Grand National

Grand National Ante-Post 2026: Foxhunters Chase And Topham Chase Predictions Following Entries

3 hours ago

| BY Steve Mullington

Tuesday 17th March saw the entries released for the only two races, other than the National itself, run over the famous fences at Aintree Festival.

The Randox Topham Handicap Chase (2m 5f Grand National Course) takes place at 4:05pm, Friday 10th April, and it received 59 entries (23 Irish trained), whilst the Randox Foxhunters’ Chase (2m 5f Grand National Course) goes off at 3:30pm on the opening day, Thursday 9th April, receiving 37 entries (7 Irish trained).

Topham Chase Ante-Post Tips

Quickly installed as the 10/1 favourite in our horse racing betting by our William Hill odds compliers, was the Dan Skelton-trained MADARA.

Described as a “Graded horse in a handicap” by Skelton himself, Madara jumped like a stag to record a seven-and-a-half-length success from Will The Wise in the Grade 2 Handicap Plate at the Cheltenham Festival.

If the seven-year-old remains fresh between now and Aintree, he heads to Merseyside will a leading chance in the Topham.

If you fancy the chances of Madara over the national fences, then you have to give some sort of consideration to WILL THE WISE (14/1).

Trained by our horse racing ambassador Gavin Cromwell, his seven-year-old finished strongly in the 23-runner Plate at the Festival, and enters calculations should he take to the unique Grand National fences.

Gordon Elliott’s FIREFOX (16/1) also has a Grand National entry, but it would come as no surprise if Elliott targets this shorter race with his eight-year-old.

Firefox failed to land a blow on Gaelic Warrior in the Gold Cup, but to be fair, that was true of all the beaten horses that day, and this is much easier task indeed. I’m confident his Graded experience will see him right in the heart of the action.

Foxhunters’ Chase Ante-Post Tips

Unsurprisingly the 1-2-3-4 in the Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival all have entries in the Aintree equivalent, but it would be fairly narrowminded to concentrate solely on that quartet at the present moment.

Heidi Palin got a great tune out of UNEXPECTED PARTY (4/1) to win the Walrus Hunters’ Chase at Haydock Park which qualified the exuberant grey for Aintree, and that is exactly where the Skelton’s are heading.

Cheltenham was never on the cards for the former Grand Annual winner, and the eleven-year-old will be a major factor on the day.

FAMOUS CLERMONT (25/1) ran away with this race in 2023 and is still a force to be reckoned with in the Hunter Chase sphere.

A winner of 11 of his 23 point-to-points, the veteran will probably fly under the radar somewhat when it comes to the ante-post sports betting on this race, but ignore him at your peril.

Ten-year-old GABORIOT (20/1) certainly knows his way around Aintree and over the National fences, having placed twice in the Grand Sefton Chase and has had experience of running in the Becher Chase.

Trained and owned locally, Gaboriot’s running style is always to arrive late in the piece and pick up the pieces – hopefully the first place piece.