Live racing blog: Follow the Trackside Live updates from the opening day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree

16:05 - William Hill Aintree Hurdle

Paddock Notes

1 Alexei - considerably calmer than Cheltenham in pre-parade, not improved notably physically but behaviour is better

6 Brighterdaysahead - strong mare, looks well, very similar to Cheltenham

7 Golden Ace - can profile plain and does so again; no improvement from Cheltenham

4 Potters Charm - fittest we’ve seen him all season; appears primed for the day

2 El Fabiolo - big, imposing type, very different from a lot of these, fit and well

5 The New Lion - not settled in the paddock and therefore moving poorly, have seen look better

Paddock Verdict

6 Brighterdaysahead best, 4 Potters Charm over priced

Full Result

1st Brighterdaysahead 13/8 fav

2nd The New Lion 9/4

15:30 - Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase

Paddock Notes

7 Fairly Famous - big chested, impressive looking, has presence

11 Golden Son - plain in the coat, rib definition like last time

21 Thunder Rock - tends to present well, looking in fair order

16 Joker De Mai - good quality coat, looks well

1 A Jet Of Our Own - very defined behind

3 Barton Snow - looks in excellent order, nothing to fault, very tight

12 Gracchus De Balme - running a little light, others preferred

17 Lets Go Champ - compact, in fair order

10 Gaboriot - very laid back, not catching eye from fitness

22 Unexpected Party - fit and well

19 Snipe - a little busy

24 Willewonga - poor through the coat, would be a concern

25 Hollywood Harmon - behind in the coat, doesn’t appeal

2 A Moments Madness - big bodied, okay but nothing more

13 Great Notions - plain and not the fittest in the field

8 Famous Clermont - has a bit of class and quality; always presents well

23 Whats The Solution - looks fit and well

15 Java Point - looks fit and well, likeable

6 Enqarde - looks a touch heavy; seen look better

20 Take All - two handlers but nice and calm, very likeable

4 Densworth - fit and fine

19 Snipe - muscular, not much size

14 Its On The Line - fit and fine, nothing better than that

18 Music Drive - looks in fair order, as per Cheltenham

22 Unexpected Party - late to paddock, very fit

Paddock Verdict

3 Barton Snow, 8 Famous Clermont and 20 Take All best trio. 24 Willewonga and 25 Hollywood Harmon negative

Full Result

1st Barton Snow 7/4 fav

2nd Lets Go Champ 11/1

3rd Take All 50/1

Reaction from winning connections

Winning rider Henry Crow told ITV Racing: “He’s an incredible horse. What an achievement! I just sit there and we’ve got a good relationship together. He was very, very good.”

An emotional winning trainer Joe O’Shea added: “You don’t know how good he is. Every morning he does what you’ve just seen.

“This horse would beat Artemis to the moon, he’s so fast.

“We used Cheltenham as a preparation for today. - I love this place.”

14:55 - Racing Welfare Bowl Chase

Paddock Notes

3 Pic d'Orhy - already warm in pre-parade; doesn’t tend to sweat up

4 Protektorat - looks a picture; well muscled and solid, has come forward from Kelso

5 Spillane's Tower - alert and keen to get on with the job; looks in great spirits, far better than Cheltenham (Trials)

2 Jango Baie - similar to cheltenham, carries a strong level of muscle definition

1 Impaire Et Passe - little on toes, more through exuberance than tension, fit and well

Paddock Verdict

5 Spillane's Tower best, 2 Jango Baie a touch unsettled

Full Result

1st Jango Baie 1/1 fav

2nd Protektorat 5/1

Reaction from winning connections

Reflecting on bouncing back so quickly after being unseated from Lulamba, winning rider Nico De Boinville told ITV Racing: "It's a funny old game. It certainly keeps you meek and humble and certainly puts manners on you.

"You just have to look yourself in the mirror and say 'come on then, let's go again'."

Winning trainer Nicky Henderson added: "What I loved about him today, he was nearly how he was at Ascot first time out. He turned into the straight and was full of it, which is a fair testament to the horse - he's still fresh."

When asked whether the King George and Cheltenham Gold Cup would again be the main aims next season, Henderson replied: "It has to be. I can't see any reason to change it, they are the two obvious races. The same horses will be with us and we'll just have to see. It's got to be the same plan I would think."

14:20 - William Hill Manifesto Novices' Chase (Grade 1)

Paddock Notes

1 Blueking d'Oroux - doesn’t stand out from a fitness perspective; little plain

2 Jax Junior - still plain in the coat (similar to Cheltenham, worse than Kempton), sturdy physical

4 Lulamba - difficult to fault physically; lean and muscular

5 Mambonumberfive - seen look better this season; big imposing physical

3 Koktail Divin - liked at Cheltenham as a physical and looks well again; nice demeanour, forward and alert - interested rather than worried.

4 Lulamba - moments of tension in the paddock

Paddock Verdict

4 Lulamba and 3 Koktail Divin best pair, Koktail Divin preferred as Lulamba having occasional moment of tension

Full Result

1st Koktail Divin 3/1

2nd Blueking d'Oroux 22/1

Reaction from winning connections

Winning rider Darragh O’Keeffe told ITV Racing: “He’s on springs, so quick from A to B. The key to him was the drop in trip; he’s a big striding horse, so we wanted to keep it simple and be near the front. He got into a brilliant rhythm.

“He gave me everything in the Brown Advisory but to come back here was great.

“Fair play to everyone in the yard. We're all delighted and there will be a few more chances over the next couple of days.”

Winning trainer Henry de Bromhead added: “It’s a great start, I’m delighted and I thought Darragh was brilliant. They went a good gallop and he jumped amazing. They were all jumping so well up front.

"I was starting to get a bit worried [when he idled late on] but then he seemed to pick up again.

“I’m delighted for the [winning owners] Maloneys, they’ve been great supporters of ours.”

13:45 - Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1)

Paddock Notes

10 Selma De Vary - looking more professional than previous two runs; slender framed, presents fit each time

9 Mange Tout - small, slender filly; looks better than Ireland, improved in the coat

5 Maestro Conti - no major change from Cheltenham, always been eye-catching physically, marginally more level headed than last two runs

1 Ammes - physically improved through the season, lacks the same quality as rivals

4 Lord - having a look round, but more settled than Musselburgh. Very fit, but a little plain compared to others

2 Aqua Bleu - chasing type for the future; lovely big mover. Nice type, speedier looking models on show but has quality.

8 Wolf Rayet - very fit, a little fussy in the head

3 Indian River - small and compact model, fit and fine but nothing more than that

6 Minella Study - having a good look in the paddock compared to Cheltenham. Not enough to be a negative but needs to be noted as a change.

7 Winston Junior - two handlers although fairly relaxed. Barrely type, coat looks improved from Cheltenham.

4 Lord - getting very excited as proceedings go on, similar behaviour that he showed at Musselburgh.

Paddock Verdict

10 Selma De Vary favoured, improvement in professionalism from last two runs

Full Result

1st Mange Tout 5/1

2nd Selma De Vary 9/4 fav

3rd Indian River 25/1

Reaction from winning connections

Winning rider Jack Kennedy told ITV Racing: “Thankfully it has worked out [missing Cheltenham].

“She was good. She can over-race a little bit but I got a bit of cover and she was still a bit keen but not too bad. She’s a big frame of a filly, she’s not small.”

Robbie Power, representative for owners Robcour, added: “She was a bit keen at Leopardstown, she settled better today and Jack got into a lovely rhythm.

“It was a great decision to skip Cheltenham and come here fresh and well. I think she will stay further in time, she settled better today.”

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