talkSPORT have you covered with free horse racing tips and free bets on Saturday’s fixtures at Aintree for Grand National Day!
Tom Lunn has gone through the cards, form, going and much more to help guide your horse racing betting choices.
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Saturday horse racing tips
AINTREE GRAND NATIONAL FESTIVAL
- 1.20: Catch Him Derry 15/2 & Kamsinas 16/1 each-way (1pt each)
- 1.55: Lulamba 5/4 (2pts)
- 2.30: Doctor Ken & Happygolucky 15/2 (1pt each)
- 3.05: The Wallpark 10/1 each-way (1pt)
- 4.00: Vanillier 11/1 each-way & Hewick 12/1 (1pt each)
- 5.00: L’Eau Du Sud 15/8 (2pts)
Catch Him Derry & Kamsinas
We kick off Grand National Day in the 21-runner Premier Handicap Hurdle just over 3m.
The Skeltons had a bit of seconditis across Thursday’s card but it still shows they’re bang in form.
Catch Him Derry has been incredibly impressive for the team placing third last time out to Doddiethegreat at Cheltenham Festival.
He’s coped with continual rises in the weights and stepped up to that task with great aplomb.
There aren’t many in this field to have won over this exact distance but one that did go close was Kamsinas, on his first try over this kind of stamina trip.
That was impressive when carrying top-weight so there’s definite scope for this Fergal O’Brien-trained gelding to progress.
He’s won four from 11 races over hurdles and that’s an impressive strike-rate for the fields he competes in.
Lulamba
It was a bold decision from trainer Nicky Henderson to take Lulamba out of the juvenile and head to this 2m4f trip instead.
As a result though, the four-year-old gets plenty of weight from lower rated but older and more experienced rivals.
The step up in trip has to be the key here and there’s only got to be confidence in this horse to bolt up to make sense of the move and it would be no surprise to see him confirm his ability.
Doctor Ken & Happygolucky
This 3m1f contest should separate the stamina loving horses from the rest.
A few unexposed over this distance are set to make a big impact and two even front the market; Imperial Saint and Doctor Ken.
Happygolucky was a disappointing ninth at Cheltenham Festival’s 2023 Ultima and then wasn’t seen back on the track until January of this year.
He went on to place much better at the Ultima last month on just his second race in over two years.
Now, he remains on a dangerous mark and in this field could well be the one to beat if bouncing back having already won over course and distance before which is another encouraging factor.
Doctor Ken has also won at Aintree before, back in November 2022 and he is another one that has had to overcome a lengthy time away from the track.
Despite 616 days away he placed a very promising second just over a length away from Es Perfecto.
He’s potentially dangerously weighted as a result, upped only 2lb and he should be able to go forward now.
The Wallpark
Now for the Liverpool Hurdle. Teahupoo came second at Cheltenham and bids to make up for that for Gordon Elliott, a trainer who’s not been having the best fortune recently with plenty of places and not a whole heap of winners.
However, I like his other horse in this for owner JP McManus, The Wallpark.
He placed third behind Bob Olinger but that race may not have suited as well whereas Aintree could be ideal.
At his price of 10/1 he’s hard not to re-back as tipped in the Stayers’ Hurdle.
Kitzbuhel is the major talking point though. Willie Mullins-trained with Paul Townend on board, winning form and comes here stepping up in trip for the first time at just five-years-old. However, the market may guide best on this punt.
Vanillier & Hewick
Vanillier finishing 14th of 32 last year should not dissuade you from backing him this year, though.
He went on from that Grand National to run quite poorly in another two contests, which is no surprise as the race can often have a knock-on effect to horses who’ve completed the National.
But he has really bounced back in 2025 and dropped further in the weights to give him even more of a chance.
To drop 3lb from his latest run at Cheltenham Festival in the Cross Country is very encouraging.
He ran on from way back to claim third and was a big eyecatcher as the grey stormed on to grab a place, especially having almost gone completely the wrong way part way round the Cross Country, which probably cost him a go at challenging for the win.
This horse is one that always finds more at the end and has the kind of attitude that is impossible to train sometimes and that is a desire to run on at the end and win.
Hewick – it’s so hard not to like this horse. And I’ve been on him at huge prices over the years as he’s just got that stamina and winning attitude.
Stats show he’s probably the best jumper of the field, never gives up and is a small plucky horse that has all the potential to win a Grand National.
After tipping him to win the Galway Plate, the Bet365 Gold Cup, King George VI Chase, it is almost impossible not to also side with the £800 horse to claim the biggest jumps race in the world.
L’Eau Du Sud
Impressive grey horse for the Skeltons.
Placed well in the Arkle albeit was fourth but only just off of the winner in a bunched finish.
That form has worked out well and if learning from that I’m certain the Skeltons will get the right tactics on this remarkable two miler who’s won four from five over fences including some very valuable races in terms of beating some great rivals.
Tom Lunn’s Horse Racing Profit & Loss
- March & April 2025: +50.12pts
- From May ’24: +234.5pts
- From July ’23: +373.97pts
All odds correct at time of writing
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