Tips for Day 3 at Aintree

Our expert offers up his selections for Saturday at the Grand National Festival, including one in the big race itself.

Saturday at Aintree in April can only mean one thing, the 2025 Grand National.

The race certainly takes centre stage and is supported by a number of other top-class contests, including three Grade 1s.

I Am Maximus is attempting to land back-to-back successes in the National, but could it be another JP McManus-owned horse to be victorious?

Our expert has three horse racing betting selections across the card, including in the feature race. 

Saturday racing tips

13:20 Aintree – Rushmount /

14:30 Aintree – Doctor Ken /

16:00 Aintree – Intense Raffles /

13:20 Aintree – Rushmount

The first race is a competitive 22-runner handicap hurdle and it can pay to side with the Irish-trained Rushmount / . He has strong form this season finishing 4th in February, before improving when racing on quicker ground in March to win comfortably.

In his first run under rules he was second, by a neck, in a maiden hurdle to Lecky Watson. This form looks particularly strong with Lecky Watson now a Grade 1 winner over fences. 

For the home team, Jeriko Du Reponet, Act Of Authority and Catch Him Derry have obvious form claims, but Rushmount can improve further and land the spoils. 

14:30 Aintree – Doctor Ken

This staying handicap chase has attracted a field of 16. Myretown was a hugely impressive winner of the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival, but has been put up 15lb in the handicap as a result and this is likely to be a much tougher assignment as a result. 

One of the most interesting runners in the field is the lightly-raced Doctor Ken / . He has clearly not been the most straightforward to train and had his issues, but on his first run for 616 days he was a good second at Kempton in November and more than entitled to improve for the run.

That was over 2m4f and the step up in trip to 3m1f should really suit. With champion jockey in waiting Sean Bowen taking the ride he can give a very good account of himself.

16:00 Aintree – Intense Raffles

The obvious place to start when looking at the Grand National is with last year’s winner, I Am Maximus. He has obvious claims having won the race relatively easily last year, but is 8lb higher in the handicap to get the job done this time.

And while I expect him to run well, he might find the rise a bit too much against a less exposed horse in Intense Raffles / . He won the Irish Grand National last year on just his third run for Thomas Gibney and is still improving.

Through the early part of the season he has been campaigned over hurdles in order to protect his chase mark with this race in mind.

He reappeared over fences at Fairyhouse in February and, although he was second to Nick Rockett, he finished the race strongly and is 15lb better off at the weights with Nick Rockett this time.

While this will be his toughest challenge yet, the improving seven-year-old can add Grand National winner to his CV.