Grand National Festival 2026 Day 1 tips – Sans Bruit aims to do the hat-trick at Aintree

Ferret Jeeter won, but at a much reduced rate due to a huge rule 4.

At the time, Ferret Jeeter was at a drifted price as the second favourite. Based on how he won, and with the money down on the favourite, it might have been a blessing that he didn't run, as my selection did look tired in the end.

Duhallow Tommy didn't dictate the race in the manner I was hoping, and struggled late on. The Mulholland horse looked like the winner, but got nabbed late on when the Gary & Josh Moore horse stayed on strongly.

Unexpected Party 4/1 (1pt) – Aintree 3.30

It's risky tipping up horses in the amateur jockey races, and it's a boring fancy for this race, but I think Unexpected Party has a superb chance of winning this race.

This horse is a previous Cheltenham Festival winner, and on his day, is and was a very talented horse. He showed that he can still cut it in the normal races, as he was second to Steel Ally at Carlisle earlier in the season. Since moving to Hunter's Chase races, he is 2/2. Both of his wins were easy successes, and it showed something else about his game, and that is the fact that he stays this type of trip.

The fences are an unknown, but I don't think they're as much of an issue as they used to be, and are much easier to jump. I had this race between Barton Snow and Unexpected Party, but the latter's form over rules was the key reason for my decision.

I'm not saying it's a shoo-in that either of the two I've named will win, as it's jumps racing over the national fences. These types of races often throw up wacky results, so maybe having a small stake on an outsider is the way.

Sans Bruit 3/1 (1pt) – Aintree 4.40

Paul Nicholls' horse is the winner of the last two renewals of this race, and there is a strong chance that he'll manage to make it a hat-trick.

This race will have been the race of the season for Sans Bruit, so I wouldn't be concerned about his form. It will have been the plan to try and get his handicap mark to a rating that is as close to his last two winning marks, and they're not far off.

Sans Bruit is now rated 133, which is 3lbs higher than his past two wins, and given how easily he won last year, 3lbs shouldn't be enough to stop him. Obviously, he is now a nine-year-old, so he has to prove he is as good now, being a little older.

He won't be a great price, as every media outlet and national tipper will have a strong view on him.

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