Aintree is the next major spring jumps festival on the horizon, with the Grand National Meeting set to take place over three days from Thursday April 4 – Saturday April 6.
The Merseyside venue will host some Cheltenham Festival winners, for sure, as well as horses that endured defeat in the Cotswolds and those that opted to skip March completely with an eye on Liverpool.
Here’s three Aintree contenders to keep an eye on as the countdown to the Grand National Festival begins in earnest.
- Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase – Willitgoahead
- Aintree Bowl – Grey Dawning
- Aintree Hurdle – Brighterdaysahead
Elliott’s new recruit worth sticking by
After winning a Hunters’ Chase at Thurles in January for Sean Doyle, WILLITGOAHEAD made the move to Gordon Elliott’s team having been snapped up by owners Bective Stud.
A prolific winner in point-to-points, Willitgoahead was only having his second start under Rules in that success at Thurles and was taking a sharp class-rise for the St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase at Cheltenham, where he was an excellent third behind Wonderwall and Its On The Line.
He jumped well in the Cotswolds and was brought into the reckoning heading to the third last, but he wasn’t able to match the front two up the Cheltenham hill.
He was, though, a fair way clear of everything else and there is scope for better with him. The drop back in trip at Aintree to 2m5f promises to suit just fine and he’s one for the shortlist.
Skelton’s patience could be rewarded
GREY DAWNING was touted as Britain’s main Gold Cup hope this season after his Betfair Chase second at Haydock in November.
He moved like the best horse in that race but a mistake at the last handed the initiative to Royale Pagaille and Grey Dawning finished tired on testing ground after a break.
It was a much different test on Boxing Day at Kempton when an early mistake did for his chances in the King George.
After that, trainer Dan Skelton made plans to avoid the Gold Cup this season with his talented eight-year-old, insisting that 2026 might be time enough.
He won the Premier Chase at Kelso at the beginning of March in fine style and Aintree was pinpointed as the target afterwards.
There’s still lots to like about Grey Dawning and he has more to give as a staying chaser.
The patience shown by his trainer could be rewarded in the day one showpiece, and a win in this race could go a long way towards Skelton achieving his dream of becoming champion trainer at the end of April.
Liverpool may suit for Brighterdaysahead
The Champion Hurdle threw up more questions than answers, with Constitution Hill and State Man falling while BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD delivered a disappointing run, paving the way for outsider Golden Ace to win.
That trio are all being touted for a rematch at Punchestown, along with Mares’ Hurdle winner Lossiemouth, but Gordon Elliott’s mare could head instead to Aintree, where he won last spring after a defeat at Cheltenham.
“It would be in the two-and-a-half-mile race at Liverpool. We’d prefer to go left-handed, but it would be up to her. If she’s well and flying again then that’s grand, but if not we can go to Punchestown,” said Gigginstown’s Eddie O’Leary this week.
He went on to add: “The Champion Hurdle run just wasn’t her and from the word go she just wasn’t happy. We’re happy enough there was a small issue so hopefully we have that sorted out now.”
If connections are happy something was niggling at her in the Cotswolds, a big bounce-back on Merseyside could be incoming.
