The mighty CONSTITUTION HILL can star on the opening day of the 2023 Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse.
Grand Opening Day at Aintree starts with four Grade Ones and the opening race of three over the big Grand National fences but Constitution Hill is the headline act as he looks to add another Grade One victory stepping up to 2m4f following his latest demolition job in last month’s Champion Hurdle at last month’s Cheltenham Festival.
Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten Consitution Hill will no sort of betting option at long odds-on in the Grade One feature on Grand Opening Day, the William Hill Aintree Hurdle (GBB Race) (3.30pm) – but he will be something to behold as he saunters to another victory. Stable-mate Epatante, who won the Aintree Hurdle last year, is likely to follow him home as she did when Constitution Hill had her well behind in both the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle and Christmas Hurdle at Kempton earlier in the season. It could be Constitution Hill's sixth and final victory over hurdles as connections ponder whether to send him chasing next season.
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With Paul Nicholls' Bravemansgame now a non-runner in the Grade One Alder Hey Aintree Bowl Chase (GBB Race) (2.55pm), Gordon Elliott's CONFLATED may go one btter than last year and triumph. The race looks a fascinating one with plenty of top-class chasers in opposition, but Conflated who finished second to Clan Des Obeaux in last year's Bowl and third to Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame in last month's Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup may be the answer. Last year's Gold Cup hero A Plus Tard; Henderson's star Shishkin, stepping up in trip for the first time; and Lucinda Russell's two-time Grade One novice winner at the Grand National Festival Ahoy Senor all could go well. But it's Conflated who now makes most appeal for victory.
The first race over the big Aintree obstacles of the meeting is the Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase (4.05pm) and a chance is taken on DIEU VIVANT landing a 'home' win for Cheshire-based trainers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero.
Greenall is the son of former Aintree chairman Lord Daresbury, who won the race as an amateur jockey, Peter Greenall, with Lone Soldier in 1982. Oliver Greenall also rode in the race himself and was second on board Cool Friend in 2013, while his co-trainer Guerriero won it with Christy Beamish in 2008. Dieu Vivant is a big-price to give them success as trainers but with 100-1 and 66-1 winners in recent years, it is foolish to discard anything. The 10-year-old has been second on his two most recents starts over three miles at Bangor and Southwell and the drop back in trip to 2m5f could help him go one better.
Nicholls' STAGE STAR can bring up the Cheltenham-Aintree double in the opener in the Grade One Racehorse Lotto Manifesto Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (1.45pm). The seven-year-old made it four successes from five starts over fences when running out a fine winner of the Grade One Turners Novices' Chase at Cheltenham. With four weeks separating the big two meetings this year, it may be we see a lot more horses scoring at both, with the extra time giving them chance to recuperate. Stage Star can continue his progress and beat Joseph O'Brien's Banbridge to double up on Merseyside.
Irish trainer O'Brien – who set to saddle his first runners in the Grand National with Darasso and A Wave Of The Sea – may have a winner on the opening day with NUSRET in the Grade One Jewson Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.20pm). Having won the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton, the four-year-old bypassed Cheltenham to wait for Aintree. And it can pay off with victory ahead of chiefly Willie Mullins' Triumph Hurdle third Zenta and Gary Moore's Bo Zenith – a winner at Haydock Park in February.
READ MORE: Grand National 2023: dates, tickets and how to watch on TV
Scottish trainer Russell is eyeing more Grand National glory with current favourite Corach Rambler on Saturday and DOUGLAS TALKING may give her a first-day boost with victory in the Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (4.40pm).
The seven-year-old landed back-to-back victories at Ayr and Sandown before bypassing Cheltenham. He can bring up the hat-trick and set the Kinross handler up for her bid for a second success in the world's greatest steeplechase.
Alan King's BABY SAGE – a winner on her debut at Warwick – may be able to score again in the finale, the Grade Two Goffs UK Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (GBB Race) (5.15pm).
Wright Ones - Grand National Thursday 2023 tips
AINTREE – DAY ONE PREDICTIONS
1.45pm Stage Star
2.20pm Nusret
2.55pm Conflated
3.30pm Constitution Hill
4.05pm Dieu Vivant (NAP)
4.40pm Douglas Talking
5.15pm Baby Sage
