Aintree NAP of the Day: Day 1 Of The 2025 Grand National Meeting

Our writer picks out his best bet on Day 1 at the 2025 Grand National meeting but which horse is his NAP of the Day at Aintree on Thursday?

I’m really strong on the chances of GREY DAWNING in the Grade 1 Brooklands Golden Miller Chronograph Bowl Chase on Thursday and he is my best bet in the horse racing odds on the opening day of the 2025 Aintree Grand National meeting.

The 2024 Grade 1 Turners Novices Chase winner fell agonisingly short on his first try in open company, finishing two lengths adrift of Haydock specialist Royale Pagaille in the Betfair Chase in November. That was a huge run given connections had been unable to get a prep run into him before throwing him into the Grade 1.

He was turned out rather quickly for a shot at the King George VI Chase but that always felt a tad optimistic and he ran no sort of race. Since then, Dan Skelton has gone back to the drawing board and he produced a huge performance to beat Iroko – one of the fancied Grand National runners for JP McManus – at Kelso.

The son of Flemensfirth was giving 3lbs to his rival that day but it didn’t matter, with Grey Dawning jumping like a buck throughout. Harry Skelton is brilliant at getting a tune out of this horse and I’m hoping he can bag another Grade 1 victory on Thursday.

One negative is that he is 0-3 at Aintree but he has form around similar tracks and I’d be quietly confident that the 3m1f trip here will see him to best effect. Grey Dawning looks like a proper stayer and he’ll be primed to peak for this race.

Skelton is a fantastic target trainer and he’ll be hoping to add another big pot to his prize money total as he edges closer to a first British jumps trainers’ championship. It’ll take a good one to beat this gallant grey if he brings his A-game.

There are several British contenders in the field but I can’t see any of them putting it up to Grey Dawning. As previously mentioned, he is my NAP of the Day on Day 1 at Aintree and I’m expecting him to do the business for Team Skelton – who could be set for a big week if Grand National betting tips are to be trusted.