The 2026 Randox Grand National Festival got underway with the Grade One Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Hurdle, staged over just short of two miles and a furlong.

There were two fillies amongst the 10-strong fi, and it was that Irish-trained duo that fought out the finish, with Mange Tout (Gordon Elliott/Jack Kennedy, 5-1) getting the better of Selma De Vary (Willie Mullins/Paul Townend, 9-4 Favourite) by three-quarters of a length.

Successful trainer Gordon Elliott said: “I thought he gave her a great ride. I thought winning or the losing of the race was done from the third-, fourth-last to the turn in. Jack had to ride to settle her - she was very keen at Leopardstown and he rode her to win rather than to settle her there, and it took its toll.

“It was hard not taking her to Cheltenham, because you want as many bullets as you can have, but now Cheltenham's over I’m glad we kept her for here. Just the flatter track would suit her and she’s just got a bit of boot. Jack said she didn’t do a stroke in front, she was very idle.

“We thought we’d have her out early in the season for Down Royal - she was very keen there, but she’s a nice mare and she’ll jump a fence as well in time. That will be her for the year now - she’s not the biggest girl in the world.”

Winning jockey Jack Kennedy told ITV Racing: “She was good. She can overrace a little bit, but I got a bit of cover on her today.

“She was still a bit keen but not as bad. She’s a big frame of a filly - she’s not small but she’s narrow, and I’d say bypassing Cheltenham helped.”

The jockey went on to say: “We rode her a bit more patiently today as she can over race. She settled better today but she wasn’t fully relaxed. She jumped great and as she’s not the quickest in the world I was conscious not to get caught in a pocket and she probably got there a bit soon on her ad she wasn’t doing much up the straight, but she was good. I knew Paul would be coming around me if he was coming anywhere, so I just wanted to get out and get a clear run. I was there a long time, and she was only doing what she had to,

“She’ll definitely jump a fence and she probably has a bit of filling out to do, so she can be a nice mare.”

Paul Townend, rider of the runner-up Selma De Vary, said: “She ran a cracker. We were probably just beaten by a fresher one on the day. There was very little between them the last time they met too."

Adrian Keatley, trainer of the third Indian River, said: "It was a good run but we didn't bring him down for the sake of it and we didn't run him at Cheltenham for the sake of it, we thought we had a fair horse.

"He had a lot to find with the first two and he had to give them 7lb. It was a good run.

"He's had a hard enough campaign for a horse who'd only had two runs coming from Ireland and he's not the easiest on himself."