Katie Walsh’s Aintree Day 1 Tips: Irish Eyes to be smiling
The Aintree Grand National Festival gets underway on Thursday, with what looks like a spectacular card with four Grade 1s, plus the Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase, which gives us the first chance to see those fabulous Grand National fences.
We’re teaming up with Katie Walsh again for the Festival, an ex-jockey who knows all about this meeting and the Grand National, having ridden Seabass to a third-place finish in 2012 behind Neptune Collonges.
Katie will be on hand to share her wisdom throughout the Festival, beginning with her Aintree Day 1 tips.
Katie Walsh Aintree Day 1 Tips
- 13:45 - Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle - Selma De Vary @ 11/4
- 14:20 - Manifesto Novices’ Chase - Lulamba @ 8/13
- 14:55 - Racing Welfare Bowl Chase - Spillane’s Tower @ 4/1
- 15:30 - Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase - Its On The Line @ 4/1
- 16:05 - Aintree Hurdle - Brighterdaysahead @ 2/1
*Odds correct as of the time of publication
Katie sat down to talk to our very own Matt Hulmes and Joel Ross to discuss who she fancies in the Grand National and also her Day 1 tips.
13:45 - Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle - Selma De Vary @ 11/4
The action gets underway with the Grade 1 Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle, as the second, third and fourth from the Triumph Hurdle repose each other.
Katie fancies Selma De Vary to turn the form around.
“The Triumph is going to be one of those races over the next couple of years where you can put a pin in it, like the National - you can’t seem to make head or tail of the form as well, but yeah, I do think Selma De Vary can reverse the form.
I think Willie’s horses are in good form, and I do think he’ll have a good Aintree.
Aintree is very different to Cheltenham, you’re talking two very different styles of tracks as well, for me, I find it hard to get away from her.”
The second place in the Fred Winter, Winston Junior, also lines up for Faye Bramley. Katie is a big fan of the horse that won the Fred Winter, Saratoga.
“I do think that if Sartogga had run in the Triumph, he would have won, which would back up the form of Winston Junior.”
Odds correct at time of publishing.
14:20 - Manifesto Novices’ Chase - Lulamba @ 8/13
It was a fairly straightforward pick in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase for Katie. He’ll step up half a mile in trip, but even with Henry De Bromheads’s horse Koktail Divin dropping back in trip, she thinks the odds-on favourite will win this.
You can follow Katie's selections and all our other Grand National Betting Tips on our dedicated Insights Grand National Hub!
14:55 - Racing Welfare Bowl Chase - Spillane’s Tower @ 4/1
Katie likes the look of Spillane’s Tower in the Bowl, who had been her long-range tip for the Grand National. The 8-year-old is still entered in the Grand National, so may not run here, but at the time of writing is a 4/1 third-fav behind Jango Baie (⅚) and Impaire Et Passe (7/2).
“I love Spillane’s Tower, and I think the ground will be slower at Aintree this year compared to last year. I think he’s a lovely horse who hasn’t done a whole lot wrong, and he’ll put it up to Jango Baie.”
15:30 - Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase - Its On The Line @ 4/1
Its On The Line is Katie’s pick in the Foxhunters.
“Emmett (Mullins) is on absolute fire. He had a double on Monday; his horse bolted up in the Irish National, and you can be sure these horses are working together.
Derek (O’Connor) knows him like the back of his hand; it would be very hard to go beyond him now, and a big long run in after the last is going to suit him.”
Odds correct at time of publishing.
16:05 - Aintree Hurdle - Brighterdaysahead @ 2/1
Finally, the Aintree Hurdle.
“I don’t think El Fabiolo has found his niche back over hurdles; he’s going to have to look elsewhere. It’s Brighterdaysahead for me.
Everyone at Cheltenham was pulling for The New Lion, and I just couldn’t see it, and I can’t see it here either, to be honest with you, so I’m going to go with Brighterdaysahead for Gordon Elliott”
Are you a fan of Katie's Day 1 tips or do you fancy another horse? You can find all the latest Aintree Day 1 odds over on Betfred.com
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Odds correct at time of publishing.
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