Aintree NAP of the Day: Day 2 Of The 2025 Grand National Meeting

Our writer picks out his best bet on Day 2 at the 2025 Grand National meeting but which horse is his NAP of the Day at Aintree on Friday?

2.20 Aintree – IMPOSE TOI (NAP)

The William Hill Handicap Hurdle on Ladies Day at Aintree Racecourse, looks like the ideal race for Impose Toi to kick on from his excellent Coral Cup second in.

This unexposed seven-year-old isn’t overly burdened off a handicap mark of 145 and has the class to carry it. He impressed when winning at Newbury in November when the front pair came well clear from the third and the rest of the field was well strung out in behind.

He was then entered for the Coral Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and Nicky Henderson’s plan for him almost came off.

Travelling strongly when held up in the midfield, he made headway at the fourth from home and was soon in touch with leaders, challenging them two out. He led narrowly on the turn to the last, but was headed on the run-in by a fast finishing Jimmy Du Seuil for Willie Mullins.

This 2m4f trip at Aintree looks ideal, and he’ll be smuggled into it before being played late. The Merseyside track is a much fairer and forgiving course down the home straight than Cheltenham, and it’s flatness will facilitate his final gallop to the winning line.

With his strike rate over hurdles just a shade under 50%, it’s pretty impossible to leave this JP McManus-owned gelding out of your calculations in this William Hill sponsored handicap, and it would come as quite a surprise if he and Nico de Boinville didn’t figure in the finish.

This son of It’s Gino has proven form on Good going, so the drying weather shouldn’t pose him any problems. Trading at odds of around 6/1,he looks a solid bet and is likely to prove a popular pick in our horse racing odds.

*Check out our latest Grand National betting here*