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

The Grand National Festival is underway at Aintree, featuring four Grade One events on Thursday. Renowned expert Kevin Blake shares his top picks for the day. Following a successful Cheltenham Festival, Blake aims to replicate that success this week. The first Grand National fences race is the Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase, where LETS GO CHAMP, trained by Mags Mullins, is an intriguing contender. This 11-year-old has shown immense talent despite being challenging to train, with a notable win in a valuable handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival two years ago. He has since switched to hunter chasing and made a strong start, beating Stuzzikini and Journey With Me in an open at Oldtown in February, and lowering the colors of Hunters Yarn in the prestigious Tetratema Cup Hunters Chase at Gowran Park in March. The form of those two races has been well advertised, positioning Lets Go Champ among the top hunter chasers in Ireland. His racing style, characterized by strong traveling and forward-going at mid-range trips, makes him well-suited for this test. Additionally, he is a skilled jumper with the right technique for these fences. Although his rider, Sophie Carter, cannot utilize her claim in this race, she has ridden him to his last two wins and is familiar with him. Lets Go Champ appears to be overpriced. The Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase is another competitive race, but SANS BRUIT, trained by Paul Nicholls, has made it look easy in winning the last two renewals. The BHA handicapping team has been generous with Sans Bruit, dropping him 9lb for four below-par runs. After this treatment, Sans Bruit returned to this race off the same mark as the previous year and won again. The handicappers have continued to be generous, dropping him 11lb for five runs this season that weren't bad. It's clear that Sans Bruit was being worked towards this race, and the handicappers have been happy to play along. The final race of interest is the Goffs Nickel Coin Mares' National Hunt Flat Race, where LENNON GROVE, trained by Gavin Cromwell, is a promising choice. This five-year-old has gained significant experience, winning a point-to-point and racing four times in bumpers. Her third-place finish in a Listed mares' bumper at Sandown in March is particularly notable, as she was held up in rear and made good late gains. Now that she has secured black type, it's likely she will be given a more forward ride, and it wouldn't be surprising to see her show improvement. Lennon Grove appears to be overpriced.