The opening day of the Grand National Meeting on the Thursday is a great introduction to the festival that lies ahead. It is relatively relaxed compared to whats about to come you could say "the carm before the storm" which allows racegoers to sample the atmosphere of Aintree at their own pace. However, Thursday is a fantastic day in its own right and attracted over 22,000 visitors in 2003. There is an array of top-class racing, including the Totesport Bowl Chase, coupled with exciting entertainment throughout each enclosure.
| Time | Race | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 14.00 | BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle | Grade 1 | Latest Odds |
| 14.35 | Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle | Grade 1 | |
| 15.10 | Totesport Bowl | Grade 1 | Latest Odds |
| 15.45 | John Smith's Fox Hunters Chase | Class 1 | |
| 16.20 | Alder Hey Imagine Appeal Red Rum Chase | Grade 3 | |
| 16.55 | Totepool Manifesto Novices' Chase | Grade 2 | |
| 17.30 | Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle | Listed |
The first race on the card brings out the top staying novices. Generally the winner of the Cheltenham Festival Ladbrokes World Hurdle returns to try and double up and take the Aintree Grand National Meeting equivalent. When considering an Aintree Grand National Betting opportunity it is important to take account of the Aintree racecourse which is much easier and flatter than Cheltenham.
This is always a race to video and play back as it brings to the fore the Novice hurdlers who are just below the top grade and will more than likely be sent chasing the next season. It maybe a good idea to consider an anti post Arkle bet for the following Cheltenham festival on the winner of this race at very large odds.
This grade 2 race is for those chasers who are just below the top class chasing stayers. It also tends to attract chasers who performed well at the two and a half mile distance at the Cheltenham festival as the three miles around Aintree will be much less a test of stamina than the equivalent at the Cheltenham Festival.
The best of the Hunter Chasers turn out to lay down their claim for Hunter Chaser of the year. As is usual for this race it tends to be run at a furious pace and it is important to select a horse that travels and jumps very well.
This is a grade three handicap and opens the way to some of the lesser lights to have their day of glory. Once again Aintree Racecourse ensures a very fast pace over a two mile trip but make sure your selection has the pace to lay up with the leading players.
This race is usually a very competitive handicap with a very big field to get stuck into. In this grade anything can win and it is advisable not to be taking to short a price about your selection. Always look down the bottom of the handicap as there are usually a couple of horses which have bypassed the Cheltenham Festival and have being laid out for the race.
This is always a very interesting race with some horses stepping up in distance and others stepping down in trip. This race is also one to watch carefully as it tends to highlight some of the best stayers for the following season.
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