Dave Massey is back for the Aintree Festival 2026; read his exclusive Grand National tips each and every day from Liverpool this week.
Aintree Festival 2026: Dave Massey’s Huge Day 1 Tips
A good race to kick off with, with the Triumph second, third and fourth all reopposing. I was very much with Minella Study at Cheltenham, having backed him ante-post, and I don’t think I want to desert him here, as he travelled like the best horse throughout and looked the winner at the last, only to get run out of it late. I think Ryan Mania will be at pains to hold onto him a bit longer this time, he probably did a bit too much too soon at Cheltenham, but for me he was the best horse on the day, and probably ought to have won. 9-2 looks a very fair price.
Aintree Festival 2026: Minella Study (1:45)
Lord will give this a go from the front but doesn’t look good enough, but maybe, of the bigger prices, Wolf Rayet is worth a mention. I didn’t think he was a total no-hoper at Cheltenham either, and he came there with a chance two out before the stronger types took over; he went off 475 on Betfair, traded 25 in the run, and maybe that’s the way to get a few quid out of him again, as a back-to-lay in-running, but I’d not be totally shocked if he took home a medal of some description.
Aintree Festival 2026: Take All (3.30)
Two outsiders that have to get a mention. Take All (3.30) is a monkey of a horse, with a high head carriage that’s not pretty to look at, but he has plenty of ability and was only five lengths off the leaders turning for home in the Foxhunters before weakening out of it quite rapidly late on, looking a bit of a non-stayer a the trip.
reviously he rattled home to take second in the Walrus to Unexpected Party, at no time looking the winner but was beaten less than five lengths at the death. Well, Unexpected Party is a 7-2 chance here, and Take All 66s, so if the first-time cheekpieces do the trick, and he takes to the fences, which frankly is anyone’s guess, the 66s could easily give you a spin for your money.
There’s also some early 100-1 around for A Jet Of Our Own too, and that just looks wrong. He was beaten 23 lengths by Snipe at Leicester over two miles last time, a pretty middling effort, but that was also the case last year when beaten 21 lengths in the same race before he came here to run out of his skin to finish fifth, beaten 8¼ lengths in fifth but travelling into the race as well as anything.
He went off an SP of 542 on Betfair, traded 21 in the run and I’m amazed it wasn’t a bit shorter, watch the race back) before the petrol ran out late. Zac Baker, who doesn’t take many rides these days, looks a good booking, and he’s definitely one you should be interested in if it’s good ground on the day.
Aintree Festival 2026: Javert Aklen (4:40)
Javert Allen (4.40) is interesting at the price. He was made favourite to win over this C&D back in November but I thought he needed the run beforehand, and that’s how he ran too, holding every chance two out but weakening late for fourth. He gave 6lb and more away to the front three there and it worked out well; winner Mambonumberfive went on to win twice more, second Highlands Legacy won a decent contest at Windsor and third Glengouly won the Paddy Power.
He ran well next two starts before disappointing at Kempton last time, but some cheekpieces go on, and that worked for Jupiter Allen and Another Folly ran better for them when Jane Williams has used them recently, so there is some evidence it could help.
The other I’ll have is Jasko De Dames (4.40), who shaped really well when fifth to Martator in the Grand Annual, travelling into the race really well before weakening out of it after the last. That should get him somewhere nearer full fitness, it being only his third start since the season started in anger, and there should be a bit more to come from him. Good ground will suit.
By Dave Massey
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