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A huge crowd descended on Aintree for day one of The Randox Grand National Festival, marking the biggest Opening Day turnout since 2018.
Ahead of racing, sporting icon Rachael Blackmore, the only female jockey to win The Randox Grand National, was inducted as a Grand National Legend, before attention turned to a high-class card, featuring four Grade 1 races. Here’s how Opening Day unfolded….
As blue skies appeared over Aintree, Brighterdaysahead (13-8 Fav) aptly landed the Grade One William Hill Aintree Hurdle over two and a half miles, defeating The New Lion (9-4) by two and a quarter lengths.
Her success brought up a near 15-1 double for the combination of trainer Gordon Elliott and jockey Jack Kennedy following the success of Mange Tout in the opener.
Gordon Elliott said of Brighterdaysahead: “This is probably her trip and she was awesome. I was nervous but it was kind of easy to watch and Jack was brilliant on her. It’s great for everyone at Gigginstown who have been massive supporters of mine, through thick and thin.”
Even money favourite Jango Baie followed up a courageous second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup to win the Racing Welfare Bowl.
The Nicky Henderson trained seven-year-old chased home Gaelic Warrior four weeks ago but was the one to beat at Aintree and eventually cruised home by sixteen lengths.
Speaking about Jango Baie’s future, winning trainer Nicky Henderson said: "It's incredible that he was able to win the Arkle. Two miles is not his game, and he was full of it today, which is a fair testament to the horse. The King George and the Gold Cup are the two obvious races next season. It's got to be the same plan as this again."
Trainer Joe O’Shea won the Randox Foxhunters’ Chase over the Grand National fences for the third time as Barton Snow (7-4 Fav) followed up on his success in the equivalent race at Cheltenham last month.
After wins with Cousin Pascal (2021) and Gracchus De Balme (2025), Barton Snow has given O’Shea a memory to cherish ahead of retiring at the end of the season.
Speaking after the race O’Shea said: “He’s an amazing horse, and again Henry says he’s done it in third gear. We first realised how good he was at Stratford last year, and he doesn't just do 37 miles an hour for 100 yards - he keeps it up. I just wish my other two had been second and third as I had the tricast for half a million quid!”
