Expert Picks for Aintree Day One: Kevin Blake's 12/1, 11/1, and 3/1 Selections

The Grand National Festival commences at Aintree on Thursday, featuring four Grade One events, and renowned expert Kevin Blake has identified three promising contenders. Following a successful Cheltenham Festival, Blake aims to replicate his success this week. The inaugural race of the week over the Grand National fences is the Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase, where LETS GO CHAMP, trained by Mags Mullins, presents an intriguing prospect. This 11-year-old has demonstrated considerable talent despite being challenging to train, with a notable victory in a valuable handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival. After switching to Mags Mullins for hunter chasing, LETS GO CHAMP has shown impressive form, beating Stuzzikini and Journey With Me in an open at Oldtown and lowering the colors of Hunters Yarn in the prestigious Tetratema Cup Hunters Chase at Gowran Park. His racing style, characterized by strong traveling and forward-going at mid-range trips, makes him well-suited for this test. Moreover, he is a skilled jumper with the right technique for these fences. Blake considers LETS GO CHAMP to be overpriced. The Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase is another highly competitive event, but Paul Nicholls-trained SANS BRUIT has dominated the last two renewals. The BHA handicapping team has been unusually generous, dropping SANS BRUIT's mark by 9lb for four below-par runs, allowing him to win this race for the second consecutive year. This leniency has raised questions about the handicapping process. Now, SANS BRUIT is poised to compete in this race once again, and Blake expects him to perform well. The final race of interest is the Goffs Nickel Coin Mares' National Hunt Flat Race, where Blake favors the Irish-trained LENNON GROVE, trained by Gavin Cromwell. This five-year-old has accumulated valuable experience, winning a point-to-point and participating in four bumpers, including a victory at Thurles in December and a third-place finish in a Listed mares' bumper at Sandown in March. Blake anticipates that LENNON GROVE will be given a more forward ride, potentially leading to further improvement, and considers her to be overpriced.