The Aintree Festival of 2025 has the big rematch on its opening day we all hoped to see at Cheltenham last month. Constitution Hill collides with Lossiemouth again in the Aintree Hurdle as the Grand National meeting gets underway on Thursday, 3 April at the Liverpool venue.
As the last of four Grade 1s on a packed card, Merseyside has more to offer than just the world’s greatest steeplechase. Besides the Aintree Hurdle, there’s the Manifesto Novices’ Chase, Anniversary 4-Y-O Hurdle and Aintree Bowl. All of these are top-level contests.
The supporting races to these on the Mildmay Course are the Red Rum Handicap Chase and a Grade 2 bumper for mares. Over the famous Grand National fences, meanwhile, amateur riders have their moment to shine in the Foxhunters.
Like all major meetings, there’s a nice mix of action for punters to wager on through horse racing betting sites here. We have our own experts who follow the sport all year round on hand to give their thoughts on it all from Liverpool.
With a week less between Cheltenham and this event this season, that shouldn’t be forgotten. Here are the thoughts of our horse racing team about what’s on show on Merseyside this Thursday…
Aintree Festival 2025 Day 1 Preview
1:45 – 2m 4f Grade 1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase
Two previous course Grade 1 hurdling winners catch the eye in the opener. Jango Baie had a very hard race when just getting up in the Arkle at Cheltenham, so will surely improve for stepping up in trip. Those placed behind Ballyburn at the Dublin Racing Festival arrive fresher, however.
While Croke Park seems to want a stiffer stamina test than Aintree’s Mildmay Course can provide, IMPAIRE ET PASSE could well reverse Leopardstown form on Merseyside. Willie Mullins’ charge must jump better than he did that day, but also boasts an excellent record in the spring.
Impaire Et Passe has ground to make up on re-opposing Gordon Elliott runner Croke Park, but that one didn’t act around this venue last term. Of the others, lightly-raced Gidleigh Park could be anything over fences still and has seen his Windsor win franked by Caldwell Potter in the meantime. Rubaud, meanwhile, can confirm Pendil form from Kempton with Boombawn and Mark Of Gold.
2:20 – 2m 1f Grade 1 Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle
@BenJone04644251 and @benpauling1 land the Grade 2 @Ladbrokes Adonis Juvenile Hurdle in the shape of Mambonumberfive, who found the right tune today, all out towards the line 🏆 pic.twitter.com/nu8y11WbiH
— Kempton Park Racecourse (@kemptonparkrace) February 22, 2025
Mambonumberfive beat a subsequent winner cosily last time out. He will need to jump more fluently, however. Unbeaten Dan Skelton inmate Live Conti, also saved for this, didn’t beat much at Wetherby. Three stables have double representation with Harry Derham joining Irish handlers Joseph O’Brien and Willie Mullins in saddling a couple.
Off 13lb better terms than their Fred Winter meeting, Murcia could well reverse form with Puturhandstogether. Wendrock split that pair at Cheltenham, but only has a 6lb pull at the weights with the winner. Naturally Nimble is the other O’Brien runner laid out for this.
Mambonumberfive and Live Conti apart, the home team may struggle here. Both of Derham’s horses could be anything, but lack graded form. Gibbs Island pulled up at Cheltenham, meanwhile, but has the beating of Give It To Me Oj on their Haydock run.
2:55 – 3m 1f Grade 1 Golden Miller Chronograph Bowl Chase
Irish raiders Spillane’s Tower and Gaelic Warrior command respect, despite the latter’s enigmatic status. Unexposed over this trip, however, is STAGE STAR. Despite a poor individual record on Merseyside, trainer Paul Nicholls has won this race a record six times.
Stage Star ran a blinder when runner-up in the Cotswold Chase on Festival Trials Day. If reproducing that run over a similar distance on this easier track, he should go well. Mullins also runs Embassy Gardens, who like Gaelic Warrior didn’t go to Cheltenham.
Those who competed at the big meeting last month may actually have the most to prove. Venetia Williams’ Djelo ran really poorly in the Ryanair Chase, while Scottish raider Ahoy Senor fell in the Gold Cup with The Real Whacker finishing a non-staying fifth.
3:30 – 2m 4f Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle
It’s hard to discount Constitution Hill, because he keeps bouncing back, but he looked at his least convincing when winning this race two years ago. The others play for third place, if both market principals stand up, so Martin Pipe heroine Wodhooh looks best of the rest. With an unbeaten record over hurdles for Elliott, she commands respect.
As for the remainder, they all receive something prize money wise for completing. Gary & Josh Moore’s Salver, placed over this trip a few times this term, and Skelton mare Take No Chances are the only others with a high enough rating for realistic hopes of a top four finish.
4:05 – 2m 5f Class 2 Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase
Famous Clermont has old rival Bennys King at the grand old age of 14 to contend with again. Skelton’s veteran has two seconds in the Foxhunters these last couple of seasons. Like Mullins mount Annamix, now a 12-year-old, Father Time may be catching up with them both, though.
At bigger odds, Percussion and Senior Citizen both boast plenty of runs around the course. Pat Doyle recruit Lifetime Ambition didn’t get far on his only previous start over the famous fences, but could be dangerous. Other market principals lack that experience, though.
Into this category go Mildmay Grade 1 novice hurdle winner My Drogo and Elliott’s Willitgoahead, third in the Cheltenham equivalent of this. As an amateur jockeys only race, it is hard to have any strong fancies but Derek O’Connor rides Presentandcounting for Donald McCain.
4:40 – 2m Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
Sans Bruit punted into 5/1 from 14/1 wins the Red Rum Handicap at Aintree!
An important £56,270 added to the trainer’s title tally for @Betfair ambassador @PFNicholls 👏
— Betfair Racing (@BetfairRacing) April 11, 2024
A repeat of either of those runs should see him go close. Evan Williams has also won this in recent years, so Chepstow scorer Dr T J Eckleburg could go well if translating that form to this very different track. Those towards the top of the weights make very little appeal, especially those subject to a hard race in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham last month.
Henry De Bromhead has enjoyed a couple of Red Rum victories, so The Folkes Tiara commands respect despite being a whole stone higher in the weights than when second the last day. Petit Tonnerre isn’t the most fluent of jumpers, but could be dangerous with a clear round.
Also at the foot of this trappy handicap are McCain entrant Galunggung and Samuel Drinkwater’s Rath Gaul Hill. Both needed recent successes to get into this. The latter is 3lb out of the handicap, but Sam Twiston-Davies slims down to keep the ride.
5:15 – 2m 1f Grade 2 Nickel Coin Mares’ Bumper
You never can put one up in bumpers with much confidence, but the Aintree Festival of 2025 has surely been the target for SEO LINN since her Listed success at Cheltenham. Paddy Twomey is a dab hand with his mares and it looks significant that this one goes in this graded race.
Seo Linn readily accounted for subsequent winners Siog Geal and Strong Run when last in action. As well as the latter, Fergal O’Brien runs Highland Haven, who meets her stable companion on Merseyside off 4lb better terms from Warwick. The yard also has Blue Betty.
An even bigger danger may be Charisma Cat for Alan King. After just failing to overhaul David Pipe’s Kingston Queen at Market Rasen, she scored around Sandown confirming form with the third.
For what official ratings are worth in a bumper, Derham inmate Jackie Hobbs tops them after three career wins. She hasn’t raced left-handed yet, however. Betty’s Daisy shares a sire with Jackie Hobbs and won her only start for Pauling impressively, so has claims too.
