2026 Aintree Festival Friday Preview & Tips – DS
2026 Aintree Festival Friday Preview
Last weekend was poor. We fired a blank at Fairyhouse but in Dave Stevos’ defence, the ground wasn’t as soft as anticipated. We go again, check out Dave’s 2026 Aintree Festival Friday preview below.
1.45 – W Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier)
I am usually reluctant to tip up two horses in the same race but that’s what is going to happen here. We backed both Ike Sport and Ballykinlar at Cheltenham and while they didn’t place, they are both likely to fare much better here.
When I put Ike Sport up for the Pertemps I said he might be using it as a stepping stone back towards Aintree, a track he has run well at before. He was a fine fifth in this last year off 129 and with his rider’s claim, he is effectively 10lb lower. A strongly run race will suit and while the 50s that was initially available is long gone, at 20/1 he’s still worth backing e/w.
As for Ballykinlar, he ran a massive race in the Martin Pipe on ground that wouldn’t have been ideal. He lacked a recent run too so I think that effort needs serious marking up. James Bowen takes over in the plate, he’s been dropped 3lb and he should get his favoured better ground here. At odds of 50/1, he’s also worth backing e/w and I’ll also be doing a small reverse forecast, just in case…
2026 Aintree Festival Friday Tip: Ike Sport e/w @ 20/1 NB; Ballykinlar e/w @ 50/1 (both 5 places)
2.20 – Mildmay Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
An open race. Salver and Wendigo were last sighted in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham. Salver ran a blinder to finish third and Wendigo was beaten when falling but you’d have to worry that their exertions may have left a mark.
Gold Dancer and Regent’s Stroll both ran in the Jack Richards handicap at Cheltenham, finishing second and third. They both step up markedly in trip here and they both have stamina to prove.
Miami Magic is the freshest of the market principals and he has already beaten Regent’s Stroll in a novice chase over 20.5f at Cheltenham. He won easily upped to 3m at Newbury last time out and he’s been placed in a Grade 1 here over hurdles. If I was backing one at shorter odds, he’d be the one.
Outsider
Anthony Honeyball runs two here and while Jordans Cross, who was well beaten in the Jack Richards, is shorter, I’m going to have a risky each way play on his stablemate Crest Of Fortune.
After a promising start over fences at Cheltenham, he has had a bit of a sticky patch. He was doing his best work at the finish when a 9.5l fourth behind Wendigo over an inadequate trip at Newbury in November and I was fully expecting him to go close next time upped to 3m but he burst blood vessels at Kempton.
He was again poor at Ascot last time but I’m not sure he is at his best going right-handed. The return to a left-handed track, and Aintree in particular, offers hope of a revival. He ran a huge race in a Grade 1 3m novice hurdle here last year and hopefully, he can rediscover his mojo. At odds of 50/1, a small e/w interest on Crest Of Fortune is advised.
2026 Aintree Festival Friday Tip: Crest of Fortune e/w @ 50/1
2.55 – Top Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Just the six run here and I am struggling to make a case for any of the outsiders. It looks to be between Baron Noir and Sober Glory and I’d narrowly prefer the fav but this is a no bet race.
2026 Aintree Festival Friday Tip: No bet
3.30 – Melling Chase (Grade 1)
Only seven run here but I have to keep the faith with Solness. I tipped him up for the Champion Chase but Joseph O’Brien decided to swerve that race and head for Aintree instead.
He was admittedly soundly beaten last time at the DRF but that was on very soft ground and he’s better judged on his previous win at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting when he lowered the colours of Majborough and Marine Nationale.
All his best form has come at the South county Dublin venue but I can see no reasons why he shouldn’t act around Aintree and he’s won over 2m4f before so the step up in trip should be fine for him. If he jumps as well as he is capable of, Solness can outrun his odds of 12/1 and hopefully nick some place money at the very least.
2026 Aintree Festival Friday Tip: Solness e/w @ 12/1
4.05 – Topham Handicap Chase (Premier)
Last year’s 1-2, the Irish raiders Gentleman Du Mee and Lisnamult Lad are back again and they should go well again. They are both short enough in the betting though and I am going to take a chance on Mahons Glory.
We backed this horse in the Becher earlier this season and he gave us a great run for our money. His stamina just ran out over that 3m2f trip but he jumped like a buck until he got tired late on and this shorter trip is more suitable.
Back in November he ran over C&D in the Grand Sefton and he only got tired in the last 100 yards, eventually finishing a 5.5l fourth. He warmed up for this race with a 12l win at Huntingdon and while I don’t usually like backing last time out winners in handicaps, he needed to win that to get into this race so I am going to make an exception. At odds of 16/1, Mahons Glory is the each way play.
2026 Aintree Festival Friday Tip: Mahons Glory e/w @ 16/1 (6 places) NAP
4.40 – Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
The final live ITV race of the day is this 3m Grade 1 hurdle for the novices and it’s a decent sized field of 13. The Albert Bartlett winner Johnny’s Jury is the 10/3 favourite and No Drama This End, who was bitterly disappointing in the Turner’s at Cheltenham, is next best in the betting.
Zeus Power, third in the Turner’s, is really interesting upped in trip but bookies haven’t missed him so a chance is taken on Harbour Island. Trained by Olly Murphy, this son of Ultra got to within 4.5l of the Supreme third Mydaddypaddy at Carlisle, running on well for second.
Back On Track
He didn’t perform on his next start at Newbury, which may have come to soon, but he got back on track upped to 2m3f in a maiden hurdle at Taunton (gd-sft) and he followed up under a penalty over 2m4f in a novice on bad ground at Ffos Las in February.
This will be the furthest trip he has tackled to date but he’s a half-brother to the 2m7f winner Jon Snow and Saint Le Fort, who was also by Ultra and out of a Westerner mare, won over 3m so there is a good chance he could improve further for the step up in trip.
Now, this is a big step up in class but he’s fresher than most of the market leaders, he’s 3/3 on ground with good in the description and at odds of 22/1, Harbour Island is worth chancing e/w.
