Racing Ahead’s resident tipster Ben Morgan selects his best bets for Day 1 of the 2026 Grand National Festival.
1.45 – Mange Tout looks the perfect starter
The opening race of the Grand National festival looks a wide-open juvenile event with the form of the Triumph getting tested with 3 of the top 4 from Cheltenham re-opposing.
I can’t envisage much between them all, but I’m plumping for the fresh horse MANGE TOUT to improve past them all.
Gordon Elliott’s mare was good enough to beat the standout juvenile this year, Narciso Has, earlier this year, and although that form was reversed when they next met, I do think she’s a classy mare in her own right.
Well related, I expect her to be dancing all the good dances in the future and with that in mind, I think she is overpriced here.
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4.40 – Jonjo O’Neill to enhance Aintree legacy
Sans Bruit bids for a hat trick of victories in the Red Rum Handicap Chase today and he looks primed to run a big race.
HIGHLANDS LEGACY is another who looks to be laid out for this race and his form this year has been rock solid.
A win last time out at Windsor was well deserved after finishing close to smart novices in Mambnumberfive and Mighty Bandit.
Both of those have graded missions this week, so the fact that the selection lines up here off 133 suggests he could be very well handicapped still.
5.15 – Princess to be Queen for the Day
I’m not sure this is the deepest renewal of the Mares Graded bumper here at Aintree and I think they’ve all got to improve to get past the classy PRINCESS DAY.
Jeremy Scott’s mare has looked top class in two bumper starts to date and is apparently working the house down at home.
As long as the ground isn’t rattling quick I think she wins the lucky last today.
READ MORE: Grand National 2026: Aintree Hurdle race analysis and preview
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