The 2025 Grand National Festival at Aintree kicks off today, and we’ve prepped a full breakdown for all 7 races on Thursday, blending trends, trainer angles and horse profiles to help you navigate the card.

Grab a brew – here’s your PuntHub.co.uk Day 1 preview 👇

1:45 Manifesto Novices' Chase (Grade 1) – 2m 4f

We’ve now got the final runners, and there’s plenty to go at with some Festival form mixing it with fresh blood. Here’s the verdict:

✅ Top Trend Picks & Value Angles

Jango Baie – Arkle winner who rallied strongly to get up at Cheltenham. This extra trip could bring out even more – solid trends match and a gritty profile.

Impaire Et Passe – Class act over hurdles who won this very race last year. Now chasing and wears cheekpieces for the first time. If his jumping improves, he’s right in this.

Croke Park – Two-time Grade 1 winner over fences in Ireland. Fresh, unexposed, and ticks the key trend boxes.

🟨 Each-Way Contender

Boombawn – Better off at the weights with Rubaud, and has some decent chase form in the book. Has the pace for this and could outrun odds.

⚠️ Trends Red Flags / Risky Plays

Fascile Mode – Has shown some ability but jumping remains a big question mark at this level.

Mark Of Gold – Been running well in lesser company, but this looks a big ask against Festival and Grade 1 types.

The Kalooki Kid – Improving handicapper but this is a serious step up and he’s unproven at this grade.

📌 Verdict:
Jango Baie is a big player if the Arkle hasn’t left a mark. Impaire Et Passe has serious potential but must jump cleanly. Croke Park is the fresh Irish danger. Boombawn could be the each-way angle at a price.

2:55 Aintree Juvenile Hurdle (G1) – 2m 1f

This Grade 1 often goes to a horse who either skipped Cheltenham or ran well in the Fred Winter or Triumph. Flat speed and improving profiles tend to be key, with classy ex-French types and big improvers having an edge.

✅ Top Trend Picks & Strong Profiles

Puturhandstogether – A clear standout on trends. Won the Fred Winter at Cheltenham in smooth fashion and shaped like there’s plenty more to come. Yard has a strong record with juveniles here, and horses stepping up from Fred Winter often do well.

Filibustering – Hugely impressive front-running win at Kelso, and skipping Cheltenham is a big tick. Yard often excels with these types and he’s very much on the upgrade. The fact Cobden rides says plenty.

Live Conti – Looked a natural on hurdles debut and has the French pedigree that often thrives in this race. Still unexposed and could take a big jump forward. Solid each-way credentials.

🟨 Contenders with Questions

Naturally Nimble – Grade 3 winner who wasn’t disgraced in stronger company, but perhaps more exposed than some of these sharper types. Still respected.

Murcia – Gets the 7lb fillies' allowance and has French form that stacks up. Might need a career best to trouble the top two but can grab a place.

Willy De Houelle – Has placed in Grade 1s but looked laboured in the Triumph. Townend chooses Murcia, which is a sign.

Gibbs Island – Early promise, but didn’t settle at Cheltenham. Hood could help, but others come here with more positive profiles.

⚠️ Runners with Trend Negatives

Coconut Grove / Terrorise – Hurdle debutants making the jump straight into a G1 – historically a tough ask.

Wendrock – Held by Puturhandstogether at Cheltenham and no obvious reason for reversal.

Mambonumberfive – Rebounded from a PU with a Kempton G2 win, but this is deeper and that form might not quite match up here.

📌 Verdict: Puturhandstogether looks the one to beat – Fred Winter winners often prove top class and he’s ticking all the boxes. Filibustering is a big danger and could be anything. Live Conti makes up the shortlist as a strong each-way player with loads of untapped potential.

2:55 Aintree – Bowl Chase (Grade 1, 3m1f)

📺 Live on ITV | Grade 1 | £250,000 total prize fund

A prestigious staying chase that often favours class acts stepping down from the Cheltenham Gold Cup, or progressive types who skipped the Festival altogether. Form from the King George and Durkan is also key. Trends favour 9yo or younger, top 2 in the market, and horses that didn’t win last time out.

✅ Top Trend Contenders

🟩 Spillane’s Tower – Big John Durkan performance, ticks almost all the boxes
Split Fact To File and Banbridge in the Durkan – arguably the hottest piece of 2½m chase form this season. Solid Grade 1-winning novice and arrives fresher than most. Strong on trends: age 7, didn’t win LTO, placed in top races, and comes from a respected Irish yard. Powerful form case.

🟩 Grey Dawning – Progressive and ideal profile for this race
Ignore his King George PU – bounced back nicely at Kelso. His second to Royale Pagaille at Haydock looks strong now, and his Cheltenham Novice Chase win last year marked him as top class. Aged 8, didn’t win LTO (until Kelso), and from a trainer in great spring form. Hard to knock.

🟨 Place Contenders / Each-Way Value

Gaelic Warrior – 2024 Arkle winner stepping up in trip again
Ran his best hurdle race over 3m so this isn’t out of reach, and Willie Mullins has won this race twice recently. Still, there are stamina questions and he didn’t convince on latest start. Strong yard, but trip is the unknown.

Stage Star – Classy 2m4f chaser who stayed on at Cheltenham
Upped in trip last time and ran with credit. Hasn’t won beyond 2m5f yet, but travelled like a danger in the Cotswold. Nicholls has a record in this race (5 wins), and Cobden knows how to ride it.

Ahoy Senor – Loves Aintree, strong record in this race (1122)
On trends and recent form, he’s opposable, but he turns into a different horse at this meeting. Comes alive around here, and while his last few efforts were uninspiring, he can outrun his odds.

❌ Runners With Trend Negatives or Weak Profiles

Embassy Gardens – Patchy Grade 1 record (P6P6), and his wins haven’t come in top-level company.

The Real Whacker – One good run at Wetherby, otherwise struggling to make an impact outside novice grade.

Djelo – Very smart in the Denman but was well held in the Ryanair. Stamina still unproven at this level.

📌 Verdict:

This looks like a proper duel between two up-and-coming stayers.

🏆 Win – Spillane’s Tower
Outstanding Durkan form and fits almost every key trend.

🥈 Main Danger – Grey Dawning
Returned to form at Kelso and could peak at the right time.

💰 E/W Value – Stage Star / Gaelic Warrior
Stage Star stayed the trip better than expected last time and Nicholls targets this race. Gaelic Warrior has the class, but trip is a query.

3:30 Aintree – William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m4f)

📺 Live on ITV | Grade 1 | £250,000 race | 4yo+

A clash of top-class hurdlers, many stepping up from the Champion Hurdle trip to the stamina-testing 2m4f. Trends are sharp here:
✅ 46 of last 47 winners aged 8 or younger
✅ 15 of last 16 winners from top 3 in betting
✅ Almost all winners had run at Cheltenham
✅ Grade 1 winners have dominated (15 of last 18)

🥇 Main Contenders

🟩 Lossiemouth – Powerful stayer, could reverse Kempton form

Beaten by Constitution Hill at Christmas over 2m but looked every inch a 2m4f horse when running away with the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham. She gets 7lb from the geldings here and the step up in trip is a big plus. Mullins has a great record in this race too.

🟩 Constitution Hill – Still the best on ratings, but questions now

Fell in the Champion Hurdle and was workmanlike at times this season. That said, he’s unbeaten when completing and destroyed this race last year. On trends and figures, still the horse to beat – but he must be spot on to fend off Lossiemouth getting weight.

⚠️ Best of the Rest

Wodhooh – Martin Pipe winner stepping into deep waters

Hugely progressive and still unbeaten, she’s interesting but makes her Grade 1 debut against seasoned champions. Will love the trip and ground, and could sneak into the frame if there's a shock.

Take No Chances – Consistent season, not top class

Likeable type and placed in the Mares’ Hurdle, but was firmly outgunned by Lossiemouth. May run on into 4th or 5th.

❌ Not Today

Tellherthename – Lightly raced, huge step up in class

Break My Soul – Ran well in a Gowran Grade 3 but this is several leagues above

Salver (NR) – Non-runner

🔎 Trend Spotlight:

29 of last 30 winners were aged 8 or younger ✅

15 of last 18 had already won a Grade 1 ✅

Only 2 five-year-olds have won in 35 years ❌ (Wodhooh is 5yo)

15 of last 16 winners came from top 3 in the betting ✅

📝 Verdict:

🏆 Win – Lossiemouth
The weight swing and trip are significant factors. Looks ready to peak and reverse the Kempton form.

🥈 Main Danger – Constitution Hill
Still top on raw talent and ratings, but can he bounce back after that fall?

💰 Each-Way – Wodhooh
Unbeaten and flying up the ranks. If the big two disappoint, she’s the one to pick up the pieces.

4:05 Aintree – Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase (Class 2, 2m5f)

📺 Live on ITV | National-style fences | £50,000 prize pot | 6yo+

This historic amateur riders' contest over the Grand National fences is a true test of jumping and stamina. It regularly rewards horses with previous experience over these fences and battle-hardened form.
Here’s how the trends guide us:

✅ 14 of the last 19 winners were aged 10+
✅ 25 of last 30 winners had already won earlier in the season
✅ 81% of the last 31 winners came from the top 4 in the betting
✅ 12 of the last 19 had already jumped the National fences
❌ Only 3 winners in last 39 were aged under 9 – tough for younger runners

🥇 Key Contenders Based on Trends & Form

🟩 Famous Clermont (10yo)

2023 winner of this race and arrives in great form. Proven over the fences, won last time out, and now under James King – who has 2 wins in the last 7 runnings. Major player.

🟩 Lifetime Ambition (10yo)

Classy horse and dual point-to-point winner this season. He ran in last year’s Topham, so knows these fences, and comes in off a perfect prep. Ireland has won 5 of last 10 – huge player.

🟩 My Drogo (10yo)

A former Grade 1 winner back on track with two recent wins, including a hunter chase at Haydock. Still unexposed in this sphere, and represents quality connections. Danger if jumping cleanly.

🟨 Willitgoahead (7yo)

Young for this race, but Cheltenham 3rd in the Foxhunters last month – only a few lengths behind Wonderwall. Improving fast and has stamina. Just lacks age/trends profile.

⚠️ Lively Outsiders

Bennys King (14yo) – 2nd in this the last two years. Might run another big race with ideal conditions, though age isn't on his side.

Senior Citizen (12yo) – Has placed in the Grand Sefton and Topham; very comfortable over these fences. Won a recent point easily – sneaky place chance.

❌ Runners To Take On

Milan Forth (6yo) – Very promising but 6yo stat is brutal (just 3 of last 39 winners under 9). Future type.

Joker De Mai (6yo) – Won well over 2m last time, but this trip and field depth could find him out.

Fix At All, A Jet Of Our Own, Go Go Geronimo – Exposed or outclassed on latest form.

🔮 Verdict:

🏆 Win – Famous Clermont
Track, trip, class, and jockey all ideal. Back to recapture glory.

🥈 Main Danger – Lifetime Ambition
Big engine, classy operator, perfect prep.

💰 Each-Way – Senior Citizen
Sneaks into everything over these fences. Huge odds for a known National fence performer.

4:40 Aintree – Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap, Class 1, 2m)

📺 Live on ITV | £100,000 prize fund | Fast & furious 2-miler

This race has a clear statistical profile:
✅ 88% of winners carried 11st 2lb or less
✅ 90% were rated under 140
✅ 19 of last 21 were aged 9 or younger
❌ Horses older than 9, or rated above 140, historically struggle
✅ Irish-breds dominate recent renewals
✅ 9 of last 10 winners did NOT run at Cheltenham – freshness matters

🥇 Trends Picks:

🟢 The Folkes Tiara (9yo, 11st) – Henry De Bromhead / Rachael Blackmore

Yard has a great Aintree record and this one ticks all the major trends:

Rated 138

Light weight

Rachael Blackmore won this in 2019 & 2023

Didn’t run at Cheltenham and is in great form from strong Irish handicaps
🏇 Very strong each-way appeal.

🟢 Petit Tonnerre (7yo, 10st6) – Jonjo O’Neill

Back to form last time (before being brought down) and has course form.
Low weight and classy profile for this race type. Age, mark, prep – all ideal.
McManus-owned, and they often target this.

🟢 Rath Gaul Hill (7yo, 10st2) – Lightweight improver

Progressive and unexposed chaser on the up.
Carried just 10st2, 3 wins from last 4, ideal profile. Ticks all boxes except experience.
Looks laid out for this race.

⚠️ Lively Outsiders With A Case

Calico (9yo, 11st2) – Honest and has Cheltenham class form. Ground suits. Each-way angle.

Sans Bruit (7yo, 10st6) – Won this off same mark last year. Bad recent form but Nicholls can ready one. Revival not impossible.

My Mate Mozzie (9yo, 11st13) – Huge engine, Cheltenham 4th last time… but too high in the weights to be a solid trends pick.

❌ Runners To Oppose Based On Stats

Tommy’s Oscar (10yo, 12st) – Classy, but age + weight both against him. Rarely a winning profile in this.

Hunters Yarn (11st12) – Irish, but high in weights and coming off a pulled-up effort.

Primoz – Was poor at Cheltenham and carries a weight that historically fails.

🔮 Verdict

🏆 Win – The Folkes Tiara
Trend horse with ideal weight, profile, prep, and jockey.

🥈 Main Danger – Petit Tonnerre
In form, great mark, and Aintree experience.

💰 Each-Way Value – Rath Gaul Hill
Could still be improving; low weight and under the radar.