Aintree Festival Day 1 Tips: Owen’s best bets for Thursday

One of my favourite meetings of the year, Aintree's Grand National Festival, is here. Thursday's seven-race card kicks off at 13:45 and concludes at 17:15.

I'll be in attendance this afternoon and I've already placed the life-changing acca on my seven Aintree Festival Day 1 tips, which can be found below. Easy, right?

13:45 - Mange Tout each-way @ 6/1

Zero points for originality, as I'm not the first and I certainly won't be the last to take this view, but MANGE TOUT rates a solid each-way bet for Thursday's opener.

All four of those around her in the betting for this Grade 1 juvenile hurdle were in action at the Cheltenham Festival - three in the Triumph and one in the Fred Winter - but Gordon Elliott's four-year-old filly has been kept fresh for a trip to Merseyside.

That often proves a significant advantage at this time of the season and if she's in as good form as when beating Narciso Has, who reversed the form next time out on unsuitable heavy ground, she ought to go very close.

Selma De Vary, who split the selection and Narciso Has at the Dublin Racing Festival, is probably the most-talented runner in the field, but she makes life difficult for herself and I think we'll be seen to better effect after a break, on this quicker ground.

14:20 - Lulamba @ 8/13

He's no great price, but I can't see past LULAMBA in the Manifesto Novices' Chase.

Nicky Henderson's five-year-old lost his unbeaten record over fences in the Arkle at Cheltenham last month, but it was no disgrace going down to Willie Mullins' Kargese and Kopek Des Bordes, especially as he's never looked like a natural two-miler. It was also a bad mistake he made two out.

I think the step up to 2m4f is going to bring about a significant amount of improvement. Not that it needs to, for the Donnelly-owned son of Nirvana Du Berlais would still be my pick in this race if it was over the minimum trip.

He's almost a stone superior to all four of his rivals, and I expect it to look like it on Thursday.

14:55 - Spillane's Tower @ 7/2

It could be a good day for Mr. Henderson, with Gold Cup runner-up Jango Baie a warm order in the Bowl - another Grade 1 over 3m1f.

The seven-year-old wasn't beaten far at all in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, before proving best of the rest behind the imperious Gaelic Warrior at HQ. That was only 27 days ago, though, and there's every chance it takes its toll. The Seven Barrows handler has warned as much in the build-up.

Impaire Et Passe is interesting, but I'm running out of patience for him, so SPILLANE'S TOWER gets my vote. If he runs...

James Mangan's eight-year-old, in the famous green and gold of JP McManus, has the option of the Grand National as well, but I suspect he'll turn up here in a very winnable Grade 1.

His victory in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham back in January was a return to form for the son of Walk In The Park, who has failed to live up to the heights of his John Durkan second to Fact To File in November 2024.

If back to something like, he's more than capable of winning this, but he probably does need the favourite to underperform to a degree.

15:30 - Its On The Line @ 7/2

Again, it's not the most inspiring selection of all time, but ITS ON THE LINE is pretty much guaranteed to give you a run for your money in these hunters' chases. Famous last words...

Since the first of four visits to Cheltenham, finishing runner-up each time, Emmet Mullins' nine-year-old boasts form figures of 2F1211121123214122. In there is a victory in this very race a couple of years ago.

He's consistency personified and if I'm going to depart with my hard-earned in a race like this, it's for him.

16:05 - Brighterdaysahead @ 2/1

I've gone back and forth between The New Lion and BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD for the Aintree Hurdle all morning, eventually settling on the latter.

While I'm expecting a better version of The New Lion over this trip, I think there's good reason to expect the same from Gordon Elliott's mare - especially on a flat track and a sounder surface.

The seven-year-old, who was successful over course and distance as a novice in 2024, finished just in front of Dan Skelton's runner in the Champion Hurdle last time out, after going 1-1 with Lossiemouth in a couple of runs prior at Leopardstown.

I don't think there's much in it at all, but it's Brighterdaysahead for me.

16:40 - Highlands Legacy @ 9/2

Paul Nicholls' Sans Bruit bids for a hat-trick in the Red Rum Handicap Chase, but I think HIGHLANDS LEGACY can spoil the party.

I was keen on the Jonjo & A J O'Neill-trained seven-year-old for the Grand Annual at last month's Cheltenham Festival, but unfortunately he didn't make the cut.

Cheltenham's loss is Aintree's gain, however, as the son of Kayf Tara is a very interesting runner.

He won a Worcester handicap nicely off a mark of 115 on chase debut back in October, before a narrow defeat to Mambonumberfive over Thursday's course and distance off six pounds higher. Ben Pauling's winner has gone up 18lbs in the meantime.

A three-pound rise was therefore extremely lenient, so I was strong on his chances at Newbury just before Christmas. He bumped into the highly-progressive Mighty Bandit, rated 23lbs higher and as short as 9/2 for a Grade 1 here on Saturday, but even so I felt he was unlucky not to win.

He just did enough to win off a a mark of 127 at Windsor last time out in January, and it's now his big day off six pounds higher. On all known form, that remains an underestimation of his ability. He should run a big race.

17:15 - Fairy Park each-way @ 9/1

Last but not least, an each-way chance is taken on FAIRY PARK in the G2 mares' bumper that closes out the card.

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Joe Tizzard's five-year-old point winner, who sports the Brocade Racing silks of Native River fame, is held in high esteem at Venn Farm and she made a highly-encouraging debut at Newbury in February when likely in need of the run.

I'm expecting a significant amount of improvement and for her to at least close that almost five-length gap on the reopposing Princess Day. Hopefully, reverse the form entirely.

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