This Saturday is Grand National Day, with ITV televising the nation’s favourite horse race at 4pm alongside four other races from Aintree.
- 1:20 Aintree: William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle – Navajo Indy @ 10/1
- 1:55 Aintree: Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle – Lulamba @ 11/10
- 2:30 Aintree: William Hill Handicap Chase – Richmond Lake @ 25/1
- 3:05 Aintree: Ivy Liverpool Hurdle – Home By The Lee @ 6/1
- 4:00 Aintree: Randox Grand National Handicap Chase – Stumptown @ 8/1
The Grand National will be the fifth and final race televised by ITV on Saturday, scheduled for a 4pm start time. The 34-runner field looks as tricky a puzzle as ever to solve with plenty of potential winners. Stumptown for Gavin Cromwell has long been targeted at the race and is looking to follow in the mighty Tiger Roll’s footsteps having been victorious in the cross country chase at Cheltenham last month.
The market is headed by last year’s winner I Am Maximus for Willie Mullins. Not too much can be read into his two runs this season, pulled up I the Savills Chase and an eighth place finish in the Irish Gold Cup, as this race has been the aim. A six-pound rise in the weights may not be enough to prevent a second successive victory at Aintree.
Also prominent at the top of the betting is Iroko for Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero, JJ Hanlon’s Hewick, Vanillier for Gavin Cromwell and Thomas Gibney’s Intense Raffles. Nicky Henderson chances of landing a first Grand National will rely on Hyland and Chantry House. Paul Nicholls saddles five runners, with Harry Cobden opting for Kandoo Kid. Rachael Blackmore and Minella Indo were third in the race last year and team up for another tilt at the National for Henry de Bromhead.
Four other races serve as the build-up to the big race on ITV, starting with the 3m½f William Hill Handicap Hurdle. Nicky Henderson’s Lulamba will look to get back to winning ways in the Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle after finishing second to 100/1 shot Poniros in the Triumph Hurdle last month. The third live race will be the 3m1f William Hill Handicap Chase which is also known as the Freebooter Handicap.
Race four on ITV is the £250k Liverpool Hurdle over 3m½f. Teahupoo, Home By The Lee, The Wallpark and Buddy One all line up having contested the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. Teahupoo was the best placed of the four having finished runner-up to Bob Olinger. Home By The Lee was unseated in the race and could have better luck on Saturday.