Day 2 of the 2025 Grand National Festival serves up more top-class racing, with tricky handicaps and a host of superb Grade 1s to keep backers entertained.
As ever, our preview showcases our horse racing odds and betting online.
And our Aintree Festival Offer will see you rewarded with a £10 Free Bet if the horse you bet £10+ on, single or each-way at minimum odds of 4.00, finishes second to the SP favourite in any Day 1 or Day 2 race.
*All odds are correct at time of publication but subject to change, tipped horses may also become non-runners
1.45pm – Mildmay Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) – 3m1f
Just eight runners go to post for this contest, but it is still a tricky one to predict with a whole host of horses in with a good shout. The favourite is Handstands, who has won his last three races and missed Cheltenham, which makes him fresh for this tilt at a Grade 1. Normally we like horses who come here off the back of a break, but we have sided with Caldwell Potter, who won handsomely at the Festival over two-and-a-half miles. This step up in trip over a sharper track should suit and he can get Paul Nicholls off to a good start on Day 2.
Selection – CALDWELL POTTER – 7/2
2.20pm – William Hill Handicap Hurdle – 2m4f
The second race of Day 2 is a very difficult handicap to get your teeth into as 22 runners line up on good ground, which could be the key to where the money will go. Once again, a few of these ran in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham just three weeks ago, with the likes of Impose Toi set to run well again after an impressive runner-up performance. However, we feel Steel Ally can come out on top. He finished second in a Grade 2 at Fontwell last time out and should like the rough and tumble of this race. At longer odds, Off the Jury is an interesting contender. He is a consistent sort who has finished runner-up three times this term, including at Sandown last time. He could go well.
Selection – STEEL ALLY – 10/1
Each-way – Off the Jury – 25/1
2.55pm – Top Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m
Some top-class younger horses go to post over the minimum distance round this quick track, including Romeo Coolio, who finished third in the Supreme at Cheltenham. He should go well again and is the hot favourite for this. However, we will side with Tripoli Flyer, who is in great heart at present having rattled off a hat-trick of wins this season, including two easy victories at Kempton and Musselburgh. Those are sharp courses, so Aintree should tick all the boxes. At a bigger price, Royal Infantry could enjoy a good race and is perhaps worth a pop each-way.
Selection – TRIPOLI FLYER – 3/1
Each-way – Royal Infantry – 33/1
3.30pm – Melling Chase (Grade 1) – 2m4f
Just the four horses go to post in this prestigious Grade 1 contest, run over two-and-a-half miles. Some brilliant horses have won this over the years, so who will pick up the prize this season? He is not an imaginative choice, but Jonbon should win this easily. His love-hate affair with Cheltenham continued in the Queen Mother, when he clouted a fence down the back straight when travelling well. He did well to finish second after that shuddering error and now returns to a course much more to his liking. El Fabiolo is an interesting contender, but while blessed with a lot of talent, he makes jumping mistakes at crucial times. However, if he remains sure-footed, he could give Jonbon a headache.
Selection – JONBON – 4/6
4.05pm – Topham Handicap Chase – 2m5f
The famous National fences take centre stage in this race, as a whopping 30 horses line up to make this a real headscratcher of a handicap. You need a horse that likes big fields and jumps well – and we feel Bad ticks all the boxes, as he is also a horse in top form. His two wins at Kempton showcased huge improvements in his jumping and he can go well on ground that is not alien to him. Willie Mullins is well represented in this race, including the favourite in James du Berlais, but we like Soul Icon at bigger odds. He is a tough sort who beat the classy Edwardstone at Kempton over Christmas. This horse should enjoy the challenge of these fences.
Selection – BAD – 14/1
Each-way – Soul Icon – 25/1
4.40pm – Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – 3m
The last Grade 1 of the day is over a gruelling three-mile distance, where stamina will come into play. A lot of the leading protagonists did not go to Cheltenham, so we should get more of a level playing field in terms of the form guide. We think the victory can go back across the Irish Sea, as we feel Jacob’s Ladder is the one to side with. This Gordon Elliott contender has been on the go all season and showed no signs of slowing down with wins at Navan and Naas in his last two starts. This race represents a step up in class, but he can deliver. At bigger odds, Julius Des Pictons could sneak a place. He has improved as the season has gone on and shapes as though three miles should be right up his street, following his third-place finish at Exeter last time out.
Selection – JACOB’S LADDER – 11/2
Each-way – Julius Des Pictons – 50/1
5.15pm – Novum Wines Handicap Hurdle – 2m
The amateurs and conditionals take their turn in the spotlight for the final race of Day 2, making it a very difficult event to predict. We think the combination of Dylan Johnston and Sam Thomas can follow up Steel Ally’s win with another here on board Celtic Dino. He started the season well with two wins before finishing a creditable third to the high-class Tripoli Flyer at Kempton. With a small break under his belt, he can bounce back here. The each-way bet is the improving Moon Chime. He bolted up at Stratford four weeks ago and can fill the places in this race.
Selection – CELTIC DINO – 11/1
Each-way – Moon Chime – 33/1
When you choose NetBet Sport, you can enjoy a whole range of top-quality sports and markets. Whatever you choose, always remember to bet responsibly. Here at NetBet, player wellbeing is our number one priority – check out our Responsible Gambling tips and tools page for more information. When the fun stops, stop.
