Aintree Festival 2026 Day 3 tips and best bets for Grand National from Joe Norris

It all builds up to this. Grand National Day at the Aintree Festival is one of the biggest spectacles in world sport and the race everyone wants to solve.

The Randox Grand National always delivers drama, with 30 runners, unique fences and a stamina test like no other. It’s the ultimate puzzle for punters!

While the National takes centre stage, the rest of the card is packed with quality as well and often provides some excellent betting opportunities before the big one.

It’s a day where anything can happen, but that’s exactly what makes it so exciting. Here are my Aintree Festival 2026 Day 3 tips and best bets for Grand National Day.

Top horse racing offer for the Grand National

Aintree Grand National Festival Day 3 Racing (Saturday) tips

• 12.45 Kala Conti – 9/2 each way with 247 Bet
• 1.20 Absolutely Doyen – 12/1 each way with 7Bet
• 1.55 Ballyfad – 4/1 each way with Tote NEXT BEST
• 2.30 Mr Hope Street – 4/1 each way with Tote NAP
• 3.05 Jingko Blue – 13/2 each way with 7Bet
• 4.00 I Am Maximus – 7/1 with BoyleSports
• Johnnywho – 12/1 with Betfred
• Haiti Couleurs – 20/1 with bet365
• Imperial Saint – 66/1 with 247 Bet
• 5.00 Bass Hunter – 5/2 with 247 Bet

Joe’s best horse racing betting tips for Aintree’s Grand National Festival Day 3 (Saturday 11th April 2026)

Find my top tips for Friday 10th April 2026 racing with odds from the best horse racing bookies below:

Aintree 1.45 William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m4f

• 10 of the last 11 winners were aged between 6 and 8
• 5 of the last 11 winners were favourites/ joint favourites and 11/11 top 3 in the betting
• 6 of the last 11 winners won on their last run before
• 9 of the last 11 winners were rated 150 or higher

Salvator Mundi looks really short here for a horse that is clearly far from straightforward. I know he won impressively at Thurles last time out but he was a very short price to win that and seemingly didn’t have a great deal to beat.

This is much tougher and I prefer KALA CONTI for Gordon Elliott. She won her first two starts over fences most notably beating Kargese at Cork before bumping into Sixmilebridge. She can improve again and is a mare to keep on side.

Of the rest Mighty Bandit is getting better all the time and arrives on a four-timer so could be the danger if progressing again but this is his toughest test to date.

Bet on KALA CONTI Each Way at 9/2 with 247 Bet

Aintree 1.20 William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 3m149y

• 10 of the last 11 winners were aged between 6 and 8
• 3 of the last 11 winners were favourites/joint favourites and 7/11 top 3 in the betting
• 9 of the last 11 winners carried 11 stone 5lb or less
• 8 of the last 11 winners were rated between 126 and 138

This is wide open so it could be worth looking at the trends to help you find a selection. I’m going to chance ABSOLUTELY DOYEN bouncing back to form here.

He won five in a row before going down just eight lengths in the Pertemps last month. The yard are in much better form now and he could still have more to come off this mark.

Kaka’s Cousin catches the eye and ran well at Sandown. This track will suit better and he could go particularly well as long as he can settle. At a massive price Kikijo is another one I can see running better than his price suggests so could be worth an each way saver.

Bet on ABSOLUTELY DOYEN Each Way at 12/1 with 7Bet

Aintree 1.55 Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m4f

• 10 of the last 11 winners were aged either 5 or 6
• 7 of the last 11 winners were favourites/ joint favourites and 10/11 top 3 in the betting
• 7 of the last 11 winners won on their last run before
• 8 of the last 11 winners were rated 148 or higher

For whatever reason BALLYFAD didn’t manage to give his running at the Cheltenham Festival. He never really travelled and I’d be confident is a great deal better than that.

His narrow second to Talk The Talk was a big run and as long as the ground isn’t too quick he could take a lot of beating here. The yard are in better form and he is still armed with potential.

Bossman Jack ran well behind King Rasko Grey last month and could be the danger. Scorpio Rising continues to progress and is another one you’d expect to get competitive in another good renewal.

Bet on BALLYFAD Each Way at 4/1 with Tote

Aintree 2.30 William Hill Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3m210y

• 8 of the last 11 winners were aged between 6 and 9
• 2 of the last 11 winners were favourites/ joint favourites and 3/11 top 3 in the betting
• 9 of the last 11 winners carried between 10 stone 7lb and 11 stone 7lb
• 10 of the last 11 winners were rated 136 or higher

I have been waiting for MR HOPE STREET to step back up to three miles and he could be well handicapped here. He has only had the three starts over fences and there is almost certainly more to come.

This sort of test is going to prove ideal and it really wouldn’t surprise me to see him turn into a bit of a gamble on the day as he looks the most likely winner to me.

Cruz Control pulled up at Cheltenham when last seen but has been given time and loves this track so definitely looks the danger if bouncing back.

Imperial Saint ties in with that horse but has sneaked into the Grand National now so won’t be running here. Deep Cave also likes it here and is another one to note in terms of an each way play at the prices.

Bet on MR HOPE STREET Each Way at 4/1 with Tote

Aintree 3.05 Jet2 Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m149y

• 9 of the last 11 winners were aged between 6 and 8
• 3 of the last 11 winners were favourites and 6/11 top 3 in the betting
• 3 of the last 11 winners ran in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham
• 8 of the last 11 winners were rated 155 or higher

Obviously this will require another step up from JINGKO BLUE but I was so impressed with that Cheltenham Festival romp he definitely deserves a crack at Grade 1 company now.

He is still very much unexposed and could be capable of quite a bit more improvement yet. James Bowen was seen to good effect last time and rides again.

Honesty Policy pulled up in the Stayers’ Hurdle but shouldn’t be ignored here if bouncing back. Strong Leader skipped the Festival and comes here fresh so is another one to note on his best form.

Bet on JINGKO BLUE Each Way at 13/2with 7Bet

Aintree 4.00 Random Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)

• 10 of the last 11 winners were aged between 7 and 9
• 7 of the last 11 winners were trained in Ireland
• 3 of the last 11 winners were favourites/joint favourites and 4/11 top 3 in the betting
• 9 of the last 11 winners carried between 10 stone 5lb and 11 stone 8lb
• 6 of the last 11 winners had at least 1 previous run at Aintree
• 6 of the last 11 winners won on their last run before
• 9 of the last 11 winners were rated between 146 and 160
• 9 of the last 11 winners had at least 1 previous win in a Graded race

With no real standout favourite and some firms going up to 7 places each way on the Grand National it is worth covering quite a few horses. I always have a shortlist of around 6/7 and then narrow it down to four bets.

I AM MAXIMUS carries top-weight and obviously won the race back in 2024. He was a superb second to stablemate Nick Rockett in this 12 months ago and has to be covered with Paul Townend riding. He arrives fresh and looks set for a big run again.

Bet on I AM MAXIMUS Each Way at 7/1 with Boylesports

JOHNNYWHO looked to have stamina in abundance fending off Jagwar to win the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival last month. He will be a danger to all if building on that performance again here as he is more lightly raced than most.

Bet on JOHNNYWHO Each Way at 12/1 with Betfred

HAITI COULEURS was pulled up in the Gold Cup last month, but he bounces back from a similar effort earlier in the season, and you’d be foolish to rule out a big performance from him here.

Bet on HAITI COULEURS Each Way at 20/1 with bet365

Finally IMPERIAL SAINT gets a run now with Nick Rockett a late withdrawal and while he needs to run better than he did in the Ultima last time he does love this track and could surprise a few at a price.

Bet on IMPERIAL SAINT Each Way at 66/1 with 247 Bet

Aintree 5.00 Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open NH Flat Race (Grade 2) 2m209y

• 11 of the last 11 winners were aged 5 or 6
• 2 of the last 11 winners were favourites and 4/11 top 3 in the betting
• 8 of the last 11 winners won on their last run before
• 8 of the last 11 winners were rated 116 or higher

If you’ve followed me for a while you know my opinion on bumpers! BASS HUNTER does look solid towards the top of the market. He has experience on side and ran a big one beaten less than three lengths in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. I think he is hard to pick holes in and should be difficult to beat here.

Look Me is the Mullins representative and he impressed winning at Fairyhouse so arriving fresh looks a lively danger.

The Perfect Poet looked quite smart winning on debut and is another one to note for the Basher Watts syndicate who will no doubt be there in their numbers.

Bet on BASS HUNTER To Win at 5/2 with 247 Bet

My top tip for Aintree’s Grand National Festival Day 3

Fiercely competitive racing on Grand National Day at Aintree so I’ve opted for an each way double.

BALLYFAD can bounce back from that Cheltenham blip to go close and MR HOPE STREET should relish going back up in trip with more to come over fences. Around 25/1 looks big for this double!

Bet an Each Way Double on BALLYFAD and MR HOPE STREET at 25/1 with 247 Bet

About the author

Joe Norris

I’m Joe Norris, co-founder and Director of GetYourTipsOut (GYTO), which I launched in 2009 to provide daily sports betting tips, with the main focus on horse racing. Over the years, I’ve earned a reputation for offering reliable and profitable tips, which led to being named “Best Sports Betting Tipster” in 2023. Alongside my work at GYTO, I also contribute predictions to platforms like Oddschecker, allowing me to share my insights with a wide community of sports enthusiasts and bettors.

Find Joe on X: @JoeNorrisGYTO

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