After finding 33/1 and 14/1 winners for readers over the Easter Weekend – don’t miss Andy Newton’s Aintree horse racing tips on Thursday – which is day one of the 2026 Grand National Meeting.
Andy Newton’s Quickfire Aintree Horse Racing Tips: Thursday 9th April, 2026
On Thursday, there are SIX live races on the ITV Racing schedule to take in – including the Grade One Bowl Chase (2:55) and Aintree Hurdle (4:05).
- 1:45 Aintree: MINELLA STUDY
- 2:20 Aintree: LULAMBA
- 2:55 Aintree: JANGO BAIE
- 3:30 Aintree: IT’S ON THE LINE
- 4:05 Aintree: BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD
- 4:40 Aintree: SANS BRUIT
Andy Newton’s Day One Aintree Day Horse Racing Tips:
1:45 Aintree: Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo) 2m1f ITV
A bit of a re-run of the Triumph Hurdle here, with the 2nd (Maestro Conti), 3rd (Minella Study) and 4th (Selma De Vary) all re-opposing.
There wasn’t much between the trio at Cheltenham, but I think on this flatter track MINELLA STUDY can come out on top.
He jumped the last in front that day and just got run out of things up the hill.
But on slightly quicker ground and on this easier track, Minella Study is taken to come out ‘top of the class’.
🥇MINELLA STUDY
🥈SELMA DE VARY
🥉MAESTRO CONTI
Key Stats 📈
- Willie Mullins has won 3 of the last 9 runnings
- 18/22 – Ran at the Cheltenham Festival last time out
- 14/22 – Raced in the Triumph Hurdle (Cheltenham) last time out
- 10/22 – Winning favourites
2:20 Aintree: William Hill Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 2m4f ITV
The drop back in trip will suit Koktail Divin here, after not quite seeing out the 3m in the Browns last time.
But he’s still got 12lbs to find on these terms with Arkle third LULMABA and that might prove too much.
Barring a mistake late on in the Arkle, Lulmaba might have got a lot closer that day, but over this longer trip his jumping will be put under a tad less pressure.
The longer trip should be fine and despite his being his first run at Aintree there is no reason why it won’t suit.
Yes, this race has been a graveyard for the favourites – with just one market leader winning in the last 16.
However, despite this, Lulamba is still the call to give Hendo his third in the race, having won the pot with Mad Max and Captain Conan before.
Of the rest at bigger prices I’d not be shocked to see a better run from Mambonumberfive over this longer trip and back on better ground.
🥇LULMABA
🥈MAMBONUMBERFIVE
🥉KOKTAIL DIVIN
Key Stats 📈
- 16/16 – Didn’t win last time out
- 14/16 – From the top 3 in the market
- Paul Nicholls runners are 0-17
- 0/11 – Winning favourite (1 of the last 16)
2:55 Aintree: Racing Welfare Bowl Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 3m1f ITV
Spillane’s Tower won’t be one of the 2026 Grand National runners – with connections preferring to come here instead.
Which is hardly surprising as JP McManus has enough in the big race on Saturday.
He was a good winner of the Cotswold Chase last time and will be fresher than most – having missed the Cheltenham Festival.
But he’s taking on the Gold Cup runner-up in Jango Baie, who was a beaten jolly in the previous race in 2025.
He did win the Tolworth Hurdle at Aintree though back in 2023 so we know the track is okay.
While unlike the last race, this contest has been a good one for the market leaders recently – with 7 of the last 10 favourites winning.
But is he much value at 4/5? And he has had two hard races this season (King George and Gold Cup)
So even though he looks the most likely winner- he might be worth taking on.
IMPAIRE ET PASSE could be over-priced as he likes it here (2-2) and could bounce back from being pulled in the Ryanair Chase last time.
I’d suggest a small play on him, with Willie Mullins having also won 2 of the last 6 renewals. Plus, as mentioned his top track stats at the Liverpool venue.
🥇IMPAIRE ET PASSE
🥈JANGO BAIE
🥉SPILLANE’S TOWER
Key Stats 📈
- All of the last 14 winners DIDN’T win last time out
- Trainer Willie Mullins has won 2 of the last 6
- 7 of the last 10 market leaders (favs) have won
- 12 of the last 15 winners were favourite or second favourite
3:30 Aintree: Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase Cl2 (6yo+) 2m5f ITV
Barton Snow landed a nice late gamble to win the Foxhunters at Cheltenham last time.
But I think the horse in second that day – IT’S ON THE LINE – can gain some revenge over the National fences.
The Emmet Mullins yard are in good order, having won the Irish Grand National earlier this week.
While this 9yold took this race in 2024 (didn’t run in 2025), so that experience of this tricky fences will be a big plus.
He’ll also have one of the best in the business riding in Derek O’Connor.
Of the rest, jockey James King also has a good record in the race – winning in 2017 and 2021 – so Thunder Rock is interesting too.
Former Grand Annual winner Unexpected Party is the top-rated and heads here in winning form.
While we’ve also got the 2025 winner Gracchus De Balme back for more.
🥇IT’S ON THE LINE
🥈UNEXPECTED PARTY
🥉THUNDER ROCK
Key Stats 📈
- Owner JP McManus has won 3 of the last 10
- 16/22 – Returned 13/2 or shorter in the betting
- 15/22 – Placed in the top 3 last time out
- Only 4 of the last 41 winners were aged younger than 9
4:05 Aintree: William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m4f ITV
The Champion Hurdle second (Brighterdaysahead) and third (The New Lion) are back for more here.
There was only 1/2 a length between them that day and so cases can be made for both.
But I’m not totally convinced about The New Lion still. Yes, he is a top hurdler, but hasn’t quite set the world alight this season.
The return to a longer trip may help on that score, but this is also his first run here at Aintree.
Whereas BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD won here in 2024 (Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle), which was also over this 2m4f trip.
Gordon Elliott is yet to win the Aintree Hurdle, but I’ll take his classy mare Brighterdaysahead to shine and tame The New Lion again.
Of the rest, Champion Hurdle 4th Alexei and 5th Golden Ace can fight it out for third.
🥇BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD
🥈THE NEW LION
🥉GOLDEN ACE
Key Stats 📈
- The last 17 winners returned 15/2 or shorter
- Just 4 winning outright favourites since 2000
- 21/22 – Aged 8 or younger
- Gordon Elliott has never won this race
4:40 Aintree: Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 2m ITV
You feel Inthepocket, who won the Top Novices’ Hurdle here in 2023, will pop-up at some point.
He looks well-treated off 146, but heads here having fallen in the Grand Annual last time.
Dr T J Eckleburg was 5th last year off 130 and is now rated 120, so could easily out-run his 50/1 odds.
But it’s hard to get away from the winner of this race for the last two years – SANS BRUIT.
This Paul Nicholls runner seems to come alive at Aintree and this would have been his target again all season.
He’s only 3lbs higher than both his wins in the race and with Harry Cobden riding we can expect another bold bid from the front.
🥇SANS BRUIT
🥈DR T J ECKLEBURG
🥉INTHEPOCKET
Key Stats 📈
- 19/22 – Carried 11-1 or less
- 4/22 – Won last time out
- 3/22 – Irish-trained winners
- Sans Bruit (Paul Nicholls) has won the last 2 runnings
