CONSTITUTION HILL can bounce back and regain his crown in the William Hill Aintree Hurdle (GBB Race) (3.30pm) on day one of the 2025 Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse.
Nicky Henderson's star has something to prove but may be able to land a second victory in the Grade One feature on the opening day of the Grand National meeting. The eight-year-old, who won the Aintree Hurdle two years ago before injury ruled him of last spring's big Festivals, had looked to be back to his best in two victories this season at Kempton when winning a third straight Christmas Hurdle and at Prestbury Park on Festival Trials day at the end of January. But when bidding to regain his Unibet Champion Hurdle crown he won in 2023 he took a dramatic fall at last month’s Cheltenham Festival.
Having been previously unbeaten in 10 starts over hurdles and being talked about as a racing great his injury absence and last month's mishap mean he is on a recovery mission of his lofty reputation. But on his day, and that has generally been whenever he heads to the racetrack, he has looked like one of the best hurdlers we've seen. And stepped up to 2m4f again and on the flat track at Aintree, he can prove it again and land a ninth Grade One victory.
The Willie Mullins-trained Lossiemouth will certainly look to exploit any chinks in his armour. Mullins' six-year-old won a second Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, but had been beaten by Constitution Hill at Kempton. This longer trip suits her but it's hard to see her reversing the form if Constitution Hill stays on his feet. Constitution Hill can keep her at bay to triumph again.
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With Henderson's Lulamba running later in the meeting rather than the Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.20pm), Cheltenham Festival scorer PUTURHANDSTOGETHER can double up on Merseyside. Joseph O’Brien’s four-year-old won the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle at Prestbury Park last month in good style and that was his second victory in four starts. He is improving and can take the step up to Grade One level in his stride to triumph ahead of chiefly Dan Skelton’s unbeaten Live Conti and the Harry Fry-trained Kelso winner Filibustering.
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GREY DAWNING can win the Grade One Brooklands Golden Miller Chronograph Bowl Chase (GBB Race) (2.55pm). Skelton's eight-year-old won a Grade One Novices' Chase at last year's Cheltenham Festival and was third in his bid to follow-up at Aintree. This season he was looked upon as a potential Cheltenham Gold Cup contender but having been beaten in a gruelling Grade One Betfair Chase by Grand National hopeful Royale Pagaille at Haydock Park on his seasonal return, he was also pulled up in the King George VI Chase at Kempton.
Skelton decided to bypass the Gold Cup and stay fresh for Aintree following a morale-boosting victory in the Premier Chase at Kelso at the start of last month. That looks a smart move and Grey Dawning can land another Grade One victory ahead of chiefly the Jimmy Mangan-trained Spillane's Tower and Paul Nicholls' Stage Star – who are two others who have been kept fresh for a crack at the Bowl.
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MY DROGO can win the Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase (4.05pm) – the first race over the Grand National fences of the Aintree Festival. The 2m5f contest for amateur riders has seen both well-fancied runners and big-priced horses triumphing in recent years.
Famous Clermont will bid to emulate recent dual winners Katarino (2005, 2006) and On The Fringe (2015, 2016) and Chris Barber's 10-year-old looks to hold a good chance of victory. But the formerly smart My Drogo, a Grade One winner over hurdles at this meeting in the past when trained by Dan Skelton, can deny him victory. The 10-year-old, who won the Grade One Mersey Novices' Hurdle at this meeting in 2021, has had his injury problems since. But now trained by Edward Walker, he has been revitalised now sent hunter chasing. He won a point-to-point at Larkhill in January and then scored in a Hunters' Chase at Haydock in February. He looks to hold a big chance of victory on his first try over the famous Aintree obstacles. Fred Timmis' Captain Tommy may go well at big odds if he lines up having run earlier in the week at Kempton.
Willie Mullins' IMPAIRE ET PASSE can win the Grade One EBC Group Manifesto Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (1.45pm). The seven-year-old, who won the Aintree Hurdle at the meeting last year, has won two of his three starts over the bigger obstacles with his only defeat when third behind stable-mate Ballyburn and the reopposing Croke Park in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown in February. He bypassed Cheltenham and the slight step back in trip can help him return to winning ways. The aforementioned Croke Park, from the Gordon Elliott stable, should go well. While Henderson's Cheltenham Festival winner Jango Baie and the Harry Fry-trained unbeaten Gidleigh Park are others to consider in a wide-open contest.
Recent Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Gavin Cromwell has three big chances of glory in the Grand National with Stumptown, Vanillier and Perceval Legallois and he can get a boost on the opening day with victory for MY MATE MOZZIE – who was fourth in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham last time – in the Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (4.40pm) ahead of last year's winner, the Nicholls-trained Sans Bruit.
Alan King's CHARISMA CAT can take the finale, the Grade Two Goffs Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (GBB Race) (5.15pm). The five-year-old has won three of her four starts in bumpers, scoring well in a Listed contest at Sandown last month. This is a step up but the King stable has done well in this race in the past and Charisma Cat may be able to give the Barbury Castle trainer a record-extending fourth win in the race.
Wright Ones
AINTREE (DAY ONE)
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