A very tentative selection is Ben Pauling’s mare BETTY’S DAISY (10/1), who the trainer spoke highly of and who was impressive on debut at Warwick.
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