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

The highly anticipated Grand National day has finally arrived, and Kevin Blake is sharing his expert predictions for the top four finishers in the iconic Aintree race, along with his top bets for other events on the card. Before the main event, Blake has his eye on a couple of other races, starting with the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at 13:20. He's drawn to KAKA'S COUSIN, a relatively unexposed six-year-old trained by Jonjo and AJ O'Neill, who has shown promise with two wins in four hurdle starts. His recent performance in a competitive novices' handicap hurdle at Sandown suggests he's on the right track, and the step up in distance could work in his favor, especially with a light weight. Another competitive event is the William Hill Handicap Chase at 14:30, where CRUZ CONTROL, trained by Tom Lacey, could secure his third consecutive win. Having won the race in 2024 and 2025, he's well-positioned for a repeat performance, particularly with his connections aiming to bring him in fresh. With a 3lb drop in his handicap mark, he's just 1lb higher than his winning mark last year. Finally, all attention turns to the Randox Grand National at 16:00, one of the world's most spectacular sporting events. Blake has analyzed each runner in a video on the At The Races YouTube channel and will provide his concise top four picks for the big race.