4:00 Aintree Tips

As a recognised Aintree specialist, he clinched victory in 2024 and came in a close second in 2025. Despite the challenge of carrying top weight, his outstanding aptitude for the course and relentless stamina make him the one to beat.

Decent chaser on his day who stepped up considerably on his return run when finishing a staying-on fourth in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown. He failed to give his running last time in the Irish Gold Cup back there, but this represents a drop in class, so he will find this easier and looks a big player.

Highly progressive individual who landed last year's Festival Plate at Cheltenham and has lost absolutely nothing in defeat in three starts there this winter, including when keeping on 2nd on his first try at 3 miles-plus in the Ultima. That gives hope for today's trip. He'll need to jump better but should go very well if doing so.

This gelding is operating in a different stratosphere relative to his official mark, showcasing a vast differential that screams extreme value. He arrives at his absolute peak following a gutsy Cheltenham victory where he overcame late interference to win going away. We know he stays all day, handles softer conditions brilliantly, and taking the exact same handicap mark into this marathon test looks like an absolute gift from the handicapper.

MONTY'S STAR has not been campaigned well, arguably, as he consistently takes on rivals that are just too good for him. Today is different, and affords him a chance. Lightly-raced in terms of miles on the clock for a 9-y-o, this drop down to handicap company opens up all sorts of possibilities. I fancy stamina wont be an issue, nor will the ground and I like the fact that Henry De Bromhead missed Cheltenham with his horse this year (ran in the three previous festivals) and so the selection comes here off what can be, a perfect 10-week break.

The last National winner I backed was Comply or Die, so that tells you all one needs to know. The selection is normally a sound jumper, is ridden by a jockey with a racing brain (a must), and has put in some excellent performances. My other fancy is Monty's Star, but I will sink or swim with the Captain.

Iroko ran a cracking 4th in this race last year and is a stronger, improved horse this year. Fingers crossed he is a good jumper ??' he jumped well last year. He was well beaten at Cheltenham, but he scoped dirty after the race, so that run can be ignored.

OSCARS BROTHER has run in 15-races under rules and not once has the word 'weakened' featured in the RP post-race comments. I fancy this Irish-trained 8-y-o has limitless stamina and he looks a very interesting contender, now with a large owner but still in a smaller yard. Easy enough to make a form case as well, with a trio of bloodless victories being followed by a decent run at Cheltenham in the novice chase. I would worry a little about his exposure to fields this size, but then he may be ridden near the front which, in part, would mitigate that.

At a big price, I am going to take a chance on Gorgeous Tom here, who has been going close. The yard will have prepared for this race, and with six places should have a chance.

HAITI COULEURS is bidding to become the first Welsh-trained winner since 1905, appeals as the one who could take well to these fences despite not having the ideal prep when pulling up in the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Cheltenham 4 weeks ago. He has won once in one run (100%) here at Aintree. One to watch.

Gerri Colombe can go well for the Elliott yard. Gerri Colombe was a very good winner at Down Royal last time out and can be the choice of the Elliott yard in this race. She was a very good horse a few years ago and can stay today’s trip.

Is quite a smart chaser on his day and put two non-completions behind him when finishing 4th in a Grade 3 chase at Tramore last time, over an inadequate trip. This test will suit him more, and with the yard going well, he can’t be ignored.

Quai De Bourbon is only a 7-year-old, which is younger than most winners of this race in the last 20 years. He stays well, judging from his 3rd at Fairyhouse in the Irish National last year. Good place chance at least.

Consistent performer who is a two-time bumper and two-time hurdles winner. Has won once over fences and finished 2nd twice from eight races. Not raced over this far but finishes races well and is likely to suit this longer trip. Holds an each-way chance.

This has been the domain of younger horses in recent times, but 10-year-old+ horses filled 4 of the top 6 places in 2024, so I’m not too out of by that. With a field full of older horses, it was a lightly raced one in Champ Kiely that I thought was of interest. He’s got staying ability very much to prove, but he does share a sire with Mr Vango, who stays all day, and he did win at his longest distance raced on ground that wasn’t soft. He rather cantered into that race before finding plenty late on this time last year. It’s not really worked out for him since, but it’s of some interest to me that Danny Mullins steps back on, having been on for his finest runs, including that 3m2f win. Hopefully there isn’t too much rain. Whilst he’s not the obvious choice of a stayer over this far, he’s small and nimble over his fences, so hopefully he can conserve his energy and find a late kick.

With his outstanding stamina and recent achievements, including a narrow second place in the Cheltenham Cross-Country Chase, he emerges as a strong candidate to secure a top spot. Trained by Gordon Elliott, he has proven his ability over long distances and flourishes on demanding ground, making him a serious each-way contender at 40/1.

Got in as a reserve, unposed at staying trips and looks sure to be an improver for them, has some nice back form including 2nd at this meeting last year, can write off LTO as badly hampered and may well outrun these big odds

Ran his best race here last year when 2nd, and a return here should suit, as should better ground. A step up in trip, I think, is a positive. Excellent value to be in the frame.

Won the Brown Advisory last year. Trained by Willie Mullins. Eight-year-old chestnut gelding has had four wins in the last 18 runs. Won at Punchestown in January 2025. Could have an each-way chance at a big price.

Firefox looks a wild price for a Graded horse in a handicap who is still unexposed at staying trips. Stepped beyond 22f for the first time when 4th in the Irish Gold Cup and although a little disappointing at Cheltenham next time I'm happy to forgive one poor effort for a horse who easily won a Grade 2 at the start of the season. A mark of 160 sounds high but is 3lbs lower than Nick Rockett carried last year and just 1lb higher than I Am Maximus carried the year before. The changes to the fences has seen the class horses come to the fore and this 8yo ticks a lot of boxes for a trainer who started the Aintree meeting with a bang.

Failed to put in an effort at Fairyhouse in the Bobbyjo Chase when down the field in 7th, but was sent off a 3/1 favourite. That was following a 2nd at Newbury when giving weight to Panic Attack. 11th in last year's National, but has had a light campaign this year and should be in the mix again at a big each-way price.

A Willie Mullins-trained 9yo who could go well, sat at a big price. Lightly raced but consistent: first or second in 9 of 13 races over hurdles and fences. This time last year he was a close 3rd of 19 in a £98K Premier Handicap Chase at Sandown over 28f. The fifth that day was Grangeclare West, who is a short price for this race. The fourth that day is now rated 23 lb higher, and the winner has run some good races since. He has the ability, and hopefully this longer trip will suit him.

I'm not too sure whether having better-quality horses running in the National is a good thing. It's now very much targeted by the bigger stables. Marble Sands has run over these fences in the past and may well sneak a place in the first six at odds of 100/1.

The Real Whacker may be past his best as a ten-year-old, and his form this season has been poor. He ran respectably in the Aintree Bowl last season, only weakening from the second last. If he does not force the pace in the National, he has every chance of staying the distance and finishing in the top six.

Top Of The Bill is a put-and-out stayer who appears to have been overlooked in the betting for this famous race. Toby McCain Mitchell can continue the McCains' love affair with this race.

If the forecast rain arrives, then Mr Vango could become a player in the National. He loves soft ground and stays forever. I can forgive his last two runs, as nothing went particularly right for him. He did run very well, carrying a huge weight in the Becher Chase here in December. Although he is on the same mark here as he was that day, he actually carries 16 pounds less this time. He will appreciate that, and if that rain arrives he might surprise a few.