Aintree Horse Racing Lucky 15 Tips for Thursday

The Racing Post's Gary Savage has four fancies at Aintree on Thursday on the opening day of the Grand National Festival.

Aintree Festival Day 1 Lucky 15 Tips and Odds

1.45 - Manifesto Novices' Chase - Il Etait Temps @ 7/2
2.20 - Boodles Juvenile Hurdle - Kargese @ 3/1
4.05 - Foxhunters' Chase - Bennys King @ 8/1
4.40 - Red Rum Handicap Chase - Whiskeywealth @ 8/1

Manifesto Novices' Chase Lucky 15 tip

Il Etait Temps @ 7/2

A cracking renewal of the 2m4f Grade 1 Novice chase opens Aintree proceedings and it sees a rematch between the first two home in the Turners, in Grey Dawning and Ginny's Destiny.

Messrs Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls will be hoping for a boost to their trainers' championship hopes, but they can both be opposed with IL ETAIT TEMPS who can get his Festival off to a flyer.

No favourite has won this contest since 2013, while Stage Star's last place at 6/4f was just the latest in a long list of failures in this contest for Paul Nicholls, including such luminaries as Pic D'Orhy, Hitman and Cyrname.

Il Etait Temps' form behind Gaelic Warrior this season looks strong enough to take a part in this contest, and his pedigree and style of racing indicate that this trip should suit him perfectly.

Boodles 4yo Hurdle Lucky 15 tip

Kargese @ 3/1

Willie Mullins can quickly get a double up courtesy of his Triumph Hurdle runner-up KARGESE, whose 7lb fillies' allowance should be enough to see her overturn likely red-hot favourite Sir Gino.

Zenta improved from third at Cheltenham to take this contest last year, and Kargese, second to Majborough in this year's Triumph, clearly came up against a top-notcher.

She comfortably saw off the likes of Salver and the reopposing Nurburgring and with conditions here as soft, if not softer than for the Triumph, she looks guaranteed to go well.

Sir Gino will be many people's idea of a banker but his preparation has obviously not been ideal and any chinks are likely to be exploited at this level.

Foxhunters' Chase Lucky 15 tip

Bennys King @ 8/1

As in all races over the National fences, horses returning year after year are always worth paying attention to in the Foxhunters' and BENNYS KING, runner-up to Famous Clermont last year, looks primed to go one better.

Beaten less than five lengths last year, his jumping was assured and his forward-going running style is always useful over the Grand National course.

The key to his chance this year is the heavy ground that now looks certain, with a record of three wins and two second places when encountering the softest going.

Although 13 now, he is running as well this season as last and everything looks in place for a big performance.

Red Rum Chase Lucky 15 tip

Whiskeywealth @ 8/1

Two wins on awful ground have seen Terence O'Brien's eight-year-old, WHISKEYWEALTH, climb the weights but he looks progressive enough to cope and under ideal conditions he can take this prize back to Ireland for the third time in five years.

He was possibly about to beat the now 160-rated Dinoblue this time last year at Fairyhouse, but the fall seemed to knock his confidence and he struggled for a few starts afterwards.

His partnership with Thursday’s jockey John Shinnick has helped to rejuvenate him and he has taken his last two contests, a hurdle and a chase, in great style.

He will race prominently, always a benefit here, and the form of his last win has been well boosted by the next three home.

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.