Grand National Festival 2026 Day One: Brighterdaysahead and Barton Snow Impress

The opening day of the Grand National Festival at Aintree provided an incredible afternoon of top-class racing, headlined by a gripping clash between Brighterdaysahead and The New Lion in the William Hill Aintree Hurdle.

From Jack Kennedy’s impressove ride aboard Mange Tout in the Boodles Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle to Koktail Divin’s impressive success in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase, the card delivered a series of standout performances that set the tone for the days ahead on Merseyside.

Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1)

The festival opened with a thrilling display of racing, as an Irish one-two saw the 6/1 shot Mange Tout hold off Paul Townend aboard pre-race favourite Selma De Vary.

After missing last month’s Cheltenham Festival, jockey Jack Kennedy made the most of the filly’s freshness, guiding her to victory and pipping Selma De Vary at the line. Indian River, sent off at 50/1, produced an excellent performance to finish third, while many were left disappointed by the efforts of Maestro Conti and Minella Study.

William Hill Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)< /> A dramatic renewal of this Grade 1 contest saw strong favourite Lulamba, trained by Nicky Henderson, cause a major shock when unseating Nico de Boinville on the back straight.

Blueking D’Oroux ran a gallant race, leading the field for much of the contest before eventually crossing the line in second. However, it was Henry de Bromhead’s Koktail Divin who stole the show, surging clear to claim an impressive victory at odds of 6/1.

Koktail Divin and jockey Darragh O’Keeffe were greeted with wild celebrations from owner Barry Maloney upon returning to the winner’s enclosure.

Racing Welfare Bowl Chase (Grade 1)

Turning for home, Jango Baie and Impaire Et Passe surged past Protektorat, setting the stage for a grandstand finish that had the Aintree crowd on their feet.

But in a dramatic twist, Paul Townend got the final jump all wrong aboard Impaire Et Passe, crashing out in a horrible fall. Fortuntalye both Towned and Impaire Et Pass came away unscathed. The fall left the path clear for Jango Baie, who stormed up the straight and across the line by a commanding margin. Protektorat kept on bravely to claim second, while Henry Cobden steered Pic D’Orhy home in third.

Earlier in the race, Nico de Boinville had appeared to be struggling aboard pre-race favourite Jango Baie, but as the famous saying goes, it’s how you finish, not how you start. Roared home by the crowd, the pair delivered a performance to remember, and one the Aintree crowd were definitely fans of!

Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase

To the delight of Aintree punters, the 6/4 favourite Barton Snow justified followed up fellow favourite Jango Baie with a commanding victory. Travelling smoothly throughout, amateur jockey Henry Crow produced the gelding with perfect timing, following up his Cheltenham triumph with another superb success on Merseyside to the evident delight of trainer Joe O’Shea.

Let’s Go Champ gave chase all the way to the line, finishing a valiant second, while Samuel Scott guided Take All into third with a determined effort.

The victory marked a notable milestone for Joe O’Shea, securing his third win in this race in the past six years and further cementing his outstanding record at the Grand National Festival.

O’Shea, gave some incredible quotes (via ITV Racing) after the race saying:

“Every morning he does what you’ve just seen – he’s amazing. He’s so fast. He’d beat Artemis II to the moon – they took ten days he’d do it in nine! This is an unbelievable machine.

“I’m just recovering from a triple heart bypass, I can’t take this anymore!”

William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1)

In the feature race of the day, the stage was set for a blockbuster clash between Brighterdaysahead and The New Lion and it more than lived up to expectations.

Roared on by the Aintree crowd, Harry Skelton urged The New Lion into contention as he closed on Brighterdaysahead approaching the final fence.

However, a mistimed jump proved costly, halting the seven-year-old’s momentum at a crucial moment, a habit that is starting to become prominent in the career of The New Lion. Seizing the opportunity, Jack Kennedy powered clear on Brighterdaysahead, surging up the run-in to take victory and claim a second Grade 1 win of the day for both himself and Gordon Elliott.

Despite the late error, Skelton rallied and held on for second, while 12/1 outsider Alexei produced an impressive performance to complete the top three.

It was a disappointing outcome for Willie Mullins, as Paul Townend trailed home in last aboard El Fabiolo.

Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase

Aintree handicaps are almost always fiercely competitive and tightly packed affairs, and this renewal proved no exception. San Bruit set a strong tempo for much of the contest, but was swept aside by Highland’s Legacy and Ryan’s Rocket as the field approached the final fence.

Unfortunately for Jonjo O’Neill Jr., a costly mistake aboard Highland’s Legacy at the last left the door wide open for Ryan’s Rocket, who romped clear to win by three lengths in comfortable fashion.

Goffs Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race (Grade 2)

Nan’s Choice provided the Skeltons with their first winner of the festival in the final race on Day One.

Held up towards the rear in the early stages, Harry Skelton delivered a perfectly timed ride, weaving through the field to take the lead heading into the back straight, ultimately pipping Lennon Grove and Fairy Park to the post in a thrilling finish.