Grand National Festival Day One – Odds Picks

Thursday brings us the first day of the Grand National Festival at Aintree and it’s a cracking afternoon of racing action to kick off the three-day meeting.

Tiger Roll may not be running in Saturday’s Grand National but he’ll be at Aintree on Thursday to take on Grade 1 company in the Betway Bowl, while the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle also sees a tasty lineup.

Read on to see our top Odds Picks for Thursday that includes a juicy 12/1 fancy in the Aintree Hurdle.

Top Odds Pick – Waiting Patiently (14:50) – 4/1 at Unibet

Waiting Patiently to win the 14:50 at Aintree

4/1Bet

Waiting Patiently showed he still has plenty to offer at the top table with his 2nd place finish in the King George behind Frodon on Boxing Day.

Yes, he then put in a disappointing effort in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot but it’s easy to excuse that effort as he was dropping in trip and the race was potentially just too soon after the King George.

He’s been given a break since then and this trip of three miles on a flat track on good ground looks perfect for Ruth Jefferson’s stable star.

Our Long Shot – Song For Someone (15:25) – 12/1 at Betfair

Song For Someone to win the 15:25 at Aintree

12/1Bet

Song For Someone hasn’t been seen since going down by 22 lengths to Goshen in the Kingwell Hurdle in February but connections are adamant that a return to form is imminent.

Before that Wincanton run, he’d landed the Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle and the Grade 2 International Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Having bypassed the Cheltenham Festival to be fresh for Aintree and considering he’s still just six-year-old, this return to better ground here should see him go very close.

Please note that all odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.