Kevin Blake Shares Day One Tips for Grand National Festival: 11/1 and 12/1 Picks

The Grand National Festival begins at Aintree on Thursday with four Grade One races. Filmogaz.com columnist Kevin Blake has identified three fancies for day one.

Course and conditions

After a long winter, rainfall eased and Aintree has irrigated heavily. Organisers have been watering the course to keep the ground suitably soft.

Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase (3:30)

The opening contest over the Grand National fences is the Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase. Mags Mullins’ 11-year-old Lets Go Champ is a leading Irish contender.

Previously trained by Henry de Bromhead, the horse won a valuable Punchestown handicap two years ago. He also ran well in the Galway Plate and the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

Switched to Mags Mullins this season, he won a point-to-point at Oldtown in February. He then beat Hunters Yarn in the Tetratema Cup Hunters Chase at Gowran Park in March.

Connections include rider Sophie Carter, who has partnered him for his last two successes. Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero bring other hopes, with Iroko and Jagwar among their entries.

Blake highlights Lets Go Champ’s strong travelling style and correct jumping technique for these fences. He sees value in the price available on the horse.

Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (4:40)

The Red Rum Handicap Chase always attracts a competitive field. Paul Nicholls’ Sans Bruit has won this race in each of the last two renewals.

Sans Bruit won the 2024 renewal off a mark of 130. After several solid runs off higher marks, the BHA dropped him 9lb, and he returned to win this race again.

Eighteen days after that victory he won another valuable handicap at Plumpton off a 9lb higher mark. This season the BHA has trimmed his rating again by 11lb after five starts.

Blake believes the handicapping decisions have been generous to this British-trained runner. He names Sans Bruit as a strong candidate to complete a third straight Red Rum success.

Former BHA handicapper Phil Smith is quoted on handicapping philosophy, noting a tendency to “favour the majority at the expense of the minority.” That observation frames debate about recent ratings.

Goffs Nickel Coin Mares’ National Hunt Flat Race (5:15)

The mares’ bumper closes the day’s televised action. Gavin Cromwell’s Lennon Grove is the Irish entry that attracts Blake’s attention.

The five-year-old won a point-to-point and has four bumper starts to her name. She scored at Thurles in December and placed third in a Listed mares’ bumper at Sandown in March.

At Sandown she was held up and made late ground on the near side. Now that she has achieved black type, connections may ride her more prominently.

Blake expects further improvement and considers her price to offer betting appeal.

Market context and selections

Kevin Blake’s Day One Tips for the Grand National Festival place emphasis on horses with form and suitable styles. His Picks focus on value and race fit.

The discussion around selections often mentions market figures such as 11/1 and 12/1. Bettors will want to monitor early prices as markets adjust before the first race.

For readers following Filmogaz.com coverage, these three runners stand out on day one. Each has form or attributes that suit Aintree’s unique tests.