Grand National Festival Day 2 Tips - Friday's Top Tips for Aintree
The Grand National Festival 2026’s second day at Aintree promises thrilling races, with key betting insights for horse racing enthusiasts. Highlighting a few significant tips, Jazzy Matty, despite falling short at Cheltenham, is a notable contender in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle. Salver is a standout in the Mildmay Novices' Chase due to impressive past performances. Prairie Wolf and Hitman offer strong prospects in the Topham Chase. Lastly, keep an eye on Frankie John's potential surprise in the Sefton Novices' Hurdle. With favorable conditions and strategic selections, the day holds promise for racing fans.
- Free tips for day 2 of the 2026 Grand National Festival
- Four Grade One races will be run at Aintree on Friday 10th April
- Salver, Prairie Wolf and Frankie John feature in our day two selections
- Grand National Festival 2026 Day 2 Card
- 1:45pm Aintree - William Hill Handicap Hurdle Tips
- 2:20pm Aintree - Mildmay Novices' Chase Tips
- 2:55pm Aintree - Top Novices' Hurdle Tips
- 3:30pm Aintree - Melling Chase Tips
- 4:05pm Aintree - Topham Chase Tips
- 4:40pm Aintree - Sefton Novices' Hurdle Tips
- 5:15pm Aintree - Debenhams Handicap Hurdle Tips
Friday's Tips
The Grand National Festival rolls into its second day on Friday. Four Grade Ones will again take place on Merseyside, along with the Topham Handicap Chase run over the Grand National fences.
Here are my best betting tips for Aintree on Friday.
Grand National Festival 2026 Day 2 Card
| Time | Track | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1:45pm | Aintree | William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m4f |
| 2:20pm | Aintree | Mildmay Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 3m1f |
| 2:55pm | Aintree | ThatPrizeGuy Top Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m½f |
| 3:30pm | Aintree | JCB Melling Chase (Grade 1) 2m4f |
| 4:05pm | Aintree | Randox Topham Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2m5f |
| 4:40pm | Aintree | Oddschecker Sefton Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m½f |
| 5:15pm | Aintree | Debenhams Handicap Hurdle (Conditional Jockeys' And Amateur Riders' Race) 2m½f |
Grand National Festival 2026 Day 2 Tips
1:45pm Aintree - William Hill Handicap Hurdle Tips
JAZZY MATTY (10/1) came within a whisker of defending his Grand Annual crown at last month's Cheltenham Festival.
Cian Collins' seven-year-old won that handicap in 2025, and stormed into the lead again on the approach to the final flight. Danny Gilligan's mount jumped it well, but so did Martator, and Venetia Williams' outsider flew home to pip Jazzy Matty at the post.
Collins regularly switches Jazzy Matty between hurdles and fences. Gilligan's mount hasn't won over the smaller obstacles since his Fred Winter success back in 2023, but Jazzy Matty is rated 17 pounds lower over hurdles than he is over fences, and he's a proven stayer over two-and-a-half miles.
Another interesting contender at a much bigger price is JET TO VEGAS (33/1). Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore's seven-year-old came into last year's Top Novices' Hurdle on the back of an excellent Grade Two win at Kelso, and ran fairly well to place fourth behind Salvator Mundi.
Derek Fox's mount went close on his first two starts over fences this term, but disappointed when only sixth in the Auld Reekie Handicap. Jet To Vegas jumped poorly on his return to hurdling in the Morebattle, but I'd be disappointed if he wasn't more fluent on nicer ground at Aintree, and this step back up in trip should suit.
2:20pm Aintree - Mildmay Novices' Chase Tips
Any horse that came from off the pace to challenge in chases at the Cheltenham Festival had to have their performances marked up considerably. SALVER (4/1) was kicked ahead of the Brown Advisory and was slowly away, but powered up the hill to get within three lengths of Kitzbuhel and Final Demand.
Gary and Josh Moore's star has taken to chasing extremely well. Salver has beaten Doyen Quest in Grade Twos around Sandown and Windsor, and ran with great credit when outpaced behind Kitzbuhel in the Kauto Star at Kempton.
Salver has proven that he can produce his best on nice ground this season, and will have no trouble seeing out the trip. On all known form, Salver is the best horse in this race.
2:55pm Aintree - Top Novices' Hurdle Tips
No bet for me here. It is, quite frankly, a dreadful turnout for such a valuable contest.
3:30pm Aintree - Melling Chase Tips
Read our full guide to the 2026 Melling Chase if you want to find out who we've backed in Friday's feature.
Visit our Melling Chase Live Stream page if you want to watch any of Friday's races at Aintree via a mobile or tablet.
4:05pm Aintree - Topham Chase Tips
Dan Skelton is yet to win the Topham Chase, but that could chance when impressive Cheltenham Festival winner Madara takes to the Grand National course on Friday. Tristan Durrell will ride BOOMBAWN (16/1), who ran up to an RPR of 153 when only beaten three lengths behind Impaire Et Passe, Gidleigh Park and Jango Baie in the Manifesto 12 months ago.
Skelton's nine-year-old finished fourth in the Old Roan on his reappearance, and wasn't beaten far behind Edwardstone in the Grade Two Silviniaco Conti Chase. Boombawn then hated soft ground at Cheltenham on Trials Day, didn't stay three miles in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Kempton, and remained at the rear throughout as Madara bolted up in the Plate Handicap Chase.
Those defeats have helped Skelton's star drop down to a lovely mark of 146, and he's now four pounds inferior to stablemate Madara. Good ground on Friday will certainly suit Boombawn, and he's the sort of dependable jumper who could take well to the Grand National course.
Then we come to HITMAN (33/1) for Freddie Gingell and Paul Nicholls. Nicholls' ten-year-old finally won the Old Roan here at Aintree earlier in the season, having gone close in two of the previous three renewals of that Grade Two handicap, beating Boombawn and Master Chewy in the process.
Hitman didn't run well in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon, and was pulled up under top-weight as Vincenzo won the bet365 Handicap Chase at Ascot in January. Nicholls has freshened his multiple Grade One placer up since that outing, and Hitman returns to Aintree running off the same mark that he carried to victory in the Old Roan.
4:40pm Aintree - Sefton Novices' Hurdle Tips
Given how open the staying novice hurdle division is this season, I'm happy to chance FRANKIE JOHN (40/1) at a huge price in this Grade One.
Denis Hogan's six-year-old won his point-to-point and his bumper on good ground, and showed a clear liking for a better surface at the start of this season. Daniel King's mount finish second to Doctor Steinberg in a maiden at Galway, before showing Jalon d'Oudairies a clean set of heels to beat that rival over two-and-a-half miles at Leopardstown's Christmas Festival.
Since then, Frankie John has finished a distant fifth in two Grade Ones - both run on heavy ground - and has been withdrawn from two Grade Twos because of the going. Nicer ground at Aintree is definitely going to suit Frankie John, and there is enough evidence in his form to suggest that he's better than a mark of 133.
5:15pm Aintree - Debenhams Handicap Hurdle Tips
GOOLOOGONG (25/1) was a 50/1 outsider when he returned to hurdling at Kempton in February. George Baker's six-year-old travelled beautifully at the front throughout, before surging 12 lengths clear of the chasing pack to claim a commanding success.
Baker's six-year-old had shown some good form over hurdles earlier in his career, finishing third behind Electric Mason at Fontwell in November of 2024, before beating Authentic Legacy at that same venue in a novice hurdle two weeks later. Goolongong has run up to a mark of 70 on the flat too, so was entitled to win that handicap off a lowly mark of 114 - despite his lengthy starting price.
Baker told the press that he was worried about the soft ground at Sandown ahead of the Imperial Cup, and Goolongong clearly didn't handle the conditions. The ground at Aintree on Friday should be ideal, and Baker has booked the excellent Dylan Johnston for this assignment.
Verdict
Friday's Tips for Aintree:
Salver
2:20pm Aintree
@4/1 - 5 Units
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Jazzy Matty E/W
1:45pm Aintree
@10/1 - 5 Units
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Boombawn E/W
4:05pm Aintree
@16/1 - 5 Units
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Frankie John E/W
4:40pm Aintree
@40/1 - 5 Units
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