Grand National Festival Day 3 Tips - Every race covered on Grand National day
The 2026 Grand National Festival at Aintree wraps up with an action-packed day of racing events. Notable races include the Maghull Novices' Chase and the highlighted Grand National Handicap Chase. Recommended bets for the day include Salvator Mundi at the Maghull Novices' Chase and Deep Cave at the Freebooter Handicap Chase. Additionally, Good To Be Alive and Ronnie Russet show promise in their respective races. Following these strategic tips from expert analysis could enhance your betting experience, offering insight into potential winners on this prestigious day of racing.
- Free tips for day 3 of the 2026 Grand National Festival
- The Grand National headlines another excellent card at Aintree on Saturday 11th April
- Good To Be Alive, Bossman Jack and Deep Cave feature in our day two selections
- Grand National Festival 2026 Day 3 Card
- 12:45pm Aintree - Maghull Novices' Chase Tips
- 1:20pm Aintree - William Hill Handicap Hurdle Tips
- 1:55pm Aintree - Mersey Novices' Hurdle Tips
- 2:30pm Aintree - Freebooter Handicap Chase Tips
- 3:05pm Aintree - Liverpool Hurdle Tips
- 4:00pm Aintree - Grand National Tips
- 5:00pm Aintree - National Hunt Flat Race Tips
Grand National Day Tips
The 2026 Grand National headlines the final day of festivities at Aintree. Several high-profile handicaps and a couple of Grade One races will take place before the big one, which is due to start at 4:00pm.
Here are my best betting tips for Aintree on Saturday.
Grand National Festival 2026 Day 3 Card
| Time | Track | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 12:45pm | Aintree | Hallgarten & Novum Wines Maghull Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 2m |
| 1:20pm | Aintree | William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 3m½f |
| 1:55pm | Aintree | Turners Mersey Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m4f |
| 2:30pm | Aintree | William Hill Handicap Chase (Registered As The Freebooter Handicap Chase) (Premier Handicap) 3m1f |
| 3:05pm | Aintree | Jet2 Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m½f |
| 4:00pm | Aintree | Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 4m2½f |
| 5:00pm | Aintree | Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Grade 2) 2m1f |
Grand National Festival 2026 Day 3 Tips
12:45pm Aintree - Maghull Novices' Chase Tips
The nutcase that is Salvator Mundi tops this betting heat, having won the Top Novices' Hurdle here at Aintree last year. Willie Mullins' six-year-old won't have to lead here, as the equally bonkers Mirabad will go forward, accompanied by King Of Kingsfield, Mighty Bandit, Be Aware and possibly Alnilam.
A red-hot pace up front should help Salvator Mundi settle, and he looks to be the most likely winner. NO QUESTIONS ASKED (10/1) could also be well-placed to challenge if the early pace does collapse, and Ben Pauling's eight-year-old is available at an each-way price.
No Questions Asked ran on well from off the pace to beat Be Aware and Alnilam when the trio clashed in the Lightning Novices' Chase at Windsor. Pauling then stepped his novice back up in distance in the Plate Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but Ben Jones' mount was slowly away and could never get involved in the contest.
Dropping back to two miles is a sensible choice, and cheek-pieces go on for this assignment. If No Questions Asked can stay in touch with the leading bunch over the first three-quarters of the contest, I could see him coming home strong.
1:20pm Aintree - William Hill Handicap Hurdle Tips
GOOD TO BE ALIVE (20/1) was my NAP of the day at Kelso back in February. I fancied Olly Murphy's charge strongly for a valuable 21-furlong handicap, following a cosy victory at Plumpton on his previous start.
The market leader was held up at the rear by Sean Bowen, who had to stoke his mount along continuously to find top gear. Jumping the last, Good To Be Alive had Both Barrell's in his crosshairs, but the winner held firm to deny the rallying favourite.
I thought that performance screamed "three miler", and with Bowen riding Hold The Serve, Murphy has managed to grab Jack Kennedy to take this spare ride. Kennedy is no stranger to winning big races in the Bective Stud colours, and I'm hopeful that Good To Be Alive is better than his mark.
DUKE SILVER (16/1) finished his race better than most when sixth in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham. Hugh Horgan's mount faced a tough task when he sat near last going into the final half-mile, but managed to weave his way through tiring rivals and hit the line strong, passing the post just seven lengths adrift of Supremely West.
Joseph O'Brien's gelding has done all of his best work on nice ground. Duke Silver won a handicap at Listowel's Harvest Festival in September, and followed up by landing the Pertemps Qualifier at Leopardstown over Christmas. O'Brien's six-year-old remains on a mark of 133, and Horgan is good value for his five-pound claim.
1:55pm Aintree - Mersey Novices' Hurdle Tips
I'd love to see the Skeltons get on the board early on Grand National day, and BOSSMAN JACK (5/2) looks to have an excellent chance of landing this Grade One.
Skelton's star ran a strange race in the Turners' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham. Harry Skelton's mount was caught widest of all after the trio of false starts and with a circuit to travel, Bossman Jack had only one rival behind him. Skelton went wide again coming down the hill, and Bossman Jack swooped into contention once he hit the rising ground. He then almost unseated his rider with a sloppy leap at the last, before regathering himself well to finish sixth.
I thought that was a performance full of promise in what was one of the messiest Grade Ones of the meeting. I think he's a better horse than stablemate Soldier Reeves, and should have the rest of the field covered.
2:30pm Aintree - Freebooter Handicap Chase Tips
I was hoping to back Imperial Saint in this handicap chase, but he's managed to sneak into the Grand National field as the third reserve. Instead, I'm going to back DEEP CAVE (7/1), in the hope that returning to Aintree will spark a return to winning ways.
Christian Williams' star won the William Hill Handicap Hurdle as a 28/1 outsider last season, having been beaten 28 lengths on his previous start. Deep Cave started out over fences with an impressive victory at Bangor, before hanging on to deny Leave Of Absence and land the Silver Cup at Ascot.
Williams' novice made too many mistakes at the rear when only fifth in the Great Yorkshire Chase, and was virtually tailed off after some early errors on his most recent outing at Kempton. Based on his Grade Three win at Ascot, Deep Cave remains well-treated off this mark of 140, and Aintree proved to be a happy hunting ground for him 12 months ago.
3:05pm Aintree - Liverpool Hurdle Tips
Read our full guide to the 2026 Liverpool Hurdle to find out who we've backed in Saturday's final Grade One.
Visit our Liverpool Hurdle Live Stream page if you want to watch any of Saturday's races via a mobile or tablet.
4:00pm Aintree - Grand National Tips
We now move on to the main event of the meeting. Take a look at our guide to the 2026 Grand National to get the latest odds, a list of key trends and our three selections for this famous handicap.
Head to our Grand National Live Stream page if you plan on watching this year's race on a mobile device.
5:00pm Aintree - National Hunt Flat Race Tips
I'm going to round off my Grand National day betting with a punt on RONNIE RUSSET (12/1). Jedd O'Keeffe's youngster didn't show much on his racecourse debut at Hexham, but improved plenty for that outing to score nicely on his second outing at Newcastle.
Despite the burden of a seven-pound penalty, Ronnie Russet tanked his way through a second bumper at Newcastle, before forging 11 lengths clear of some decent rivals in the closing stages. I was hugely impressed by that performance, and if Sean Quinlan's mount has improved again since that victory in January, he should have a huge chance.
Verdict
Grand National Day Best Bets:
Bossman Jack
1:55pm Aintree
@5/2 - 5 Units
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with bonus code NEWBONUS
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Deep Cave
2:30pm Aintree
@7/1 - 5 Units
Bet £20 Get £10
Use promo code NEWBONUS
18+ New customers only. Bet £20 (or more) EVS (2.0) or greater Get 2 x £5 Free Bets. 1 x £5 Free Bet paid automatically & following £5 Free Bet after 24hrs. Min Free Bet odds 4/1 (5.0) on accumulators Trebles & upwards. Expires after 24hrs. Full T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
Ronnie Russet E/W
5:00pm Aintree
@12/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £40
in free bets
18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply.
Good To Be Alive E/W
1:20pm Aintree
@20/1 - 5 Units
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New players. Choose bonus at signup. Wager bonus 10x. Deposit used 1st. Any withdrawals void bonus. Valid 30 days. Odds, bet & payment limits. T&Cs apply. 18+.
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