Aintree Handicap Selections - Day One Aintree's three-day Grand National Festival bursts into life on Thursday with a stunning card. There are four Grade 1s to kick things off, alongside the Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase, before the Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase at 4.40, a Premier Handicap over two-miles. It's the sole handicap on day one at Aintree and we've got a selection and next best to consider. Get your Aintree free bets If you have signed up to BetVictor, check out more of the best betting sites. Runners and odds: My Mate Mozzie @ 5/1 with BetVictor Primoz @ 5/1 with BetVictor The Folkes Tiara @ 13/2 with BetVictor Sans Bruit @ 13/2 with BetVictor Petit Tonnerre @ 15/2 with BetVictor General Medrano @ 10/1 with BetVictor Calico @ 11/1 with BetVictor Rath Gaul Hill @ 12/1 with BetVictor Tommy's Oscar @ 18/1 with BetVictor Gunsight Ridge @ 20/1 with BetVictor Dr T J Eckleburg @ 20/1 with BetVictor Galunggung @ 33/1 with BetVictor Inedit Star @ 50/1 with BetVictor Selection: The Folkes Tiara @ 13/2 with BetVictor Next Best: Petit Tonnerre @ 15/2 with BetVictor Odds courtesy of BetVictor and correct at the time of publishing Sans Bruit back for more Paul Nicholls won this race 12 months ago with Sans Bruit and the Ditcheat inmate is back for another go now off the same mark of 130, some 9lb lower than where he started the season. He was fourth behind Dr T J Eckleburg at Chepstow (2m, soft) in February and has a 3lb turnaround on these terms. The Evan Williams-trained Chepstow scorer, Dr T J Eckleburg, is a four-time winner over fences, but must now defy a career-high mark. He's quite closely matched with Gunsight Ridge after they filled the front two places at Sandown in early February. Top-weight Tommy's Oscar is a fine servant to connections and trainer Ann Hamilton. He's likely to give his running as he always does, but might just find that one or two of these are better handicapped at the moment. De Bromhead ace to strike This is a contest Henry De Bromhead likes to target, with the Irishman going for a third win since 2019. THE FOLKES TIARA is his representative now, with Rachael Blackmore in the plate. The nine-year-old is in his third season over fences and continues to excel. He won at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting in 2023 and was only just denied back there this season. He had reappeared with a Listed handicap win at Fairyhouse (2m1f, yielding) in late November and ran a cracking race at Christmas when denied a short-head behind An Peann Dearg in the Racing Post Handicap Chase over 2m1f. That form was franked as the winner scored at the Dublin Racing Festival from a 6lb higher mark, while the third home, The King Of Prs, won a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse in January. The Folkes Tiara goes well fresh, so coming into this off a break is no worry and while a mark of 138 calls for more, this could be the key day in his career. Jonjo's Petit Tonnerre a contender too Jonjo & AJ O'Neill will be hoping that PETIT TONNERRE has a big performance in him. The seven-year-old runs in the colours of JP McManus and will have Jonjo Jr on board, fresh from a fine Cheltenham Festival double last month and in good fettle at Exeter where he was amongst the winners on Wednesday. Petit Tonnerre was a smart novice in late 2023/early 2024 and ran well in some good races at the start of this season. That included finishing second over 2m at this venue in October behind the progressive Imperial Saint, twice a winner since and now rated 21lb higher. This Jackdaws Castle inmate won at Doncaster in January on good ground and was yet to be asked any questions back on Town Moor at the start of March when brought down. This mark could be within his scope.
