Jane Mangan’s William Hill blog: Aintree Grand National Festival Day One selections

William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan is here to preview the action from the opening day of the Aintree Grand National Festival, including three Grade Ones.

Aintree, Thursday

The Grade One Manifesto Novices’ Chase (1:45pm) over two and a half miles looks a fantastic race to kick off the action, I like the chances of Croke Park. I think he is very underappreciated considering he has already won two Grade One novice chases. His form, beating Heart Wood in the Drinmore, looks very strong considering his run behind Fact To File in the Ryanair at the Cheltenham Festival. This is his optimum trip; he’s a very good horse, and I think he will prove that in the Aintree opener.

The Grade One Aintree Bowl (2:55pm) is the feature race of the opening day. Grey Dawning, Stage Star, Spillane’s Tower, and Gaelic Warrior are all horses who skipped the Cheltenham Festival to come here, and it looks a fantastic renewal. My parents are very happy with how Spillane’s Tower is; he hasn’t run since he disappointed in the King George, but we think he is back to where he needs to be to be competitive in a race like this. If he can reproduce the form he showed in the John Durkan, I believe he is the best horse in the race over this trip.

The Grade One William Hill Aintree Hurdle (3:30pm) may well be an opportune trip for Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth; it looks a match to me. I believe Constitution Hill will make amends. Fortunately, he wasn’t injured from his fall in the Champion Hurdle, and I think he can prove his class once again here. Despite having to give weight away to the mare, I can see him getting back to winning ways.

The Foxhunters’ Chase (4:05pm) is next, and I fancy My Drogo. When he was younger, I thought he was going to be a top-class horse for the Skeltons. Unfortunately, that didn’t materialise for him, but he still has a lot of talent. Being aged just ten, he has one of the best amateur riders booked in William Biddick, who won this race two years ago aboard Famous Clermont. I presume he would have had the option of what to ride, so it’s encouraging that he has opted for him here. His win around Haydock suggests that he still retains plenty of that old ability, and I think he is the one to beat.

The Red Rum Handicap Chase (4:40pm) looks a competitive renewal, in which I like Paul Nicholls’ Sans Bruit. He won the race last year, beating Saint Roi after making all off a mark of 130. He was put up to 140 for that victory and has gradually dropped in the handicap. He now finds himself back on his winning mark from last year. I think under positive tactics; he can win a consecutive Red Rum Handicap.

The concluding race on Day One is the bumper (5:15pm), which has attracted a huge field. I believe that Paddy Twomey’s decision to skip Cheltenham for Aintree will pay dividends with Seo Linn. Top-class Flat rider Billy Lee is booked—he’s a huge asset for a bumper. Her form in Ireland is okay, but the way she won at Cheltenham before Christmas tells me that she has more stamina than I gave her credit for. She will do for me in the bumper.