Grand National Festival Day 2 tips: Friday April 4

Telegraph

03-04-2025

Day two is another bumper day at Aintree with four Grade 1 races on the card and two Premier Handicaps, including the Topham Handicap Chase over the Grand National fences. The seven-race card concludes with a handicap hurdle for conditional and amateur jockeys.
Our betting specialist has cast his eye over Friday's card and provided five selections for readers to consider.
Betting on Aintree? Take a look at these Grand National betting offers and the Grand National runners and riders guide that has everything you need to know, including an expert rating for each horse in the big race.
Grand National Day 2 tips – Aintree, Friday April 4
2.20 – Brentford Hope @ SP with Sky Bet
2.55 – Salvator Mundi @ 4/1 with Sky Bet
3.30 – Jonbon @ 1/2 with Sky Bet
4.05 – Gentleman De Mee @ 20/1 with Sky Bet
5.15 – Hamsiyann @ 14/1 with Sky Bet
Odds provided by Sky Bet and correct at the time of writing.
If you already have a Sky Bet account and are looking for a new bookmaker to use for this week's racing, check out our list of the best free bets.
2.20 Aintree – William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap, 2m 4f)
BRENTFORD HOPE has proven form at this time of year, having won back-to-back novice races in the spring of 2023 and repeated the feat in handicap company last year.
He has been battling well in graded company, finishing within a length of Rubaud at Wincanton in November and coming home only three lengths adrift of Constitution Hill at Cheltenham in January.
His one below-par performance came in a handicap at Windsor in January, but the figure-of-eight circuit there often makes a mockery of form and trainer Harry Derham's gallop was flooded at the time, so there are mitigating circumstances for that run.
His victories in March 2024 were achieved off marks of 135 and 140 and preceded a runner-up finish in a Listed Handicap Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival off 143. He runs today off of 141 and is 12/1 at the time of writing with Sky Bet, but can be found at 33/1 elsewhere, so take the starting price.
2.55 Aintree – TrustATrader Top Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m ½f)
On his way into the weighing room after SALVATOR MUNDI had finished fifth in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, amateur jockey Patrick Mullins reported that the horse would benefit from the removal of his hood and that is exactly what connections have done today.
Until the Dublin Racing Festival in February, the five-year-old gelding had been favourite for the Supreme thanks to some impressive form that included finishing second to Sir Gino when trained in France. His credentials have taken a knock but expect them to be restored with one of the very best professionals, Paul Townend, taking over the reins today.
3.30 Aintree – Melling Steeplechase (Grade 1, 2m 4f)
Despite making some costly and uncharacteristic mistakes in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham last month, JONBON still managed to claim second place, albeit some 18 lengths adrift of the impressive winner Marine Nationale.
His Aintree form, however, is flawless, with victories in this race, the Maghull Novices' Chase and a Grade 1 novices' hurdle across the past three seasons. Look out for boosted odds on the selection as well – if you can get even-money or better then it is certainly worth a look.
4.05 Aintree – Topham Handicap Steeplechase (Premier Handicap, 2m 5f)
GENTLEMAN DE MEE makes his handicap chase debut off a mark of 152 at the grand old age of nine.
Willie Mullins' horse has been plying his trade in graded company since 2022, assembling a CV that includes victory in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Chase at the 2023 Dublin Racing Festival. His more recent runs have not been uncompetitive but have lacked the spark that earned him that success.
However, that spark could reignite back at the scene of his April 2022 victory over the talented Edwardstone in the Maghull Novices' Chase. At generous odds of 20/1 he makes a lot of appeal.
5.15 Aintree – Hallgarten and Novum Wines Handicap Hurdle (Handicap, 2m ½f)
Irish trainer Tony Martin is no stranger to sweeping up valuable English handicap hurdles and he can repeat the trick here.
HAMSIYANN is the only runner he has sent to Aintree and he certainly fits the bill. The five-year-old finished second on the Flat in the Chester Plate in May and the form of his 2m 5f Cheltenham win in November has been boosted by the second, third and fourth all winning within their next two starts.
Keep your eyes peeled for market support. Despite being 14/1 now, it wouldn't take much for Hamsiyann to be sent off as favourite.
Expert's tipping record