Aintree Festival Day 1 Preview

Day one of the 2025 Aintree Festival kicks off on Thursday with four Grade 1’s followed by the Foxhunters, the Red Rum handicap Chase and a Grade 2 bumper.

The card sees an eagerly anticipated showdown between Lossiemouth and Constitution Hill, who bids to make amends for his fall in the Champion Hurdle. 

Jake Aldrich, has a trio of selections on the card including one in the feature race.

Aintree Day 1 tips

1.55 Aintree – Gidleigh Park

2.55 Aintree – Spillane’s Tower 

3.30 Aintree – Constitution Hill

1.55 Aintree – Gidleigh Park

Arkle winner Jango Baie heads the market for the opening contest and will be suited by returning to the 2m4f trip, while he also has good course form courtesy of a Grade 1 win as a novice over hurdles. 

A chance is taken on Gidleigh Park at the prices. The son of Walk In The Park has had his issues, including when pulled up on his chasing debut when found to have an irregular heart beat.

However he showed no ill effects when comfortably seeing off subsequent Cheltenham handicap winner Caldwell Potter in a Windsor Grade 2 in January over an inadequate two miles. 

The step back up in trip and return to a more galloping track will suit the son of Walk In The Park. From the family of Denman, he remains open to plenty of improvement over fences and can make his mark at the top level. 

2.55 Aintree – Spillane’s Tower

The Skeltons’ Grey Dawning is market leader for the Aintree Bowl over 3m2f. He put a below-par effort in the King George behind him when taking a Listed contest at Kelso, finishing ahead of Iroko, who is well fancied for the Grand National. 

That should set him up well for a crack at this contest but at the prices ready preference is for the Jimmy Mangan trained Spillane’s Tower. He also wasn’t at his best in the King George but that experience won’t be lost on him and he has the best piece of form on offer having split subsequent Ryan Air winner Fact to File and Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan earlier in the season. He arrives a fresh horse for the time of year and is open to further improvement at staying trips.

3.30 Aintree – Constitution Hill

Constitution Hill never got a chance to show what he could do when an early faller in the Champion Hurdle, and he looks worth supporting to make amends for that here having readily accounted for Lossiemouth earlier in the season.

The mare had the advantage of race fitness on that occasion but was still unable to land a blow. The step up in trip holds no fears for Nicky Henserson’s star hurdler, having taken this contest in 2023, while he also would likely have won his point to point (3m) without a mistake at the last. 

While not at his brilliant best in recent starts, he will be difficult to beat granted a clear round of jumping.