It’s the big one – Day 3 of the Aintree Festival and Dave Massey is back with his Grand National Day Tips exclusively for kwiff.

Aintree Festival 2026: Grand National Day Tips

One of my horses to be “on next time” after Cheltenham runs here, Kikijo (1.20), and at 25-1 I’ll definitely be playing.  He was one of a handful of horses on the week that I actually thought would come on for the run before the Pertemps Final, and it didn’t take a genius to work out Aintree might well be the target. He ran well here in October when again, on paddock looks, he looked like he’d come on for the run, and had he not made a mess of two out that day, might well have gone close. Off the back of that he won at Cheltenham (looked a picture that day) and Sandown, and has an overall progressive profile. 

Grand National Day Tips: Lihyan (Aintree, 1:20)

Going back to that October Aintree run, in third that day was Lihyan (1.20), who (bar a poor effort at Musselburgh) has run well all season and gained a deserved win at Newbury last time. He’s got the right run style for this, as he’ll be held up well off the pace (often the best way over 3m here, last four winners all held up midfield or rear) and will make a move late. Track clearly suits – he was third on his only other start here – and looks another good each-way poke to add in with Kikijo. 

Grand National Day Tips: Glengouly (Aintree, 2:30) 

I can’t resist a pop at Paddy Power winner Glengouly (2.30) at 50s. He does stay this far, for all he’s usually kept to shorter, and comes here with Sean Bowen back on board, new headgear (it was missing completely at Cheltenham, cheekpieces were on for the PP) and off the back of wind surgery, all of which make him quite interesting. 

Grand National Day Tips Doddiethegreat (3:05) 

Doddiethegreat (3.05) hated the stronger headgear when pulled up in the Stayers, he’s back in the cheekpieces today. Probably playing for a place, but he has some form in Grade1/2 company this year that gives him a place chance if he can bounce back, and I might get involved with a small each-way four-places bet. 

Grand National Day Tips: The National (4:00) 

Three Card Brag (4.00) has been a long-term fancy for this since his second to Spanish Harlem in the Kerry National back in the autumn. He followed that up by humping 11-13 to victory in a good-quality handicap at Cheltenham (second Backmersackme a Grade 3 handicap winner since) and then tried to give Panic Attack 19lb in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, failing by only six lengths and that after a bad mistake four out put him on the back foot. Clearly not right at Fairyhouse last time (reported to be blowing hard afterwards) so put a line through that. 33-1 looks big. 

Gorgeous Tom (4.00) is the other I like. No win on his dancecard since 2024, but to be fair has been pretty consistent in good company this year, fourth in the Coral Gold Cup and a staying-on fifth over a trip too short at Leopardstown last time, that coming off the back of a three-month break, so it all looks like he’s been teed up nicely for this; trainer knows what it take to win this, reasonably well handicapped, and isn’t discounted by any means.

Grand National Day Tips: Merlin Allen (Aintree, 5:00)

I don’t normally touch bumpers on these write ups, but I am excited to see the 33-1 about the 4yo Merlin Allen (5.00) here. He’s a 4yo taking on his elders, but make no mistake, he won’t be dwarfed by anything in the paddock, he’s a really tall, good-looking gelding that ran out a ready winner here on debut in November, where he stood out in the paddock.

I know the second home, Molly’s Lad, was very well fancied that day and he panned him eight easy lengths, so the form looks good. He ran to a similar level at Kempton last time where he shaped like the best horse, but a return to Aintree will suit him better. A chance to back what I think is a quality racehorse at a good price. 

By Dave Massey

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