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 expert predictions for the top four finishers in the iconic Aintree race, along with his top betting tips for other events on the card. Before the main event, Blake has identified a couple of promising opportunities in earlier races. The William Hill Handicap Hurdle at 13:20 is the first, where he's backing the relatively unexposed 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 on the right track. The step up in distance for this race could play to his advantage, especially with his light weight. Another competitive race is the William Hill Handicap Chase at 14:30, where CRUZ CONTROL, trained by Tom Lacey, is aiming for his third consecutive win. Having won the race in 2024 and 2025, and with his connections seemingly adopting a similar strategy this year by bringing him in fresh, he looks like a strong contender, especially given his trainer's current form and the generous 3lb drop from the handicapper. Finally, all eyes are on the Randox Grand National at 16:00, one of the world's most spectacular sporting events. While much has changed over the years, it remains a highlight of the racing calendar. Blake has analyzed each runner in detail on the At The Races YouTube channel, but here he provides a concise overview of his top four picks for the Grand National.