As the Aintree Grand National heads into the final day, be sure to see Andy Newton’s Aintree horse racing tips and key stats – including his main fancies for the GRAND NATIONAL.
Andy Newton’s Quickfire Aintree Horse Racing Tips: Saturday 11th April, 2026
On Saturday, there are FIVE more live races on the ITV Racing schedule to take in – including the Liverpool Hurdle (3:05) and, or course, the Grand National (4pm).
- 1:20 Aintree: SUPREMELY WEST / ACE OF SPADES
- 1:55 Aintree: BOSSMAN JACK
- 2:30 Aintree: CRUZ CONTROL (NAP)
- 3:05 Aintree: STRONG LEADER (NB)
- 4:00 Aintree (Grand National): OSCARS BROTHER / GERRI COLOMBE
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.
Also check out Kyle Curran’s Lucky 15 tips on Grand National day as well.
Andy Newton’s Day Three Aintree Horse Racing Tips: Oscars Brother To Crown King Siblings In National
I Am Maximus
1:20 – William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 3m½f ITV
Hold The Serve has won 3 of his 4 starts over hurdles and his up 7lbs for this last success.
But the second Royal Infantry has been since, so it’s hard to know what to make of that form.
This, however, has been a good race for the Skeltons – with 3 wins in the last six runnings.
So their SUPREMELY WEST will be popular after winning the Pertemps with a bit up his sleeve the last day.
Up 9lbs for that win, but got the job done by 3 1/2 lengths and this Cheltenham/Aintree double was more than likely the Skelton plan.
They also run ACE OF SPADES in the race, who was 13th in the Pertemps, but so has ground to make up.
But if you can forgive that run, had been in the top 4 in all his other 12 starts.
He’s also an Aintree winner at the Liverpool track and will have Sam Twiston-Davies riding for the firs time.
If we play our cards right, Ace Of Spades could go under the radar here and go off a fair price.
🥇SUPREMELY WEST
🥈ACE OF SPADES
🥉HOLD THE SERVE
Key Stats 📈
- Trained by Dan Skelton (3 of the last 6)
- 10/12 – Carried 10-12 or more
- 10/12 – Returned 11/1 or shorter
- 10/12 – Finished in the top 5 last time out
1:55 – Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m4f ITV
Trainer Gordon Elliott has won the last four runnings of this this race, so it would be foolish to ignore his Ballyfad.
His only poor run came last time at Cheltenham in the Turners, but prior to that had shown some top form at Leopardstown.
The slight drop back in trip will help and Jack Kennedy and Gordon Elliott have been amongst the winners at the meeting already.
Scorpio Rising has done well this season too – winning his last four, but is up another 9lbs for the last of those (Sandown).
While Montemares was a very easy winner up at Kelso last time and commands respect.
But this could be another for the Skelton team with BOSSMAN JACK looking a nice prospect.
The was 6th in the Turners at Cheltenham last time (beaten 4 1/2 lengths), but would have got a lot closer had he not fluffed the last.
He’s a strong-travelling sort that you feel will also be well-suited to the flatter Aintree track and the yard won this in 2021 with My Drogo.
I’ll take Jack to be the Bossman.
🥇BOSSMAN JACK
🥈MONTEMARES
🥉BALLYFAD
Key Stats 📈
- 17/22 – Priced 5/1 or shorter in the market (12 of last 15)
- 10/22 – Favourites to win (2 joint) (9 of the last 14 favs have won)
- 21 of the last 28 winners came from the top 2 in the betting
- Trainer Gordon Elliott has won the last 4
2:30 – William Hill Handicap Chase (Registered As The Freebooter Handicap Chase) (Premier Handicap) (GBB) Cl1 (5yo+) 3m1f RTV
Deep Cave won over hurdles at this meeting last season so has to be noted despite being over fences now.
Did really well earlier this season, with wins at Bangor and Ascot, but has lost his way a bit since.
A small break and the return to Aintree could help.
Rowland Meyrick winner Konfusion could go well at a price if bouncing back from his fall at Cheltenham (Ultima) last time.
While the Joseph O’Brien runner Brave Fortune will be fresher than most after last running 83 days ago and missing the DRF and Cheltenham.
But the call is to stick with the winner of this race from the last two seasons – CRUZ CONTROL.
This would have been a target again all season and is back rated just 4lbs and 1lb higher than his past wins.
He’s had the same prep as last season – coming here off a 100+ day break and regular rider Stan Sheppard keeps the ride.
Cruz Control is the call to glide home again.
🥇CRUZ CONTROL
🥈DEEP CAVE
🥉BRAVE FORTUNE
Key Stats 📈
- Cruz Control has won the last 2 runnings
- 18/22 – Had run within the last 35 days
- 17/22 – Didn’t win last time out
- 16/22 – Won by a horse aged 8 or older
3:05 – Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 3m½f ITV
No Wodhooh here – having been entered earlier in the week.
But Gordon Elliott still has the likely favourite in Honesty Policy, who was last seen running 5th in the Stayers’ Hurdle.
Connections are opting for the tongue-tie to help, having not quite progressed as many thought this season.
The Stayers’ Hurdle winner Home By The Lee is also back as he looks to join Sire Du Berlais the last Aintree/Cheltenham winner. But I think he’s had his big day this season.
We’ve also another Cheltenham winner in Jingko Blue (BetMGM Cup) – but Nico de Boinville prefers the other Hendo runner Impose Toi.
Hiddenvally Lake was a good winner of the race last year too and has been kept fresh after missing Cheltenham.
But so has the 2024 winner STRONG LEADER – a horse who does seem to save his best for this track.
His form here reads 1-2-1-2 and was a close silver last year too.
Yes, he need to bounce back from a poor run at Cheltenham last time – but he’s never really run well there and has since had a wind op.
The cheekpieces are on for the first time too and with the perfect rider in Sean Bowen – Leader can be too Strong here.
🥇STRONG LEADER
🥈HONESTY POLICY
🥉HIDDENVALLEY LAKE
Key Stats 📈
- 7 of the last 9 winners aged 7 or 8
- 15/21 – Priced 11/2 or less in the market
- 14/21 – Won or finished 2nd at this meeting previously
- 19 of the last 21 (90%) winners had won a Grade 1 or 2 before
4:00 – Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) Cl1 (7yo+) 4m2½f ITV
Onto the ‘big one’ and there are many Grand National trends to take into the race.
These include 88% of the last 17 winners having their first runs in the race – while 5 of the last 8 winners strangely wore a tongue-tie.
Horses aged 8 or 9 have the best record recently too – winning 90% of the last 10. And there’s still only been 2 winning 7 year-olds since 1940.
That said, with the changes to the race (fences, distance, runners) some of the Grand National stats are changing.
But, for me, it’s more of the weight ones – horses able to carry bigger burdens – than the age.
As since Noble Yeats won aged 7 in 2022, we’ve still seen 15 horses aged 7 run, with 13 unplaced.
Of those with a bigger weight, I think Gerri Colombe could go okay. He’s only been out the top 3 once from his 13 starts over fences.
Final Orders has an unchanged mark from his Cross Country win last time and will love the faster ground. He can go well too.
While the 2024 winner and 2025 silver I Am Maximus – the Paul Townend Grand National ride – is sure to go well too.
And of those at bigger prices Stellar Story (tongue-tie) and High Class Hero could out-run their odds.
Oscars Brother The Main Grand National Tip
But the Connor King-trained OSCARS BROTHER is the main pick.
This 8yold has a decent profile based on the recent stats and gets in with a nice weight of 10-13.
He’s also owned by JP McManus, who is search for his fourth National win, plus is lightly-raced with only six starts (3 wins) over fences.
His last run was solid too for a novice – when running on to take 4th in the Browns at Cheltenham. Beaten only 5 1/2 lengths, but was closing.
He also beat Thursday’s Manifesto Novices’ Chase winner Koktail Divin earlier this season, which is now franked form.
While, finally, as we know 15 of the last 17 winners were running in the race for the first time. Something Oscars Brother is doing too.
The National also love a story – so we are told each year – and what better one that trainer and jockey brothers – Connor and Danny King – landing the big one.
🥇OSCARS BROTHER
🥈GERRI COLOMBE
🥉FINAL ORDERS
4️⃣I AM MAXIMUS
Key Stats 📈
- 15/17 – Having their first run in the race
- 9 of the last 10 winners aged 8 or 9
- Only 2 winners aged 7 since 1940
- 6 of the last 7 winners Irish trained
- 32/34 – Ran in the last 55 days
- 5 of the last 8 winners wore a tongue-tie
