Lossiemouth heads big Irish challenge on day one at Aintree The three-day Grand National meeting gets underway this afternoon with plenty of Irish interest in all seven races at Aintree, with an opening day card that includes four Grade 1 events highlighted by the clash of Lossiemouth and Constitution Hill in the William Hill Aintree Hurdle at 3.30. There are a total of 26 Irish-trained runners on the day with Impaire Et Passe and Croke Park among those taking on Arkle Chase winner Jango Baie in the opening EBC Group Manifesto Novices’ Chase at 1.45. Cheltenham Festival winner Puturhandstogether heads the five Irish contenders in the Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (2.20), while Spillane’s Tower is joined by the Willie Mullins pair Embassy Gardens and Gaelic Warrior in the other Grade 1 race — the Brooklands Golden Miller Chronograph Bowl Chase which goes to post at 2.55. Willitgoahead and Lifetime Ambition head the market for the Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase (4.05), while My Mate Mozzie and The Folkes Tiara are also fancied Irish runners in the Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase at 4.40. The Paddy Twomey-trained Seo Linn won at Cheltenham in November, but connections decided to skip the Festival last month in favour of the Goffs Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race and Billy Lee’s mount looks set to go off favourite. The going is described as good to soft, good in places, while the Grand National course is good to soft.
