Expert Insights: Kevin Blake's Top Picks for Grand National Day

The highly anticipated Grand National day has finally arrived, and Kevin Blake is sharing his top four predicted finishers for the iconic Aintree race, along with his top betting recommendations for other events on the card. Before the main event, Blake has identified two promising races with potential winners. The first is the William Hill Handicap Hurdle, where he's backing the relatively untested KAKA'S COUSIN, trained by Jonjo and AJ O'Neill. This six-year-old has shown promise, winning two of his four hurdle starts, and his recent performance in a competitive novices' handicap hurdle at Sandown suggests he's ready for a step up in distance. With a light weight and favorable odds, KAKA'S COUSIN could be a dark horse in the competition. Another competitive event is the William Hill Handicap Chase, where CRUZ CONTROL, trained by Tom Lacey, is aiming for his third consecutive win. Having won the race in 2024 and 2025, CRUZ CONTROL is well-positioned for a repeat performance, especially with a 3lb drop in his handicap rating. The main event, the Randox Grand National, promises to be an exciting spectacle, and Kevin Blake has analyzed each runner in a video series on the At The Races YouTube channel. Here, he provides a concise summary of his top four predicted finishers for the Grand National.