Manifesto Novices' Chase odds: Grey Dawning favourite for Thursday's opener

The opening race of Aintree's Grand National Festival is the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase on Thursday afternoon.

Previous winners of the Manifesto Novices' Chase include Protektorat and Banbridge, who are both expected to run in Friday's Melling Chase at Aintree.

Grey Dawning is at the top of the betting for this year's race, with Dan Skelton looking to build on his recent victory with the horse in the Turners Novices' Chase at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.

Manifesto Novices' Chase odds

• Grey Dawning - 11/10
• Ginny's Destiny - 11/4
• Il Etait Temps - 10/3
• Blow Your Wad - 12/1
• Colonel Harry - 25/1

(Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation)

Grey Dawning

Dan Skelton believes Grey Dawning is one of the best novice chasers he has ever trained and is one to be feared in this field at Aintree.

He followed up his Grade 2 success by 14 lengths at Warwick last time out with an outstanding performance to win the Turners Novices' Chase at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.

Ginny's Destiny

Ginny's Destiny will be aiming to exact revenge on Grey Dawning after just missing out on a Cheltenham Festival victory in the Turners last month.

The Paul Nicholls-trained horse had recorded three consecutive victories prior to the showdown at Prestbury Park and has every chance of returning to the winners' enclosure with success at Aintree.

Il Etait Temps

Irish Arkle winner Il Etait Temps followed up his success at Leopardstown with a third place in the Arkle at Cheltenham - finishing behind Gaelic Warrior and Found A Fifty.

Blow Your Wad

Blow Your Wad's last outing was an impressive performance to win the Grade 2 Coral Pendil Novices' Chase at Kempton.

Colonel Harry

Colonel Harry was last seen finishing sixth in the Turners - well behind Thursday's two market leaders Grey Dawning and Ginny's Destiny.