Steve Ryder's Free Racing Tips for Aintree Festival Day 1

Tip 1 - Selma De Vary - 2pt

Best odds of 11/4 at AK Bets at the time of publishing.

Willie Mullins has won this race three times in the previous nine renewals and interestingly all with fillies. He trained Apples Jade to win this 2016, Zenta in 2023 and Murcia in 2025 as well as Kargese finishing 2nd to Sir Gino in 2024, all of which had run here having run at the Cheltenham Festival. Both Maestro Conti and Minella Study had previous Cheltenham experience over SELMA DE VARY (best priced at 11/4) when they finished ahead of her in the Triumph Hurdle as well as the filly not getting a clear run through the race.

Selma De Vary had previously caught the eye behind Narcisco Has at the Dublin Racing Festival and this flat track should suit her much better. Hold up horses have a good record at this meeting and she should be able to pounce late under Paul Townend.

Tip 2: Brighterdaysahead - 1pt

Best odds of 9/4 available at Unibet while publishing.

This looks to be between Champion Hurdle runner-up BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD (best priced at 9/4) and the third The New Lion with preference going to the Gordon Elliott trained mare. She was an impressive 7 ½ length winner at this meeting two years ago and has returned this season in superb form. She reversed form with Lossiemouth from her reappearance to win the Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival by 3 ¼ lengths before finishing 2nd behind that rival at Cheltenham in the Champion Hurdle last time.

This step up in trip to 2m4f will suit both Brighterdaysahead and The New Lion more than the reopposing Alexei and with the benefit of that course form, I think she is the one to be with in this contest.

Tip 3: Highlands Legacy - 0.5pt EW

Best odds of 13/2 available at William Hill at the time of publishing.

Sans Bruit is respected in his hat-trick bid in this race but I am willing to take a chance on HIGHLANDS LEGACY (best priced at 13/2) whose form this season is working out extremely well. He finished 2nd behind Mambonumberfive over this course and distance in November and that rival is now rated 18lbs higher and the third that day Glengouly won the December Gold Cup and is now rated 10lbs higher.

He then finished 2nd behind Mighty Bandit at Newbury and that rival is now rated 23lbs higher with Lookway back in 3rd who has won his next starts and is now rated 10lbs higher.

Highlands Legacy won last time at Windsor when Sans Bruit was only 4th and although he has now improved from a mark of 121 from when 2nd to Mambonumberfive to a mark of 133, he could still prove well treated.