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Aintree Tips on April 13th - Grand National Festival Day 1 Tips

jon-vine
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Last updated: Wed 12 Apr 2023 12:21
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Jon Vine 12 Apr 2023
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  • Free tips through the full card on day one of the 2023 Grand National Festival
  • Four Grade One races will take place at Aintree on Thursday 13th April
  • Saint Roi, Scriptwriter and Constitution Hill feature amongst our tips
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Aintree Tips Grand National Festival Day 1 on April 13
Jockey Gina Andrews (C) celebrates after riding her horse Latenightpass to victory in the Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase. (Getty)

The 2023 Grand National Festival kicks off on Thursday afternoon. Aintree's card begins with four fantastic Grade One races, before punters sink their teeth into the Aintree Foxhunters Chase, the Red Rum Handicap and a thrilling Grade Two mares' bumper.

Here are our free racing tips on day one of the Grand National Festival.

Grand National Festival Day 1 Schedule


Time
Title
1:45pm Racehorse Lotto Manifesto Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 2m4f
2:20pm Jewson Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m1f
2:55pm Aintree Bowl (Grade One) 3m1f
3:30pm Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m4f
4:05pm Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase (Class 2) 2m5f
4:40pm Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2m 
5:15pm Goffs UK Nickel Coin Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Grade 2) 2m1f

Grand National Festival Day 1 Tips


Race 1 - Manifesto Novices' Chase Tips


No horse has ever won the Manifesto on the back of a victory at Cheltenham and there's only been one winning favourite since this Grade One race was created in 2009 - two clear negatives against Stage Star. Banbridge skipped Cheltenham on account of the ground and Joseph O'Brien won't be pleased by the amount of rain that's forecast to fall in the Aintree area on Wednesday and Thursday morning.

Willie Mullins won all but one of the top Graded races staged at Fairyhouse over the weekend, before saddling his second Irish Grand National winner on Monday. Ireland's Champion Trainer will be represented in Thursday's opener by SAINT ROI (7/2), who won the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and ran on well from the rear to place third in the Arkle last time out.

Saint Roi will be stepping beyond two miles for the first time over fences, but his sire has produced plenty of strong staying types and I can't see this race being run at a frenetic pace. Mark Walsh's mount boasts plenty of good form on soft ground. He'll be my selection in the opener.

Race 2 - Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle Tips


Zenta has won a Grade Three and finished third in a Triumph Hurdle, despite jumping fairly poorly in both races, so Willie Mullins' filly clearly has stacks of ability. As does Bo Zenith, who'll represent trainer Gary Moore who's been striking at a whopping 40% over the past two weeks.

Adonis Hurdle winner, Nusret has to be considered a serious player too, but I'm going to bank on Milton Harris having the beaten favourite for that Adonis, SCRIPTWRITER (8/1) back to his best for this Grade One assignment.

Prior to that shocking outing at Kempton, Scriptwriter had enjoyed an excellent season. Harry Cobden's mount recorded 1st and 2nd place finishes in two Grade Twos around Cheltenham, winning a flat handicap off a mark of 102 at Wolverhampton in-between. 

Scriptwriter's run in the Adonis was too bad to be true and that turned out to be the case, as Harris' juvenile scoped dirty the day after the race. Harris has told the press that he's been very happy with Scriptwriter in the build-up to Aintree, while also stating that he was a much better horse than Knight Salute - who shared this prize with Pied Piper 12 months ago.

Race 3 - Aintree Bowl Tips


Read our full guide to the 2023 Aintree Bowl to find out who we're backing in this stunning Grade One.

If you plan on watching any of Thursday's races via a mobile or tablet, then check out our Aintree Bowl Live Stream page.

Race 4 - Aintree Hurdle Tips


CONSTITUTION HILL (1/5) wins with Nico De Boinville practically unmoved in the saddle. I wouldn't be surprised to see Sharjah come through and finish second from off the pace, so I might back Willie Mullins' raider in the "betting without the favourite market".

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Race 5 - Foxhunters' Chase Tips


Six of the last ten winners of this Foxhunters Chase had either run in the race before or had previously run around the Grand National course. With that in mind, I'm happy to side with last year's winner LATENIGHTPASS (11/2), despite his fairly short price in the betting.

Gina Andrews' mount got up to beat Cat Tiger here at Aintree 12 months ago, having been narrowly beaten by Cousin Pascal the year before. Tom Ellis' ten-year-old returns to Aintree on the back of two victories between the flags and Ellis will have Lightnightpass primed to run well once again.

James King has become somewhat of a specialist in this race, guiding Dineur and Cousin Pascal to victory in the last six years. Having secured another top-six finish aboard Cousin Pascal last season, King has deserted the former winner in favour of partnering ENVOYE SPECIAL (40/1).

Kieran Burke's nine-year-old won over two miles on the Hunter Chase card at Cheltenham last April, and kicked off this season with an impressive victory over this distance at Ffos Las. King's mount was beaten 13 lengths at Wincanton last time out, but he was always going to have trouble giving over a stone to a rival as classy as Magic Saint, who was rated in the mid-150s at the start of last season. 

Race 6 - Red Rum Handicap Chase Tips


I haven't got a particularly strong opinion on this handicap. Looking towards the bottom end of the handicap is usually the way to go, but seeing as only two of the 14 runners will be carrying less than 11-00, that trend looks unlikely to continue.

PAY THE PIPER (9/1) has benefitted from more patient tactics on his last two starts. Ann Hamilton's eight-year-old cruised to victory at Musselburgh in February and was only beaten a nose by Calico at Doncaster in March. Danny McMenamin's mount has only been upped a pound for that excellent effort under 12-00 and, at 9/1, he could represent a bit of each-way value.

Race 7 - Nickel Coin Mares' Flat Race Tips


Day one at Aintree ends with a fascinating renewal of this mares' bumper. Paul Nicholls' Seeyouinmydreams tops the market, following a superb victory at Newbury. Two French recruits will then make their debuts for top Irish trainers, with Henry de Bromhead's July Flower and Willie Mullins' Jolie Coeur Allen sitting alongside each-other in the market.

A mare I've really taken to this season is SHE'S A FINE WINE (16/1). Olly Murphy's five-year-old ran on well from off the pace to finish a close third behind a couple of front-runners on her racecourse debut at Ayr. Sean Bowen positioned his mount more prominently at Southwell last month and She's A Fine Wine ran out an impressive 13-length winner.

Murphy's mare only cost connections $95k, despite her excellent breeding. She's A Fine Wine is by Flemensfirth and out a King's Theatre mare in Morning Run - who was unbeaten in bumpers and won two Grade Three's over hurdles for Willie Mullins. At 16/1, Sean Bowen's mount holds plenty of each-way appeal.

Verdict

Saint Roi would be our best bet on day one of the Grand National Festival. Latenightpass is our next best. Scriptwriter and She's A Fine Wine would be our best value bets.

Manifesto Novices' Chase Tips: Saint Roi NAP @7/2 at bet365 - 15 Units
Foxhunters' Chase Tips: Latenightpass Next Best @11/2 at bet365 - 10 Units
Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle Tips: Scriptwriter Value Bet 1 @8/1 at bet365 - 5 Units
Nickel Coin Mares' Flat Race Tips: She's A Fine Wine Value Bet 2 @16/1 at bet365 - 5 Units
Saint Roi
NAP
@7/2 - 15 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. #ad

Bet at bet365
Latenightpass
Next Best
@11/2 - 10 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. #ad

Bet at bet365
Scriptwriter
Value Bet 1
@8/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. #ad

Bet at bet365
She's A Fine Wine
Value Bet 2
@16/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. #ad

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