Aintree Day One Predictions: Kevin Blake's Top Picks at 12/1, 11/1, and 3/1

The highly anticipated Grand National Festival commences at Aintree on Thursday, featuring four prestigious Grade One events. Renowned expert Kevin Blake shares his top three selections for the day. Following a prolonged winter, the Grand National Festival has finally arrived, bringing with it an exciting few days of racing action. The Aintree track has been meticulously prepared with ample water to maintain the desired soft conditions. This week, Kevin Blake aims to replicate his success from the Cheltenham Festival. The first event of the week, the Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase, takes place on Thursday at 3:30, with LETS GO CHAMP emerging as a compelling contender. Trained by Mags Mullins, this 11-year-old has demonstrated remarkable talent despite a challenging training history. Having previously improved under Henry de Bromhead, LETS GO CHAMP secured a notable victory in a valuable handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival two years ago. He further showcased his abilities with impressive performances in the Galway Plate and the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham. This season, LETS GO CHAMP has transitioned to hunter chasing under Mags Mullins, achieving a flawless start in point-to-points. He beat Stuzzikini and Journey With Me in an open event at Oldtown in February and subsequently won the prestigious Tetratema Cup Hunters Chase at Gowran Park in March. The form of these two races has been well-documented, positioning LETS GO CHAMP among the top hunter chasers in Ireland. What makes LETS GO CHAMP particularly appealing in this contest is his racing style. As a strong-traveling, forward-going horse at mid-range trips, he is well-suited for the challenges of this event. Additionally, he possesses excellent jumping technique, which will serve him well in navigating the fences. Although his rider, Sophie Carter, cannot utilize her claim in this race, she has ridden LETS GO CHAMP to victory in his last two outings and is familiar with his strengths. In my opinion, he appears to be overpriced. The Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase, scheduled for 4:40, is typically a highly competitive event. However, the Paul Nicholls-trained SANS BRUIT has dominated the last two renewals. The BHA handicapping team has played a significant role in his success, demonstrating an unusually cooperative approach when assessing British-trained runners. After winning this race in 2024 with a mark of 130, SANS BRUIT performed admirably in subsequent events off a higher mark. Nevertheless, the handicappers were generous in dropping him 9lb for four below-par performances. This aggressive reduction is uncommon, especially for a seven-year-old horse. Paul Nicholls cleverly exploited this generous treatment, entering SANS BRUIT in the same event off the identical mark that had previously yielded a convincing victory. The horse duly delivered, winning the race once again. Moreover, SANS BRUIT followed up this success with an impressive win in a valuable handicap chase at Plumpton, this time off a 9lb higher mark. It is worth noting that such generosity would not be afforded to an Irish-trained horse, which would likely face a more severe penalty and a slower reduction in their rating. In contrast, the BHA handicapping team has continued to be lenient with SANS BRUIT, dropping him 11lb for five runs this season that were not significantly below par. As the opening favorite for the Red Rum Handicap Chase, SANS BRUIT's chances of winning are high. The handicappers' approach has raised questions about their favoritism towards certain horses, and former BHA handicapper Phil Smith's quote about prioritizing the majority over the minority comes to mind. The final event of interest is the Goffs Nickel Coin Mares' National Hunt Flat Race, scheduled for 5:15. In this race, I am drawn to the Irish-trained LENNON GROVE, trained by Gavin Cromwell. This five-year-old has accumulated significant experience, having won a point-to-point and competed in four bumpers. Her victory at Thurles in December is notable, but her more impressive performance was a third-place finish in a Listed mares' bumper at Sandown in March. In a race where it seemed advantageous to be prominent, LENNON GROVE was held up in rear and made notable late gains, potentially benefiting from the favored near side. Now that she has secured black type, it is likely that she will be given a more forward ride, and it would not be surprising to see her exhibit further improvement. In my opinion, she appears to be overpriced.