Grand National betting: 2026 Aintree Boodles contenders and tip
Ahead of the 2026 Grand National, Coral previews all of the races taking place at Aintree, kicking off with the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle on Thursday, April 9.
2026 Boodles Juvenile Hurdle contenders and tip
The opening race of the Aintree Festival, the Boodles Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle acts as something of a rematch for those horses who ran in the Cheltenham Festival juvenile hurdle.
Selma De Vary, the filly, is the market leader with her weight allowance, despite being beaten by some opposing horses at Cheltenham last month. She is best known for her successes on testing ground, so isn’t the most convincing favourite at this time of year.
Dan Skelton’s Maestro Conti was the best finisher at Cheltenham running here, having finished second, and he is an obvious top contender here. He wont be troubled by the drier ground and should run a consistent race.
Only just behind him that day was Minella Study, who ran a very strong race but just finished less strongly than the first two. He will be more than happy on the sounder surface, which could aid his chances here.
Gordon Elliott runs Mange Tout, who is a talented sort for the prominent connections of Robcour, but his form would suggest he is a better sort to consider for softer winter ground. He needs to prove himself still as a spring type.
Warren Greatrex’s Aqua Bleu is untested at this level, having had a break since his latest win at Chepstow, and he is entitled to improve further.
Coral ambassador Sean Bowen is an interesting booking on Ammes, who is equipped with a first-time visor. This gelding was beaten less than a length by Minella Study at Wetherby in the Autumn and could find that he is able to get close again today. He would require marked improvement to do so, but the headgear could aid his chances and he could be some each-way value.
Coral’s big-race tip: Minella Study at 7/2
View the Grand National 2026 odds and specials.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication.
