After firing in 33/1 and 14/1 winners for readers over the Easter Weekend – be sure to see Andy Newton’s Aintree horse racing tips on Friday – which is day two of the 2026 Grand National Meeting.
Andy Newton’s Quickfire Aintree Horse Racing Tips: Friday 10th April, 2026
On Friday, there are SIX live races on the ITV Racing schedule to take in – including the Grade One Top Novices’ Hurdle (2:55) and Topham Chase (4:05) – which is staged over the Grand National fences.
- 1:45 Aintree: EMID’IO PEPE
- 2:20 Aintree: REGENTS STROLL / JORDANS CROSS
- 2:55 Aintree: SOBER GLORY (NAP)
- 3:30 Aintree: HEART WOOD
- 4:05 Aintree: LISNAMULT LAD (E/W)
- 4:40 Aintree: JOHNNY’S JURY
You can also see Andy Newton’s popular daily CHEAT SHEET that includes Lucky 15 tips, NAP, E/W picks, trainer stats and much more.
Plus, Kyle Curran is on hand for his day two Aintree Lucky 15 tips and best bets.
Andy Newton’s Day Two Aintree Horse Racing Tips: Sober Glory To Land Drinks Money
Sober Glory
1:45 – William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m4f ITV
With no winning favourite in the last 12 years, I’m happy to look further down the betting – with the Sean Bowen-ridden Indeevar Bleu the likely jolly.
Martin Pipe runner-up Hot Fuss will be popular, while we’ve also got last year’s winner Wellington Arch. But he’s rated 14lbs higher and the O’Neill yard aren’t in the best of form.
Jazzy Matty owes plenty of people too after getting chinned on the line in the Grand Annual and is back over hurdles here.
But this could be another long-term plot for the Skeltons with EMID’IO PEPE.
This 5yold has been kept fresh for this – having last run 115 days ago when winning in France.
Having his first run for the Dan Skelton yard, so could be anything but has form on better ground on his CV and might just be worth chancing in a tricky day two opener.
Especially as the stable has won two of the last four runnings.
🥇EMID’IO PEPE
🥈JAZZY MATTY
🥉WELLINGTON ARCH
Key Stats 📈
- 11/12 – Had won between 2-4 times (hurdles)
- 9/12 – Carried 11-2 or less in weight
- 0/12 – Outright winning favourites
- Irish have won 3 of the last 6 runnings
2:20 – William Hill Mildmay Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 3m1f ITV
Plenty of chances here – including Browns third Salver and faller in that race Wendigo.
While with all of the last 12 winners finishing 1st or 2nd at Cheltenham last time – this is a plus for Jack Richards second Gold Dancer.
But his trainer Willie Mullins is yet to win this prize and I’m not convinced the step up in trip is a plus.
JORDAN’S CROSS is of interest up in distance though and of those at slightly better prices catches the eye.
He was well-backed for at Cheltenham last time (Jack Richards) but never got into the race.
While, even though he’ll need to settle better over this longer trip, the Paul Nicholls-trained REGENTS STROLL is noted too.
Despite racing a bit with the choke out last time, still stayed on well to take third in the Jack Richards (see below).
Then before that was second to Miami Magic but is 5lbs better off this time.
So, there might be a case for him getting this extra yardage – but, as I say, will need to settle.
Nicholls also won this last season with Caldwell Potter and has five past successes in this race.
He needs just one more to draw level with Hendo.
🥇REGENTS STROLL
🥈JORDAN’S CROSS
🥉WENDIGO
Key Stats 📈
- 19/22 – Finished in the top 4 last time out
- 18/22 – Ran at the Cheltenham Festival last time out (the last 12 winners finished 1st or 2nd at the Festival that season)
- Willie Mullins has never won this race
2:55 – ThatPrizeGuy Top Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m½f ITV
This should be fairly straight-forward for the Hobbs/White-trained SOBER GLORY, who led them a merry dance in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last time out – only to get collared late on by Old Park Star.
Doesn’t face that rival here and on his flatter track will be harder to peg back from the front.
Supreme 4th Baron Noir, who was 6 lengths off Sober Glory last time, can do best of the rest.
With County Hurdle 5th Sinnatra next best in the first-time hood.
Philip Hobbs also won this race three times on the spin between 2000 and 2002.
🥇SOBER GLORY
🥈BARON NIOR
🥉SINNATRA
Key Stats 📈
- 15/22 – Returned 7/1 or shorter in the betting
- 13/22 – Finished first or second last time out
- 7/22 – Winning favourites
3:30 – JCB Melling Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 2m4f ITV
No Jonbon, who had won this race for the last two seasons – so this should sit between Gold Cup 4th Grey Dawning and Ryanair winner HEART WOOD.
The former looked to have a hard race to me at Cheltenham last time and is 0-4 here at Aintree.
And was seen in action at this meeting when second to Gaelic Warrior in the Bowl.
So, Heart Wood is the call – having looked impressive the last day at Cheltenham and before that was equally good at Tramore.
From his 14 starts over fences he’s won 5 times and been in the top two 10 times.
Heart Wood looks ‘solid’ to me.
🥇HEART WOOD
🥈GREY DAWNING
🥉L’EAU DU SUD
Key Stats 📈
- 19/22 – Ran in either the Ryanair or Champion Chase that season
- 18/22 – Raced at the Cheltenham Festival last time out
- 15/22 – Finished in the top three last time out
4:05 – Randox Topham Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 2m5f ITV
Plate winner at the Cheltenham Festival Madara will be a popular pick here but is up 10lbs and is tackling these National fences for the first time.
This is also a race that’s seen 82% of the last 22 winners NOT win last time out.
He’s respected – but doesn’t look any value.
Last year’s winner Gentleman De Mee is another that is sure to attract interest and is only 3lbs higher than 12 months ago.
Plus, this race hasn’t been a bad won for repeat winners – with Ulltragold and Always Waining winning the pot on more than one occasion.
We’ve also got the 2023 winner Bill Baxter in the race – he likes these fences and can’t be ruled out.
But a chance is taken on last year’s runner-up LISNAMULT LAD (E/W).
He only went down by 3/4 of a length that day and is just 3lbs higher too.
However, was also slightly hampered that day on the run-in, so might have even won.
🥇LISNAMULT LAD (E/W)
🥈MADARA
🥉GENTLEMAN DE MEE
Key Stats 📈
- 20/22 – Aged 10 or younger
- 19/22 – Raced within the last 34 days
- 18/22 – Didn’t win last time out
- 4/22 – Irish-trained winners
4:40 – Oddschecker Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 3m½f ITV
I’m still not totally convinced about the Paul Nicholls-trained No Dramas This End.
While it’s interesting that Harry Cobden doesn’t ride and he’s on the other Nicholls runner – Talk To The Man – with Sam Twiston-Davies, who will be riding more at Ditcheat next season on the former.
Talk To The Man is fresh too, having missed last raced 42 days ago at Newbury and heads here 2-2 over hurdles.
Skelton’s Dalston Lad is on the up too and another to note after three straight wins.
But the call is to side with the recent Cheltenham Festival winner – JOHNNY’S JURY.
This Jamie Snowden grey has won all three starts over hurdles and showed plenty of guts the last day to see off 21 others in the Bartlett.
Coming from pretty much last to first – so there just might be more to come from this lad.
He’ll be looking to become the first horse to win both races since At Fishers Cross, while the Snowden yard also took this prize 12 months ago.
I’ll take Johnny’s Jury to hold court again.
🥇JOHNNY’S JURY
🥈TALK TO THE MAN
🥉DALSTON LAD
Key Stats 📈
- 18/22 – Had run within the last 35 days
- Trainer Jamie Snowden won the race last season
- 10/22 – Won their last race
