Grand National

Aintree Day 3 Tips 2026: Elliott Mare Tops Grand National Day Predictions

56 minutes ago

| BY Steve Mullington

William Hill News tipster Steve Mullington casts his eye over the action on Grand National Day at Aintree, with predictions on every race – including the feature.

Scroll down to read Steve’s thoughts and race previews at Aintree on Saturday.

12.45pm Hallgarten & Novum Wines Maghull Novices’ Chase 2m

Gordon Elliott’s KALA CONTI (NAP) gets a useful mares’ allowance in this esteemed Grade 1 for novices, and she can hopefully make the most of it.

After two empathic chase victories at Cork in November and December, she was forced to play second fiddle to Sixmilebridge in the Scilly Isles Chase.

It’s highly significant that Elliott swerved her engagement at Fairyhouse last Sunday to run here instead.

34 Runners. 34 Stories. One Place.

1.20pm William Hill Handicap Hurdle 3m

Alan King’s HARBOUR LAKE takes on this Premier Handicap after scoring here over course and distance in a Pertemps Network Final Handicap qualifier back in November 2024.

At the over generous odds of 33/1 in our horse racing betting, the veteran ten-year-old is an each-way play at a racecourse he has excelled at several times in the past.

1.55pm Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 4f

Tom Lacey Saddles MONTEMARES (NB) in what is a very exciting, and open novices’ hurdle.

The five-year-old is arguably the brightest prospect Tom Lacey has in his stable and, given the success of Cruz Control in the past two years at Aintree, he’ll have left no stone unturned to get this gelding to Merseyside in tip-top shape.

2.30pm William Hill Handicap Chase 3m

DEEP CAVE was one of my early antepost bets for this year’s Grand National, but unfortunately, he just missed the cut by a handful of places. He can hopefully make some amends by winning The Freebooter.

A winner on this card twelve months ago over hurdles, the eight-year-old has taken to chasing well and should be right in the mix today.

3.05pm Jet2 Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m

Ruth Jefferson’s LAVIDA ADIVA takes on the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle after nearly pulling off a northern raid on the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

With the wonder mare Wodhooh staying at home, the field is wide open for someone to stamp their authority on this coveted prize. We know the seven-year-old is stepping up considerably in class, but she is getting weight from the boys and is a very gutsy trier.

4.00pm Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 4m 2f

Two contenders catching my eye at generous odds are CAPTAIN CODY and SPANISH HARLEM.

Trained by Willie Mullins, Captain Cody won last year’s Scottish National but has yet to hit those dizzy heights this term.

At the official weights reveal Patrick Mullins said the eight-year-old had all the attributes needed to win a National, and the arrival of spring could well revive his fortunes after a short spell in the doldrums.

Currently trading at colossal odds is Spanish Harlem, who following his Kerry National win, his handler Willie Mullins indicated the horse was being aimed at the Grand National.

Carried-out and unseated in the Scottish National and Thyestes Chase with both races at his mercy, the eight-year-old deserves a change in fortunes.

Owned by the Randox founder Dr. S. P. Fitzgerald, the Northern Irishman would love nothing more than to win the Grand National as its sponsor, and this Spanish Moon-gelding could well be the horse that grants him his dream.

5.00pm Weatherbys Standard Open NH Flat Race (Grade 2) 2m

For years I used to gravitate towards Ben Pauling’s Aintree bumper entries, and I shall give his MERRY AWAY another chance on Saturday.

Beaten into third in his very first point-to-point in Ireland, the Getaway-gelding enjoyed some easing in the ground at Warwick, leading from start to finish in a classy looking bumper.