The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England.
The Festival will run from Thursday 13th April to Saturday 15th April (three days). The main event is on the Grand National day which is on Saturday 15th April
British horse-trainer Paul Nicholls will attend the festival with his entourage of horses.
Here are some of his tips
Seeyouinmydreams (5.15, Thursday)
"She’s a nice mare and she won really well at Newbury, bolted in.
"This is a 20-runner grade two race, an altogether better race and I’m not really sure what she beat at Newbury, but visually she was very impressive. She can be a very smart hurdler next season and should run well for Sir Alex Ferguson," said to Betfair.
Stage Star (1.45, Thursday)
"There’s only five declared for that chase, I assume he will be just about favourite. If he performs like he did at Cheltenham, he has a big chance.
"You always wonder about those who have run at Cheltenham if they will be in good form but the only way you know is if you run them."
Bravemansgame (2.55, Thursday)
"Clan Des Obeaux (retired on Monday) has won the Aintree Bowl race the last two years so it will be lovely to win it with Bravemansgame. He was second in the Gold Cup and obviously won the King George.
"Like Stage Star, as long as it isn’t too soon from Cheltenhamn then he must have a fantastic chance."
🌟 Bravemansgame expected to run at Aintree
🇮🇪 Stay Away Fay set for Punchestown bid
🔼 Hermes Allen to step up to three miles
Great to chat to @PFNicholls at @Chepstow_Racing about some spring targets for his stable stars... pic.twitter.com/dG1LOMqVA7— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 10, 2023
Magic Saint (4.05, Thursday)
"My daughter Olive rides him over the National fences in the Foxhunters. That will be exciting, he will have a good chance in that. I will be nervous seeing her ride in that but I would rather her go over the National fences than eventing."
Pic D’Orhy (3.30, Friday)
"Pic D’Orhy we kept fresh for this race having finished second to Shishkin at Ascot, Fakir D’Oudairies is in this race too, which is a good race and Pic D’Orhy has a lovely chance it.
Hitman was also entered but he had a very hard race at Cheltenham and we might just wait for the Oaksey Chase at Sandown in two weeks' time."
Hermes Allen (Friday, 4.40)
"He’ll run in the Sefton that we won with Gino Bellino, so hopefully he will run nicely. Stay Away Fay, who won at Cheltenham, is entered here too but will probably go to Punchestown.
"Hermes Allen has got to bounce back. He was a tad disappointing, I don’t know why to be honest, but if he bounces back then three miles around Aintree then it should suit him well."
Il Ridoto (Friday, 4.05)
"We think he has got a lovely chance over the big fences in the Topham."
Other runners to note
"We’ve got a lovely novice chaser in the first race on day two in Complete Unknown (Thursday, 1.45), she won nicely recently at Kempton on soft ground.
"Some of the handicappers, I am not too sure who we are going to run, perhaps Sonigino in the handicap hurdle (Friday, 2.20), Rubaud will probably run in the novice hurdle (Friday, 2.55) if the ground isn’t too soft.
"Solo, who won the Pendil Chase earlier this season, will run in the novices chase (Saturday, 1.45). Tahmuras, who was slightly disappointing at Cheltenham, will run in the two and half mile novices hurdle (Saturday, 3.00).
"We have got two lovely bumper horses as well - Centara and Marvellous Mick - they run in the bumper (Saturday, 6.20). It is a fun team on Saturday"
