2026 Aintree Festival Saturday Preview – DS
2026 Aintree Festival Saturday Preview
We started off with a 20/1 place with our NB Ike Sport on Friday. Check out Dave Stevos’ 2026 Aintree Festival Saturday preview below.
1.20 – W Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier)
We managed to find Deep Cave at a big price in this race last year. This year, I’m going to take a chance on the rank outsider, Minella Rescue. Trained by Gary Hanmer, it has been a quiet season so for this 8yo son of Beat Hollow. However, I am hoping that he has been trained with this meeting in mind.
At last year’s Grand National Festival this lad ran an absolute cracker in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle, beaten just 2l by Julius Des Pictons when an unconsidered 50/1 shot. He came into that race rated 121 and was hiked up 13lb but he proved it was no fluke when winning at Uttoxeter two runs later off his revised mark of 133.
On his next start, again at Uttoxeter, he was beaten just 2.25l into second off 136 and he pitches up off that same rating here. His only run at his optimal trip of 3m this term came at Doncaster in February but the ground was soft. He was kept wide and never put into the race in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham but I am hoping to see a different ride here.
Maybe Minella Rescue has just lost his way, or maybe he’s been laid out for this race and with odds of 50/1 on offer, it is worth chancing that the latter scenario holds true.
2026 Aintree Festival Saturday Tip: Minella Rescue e/w @ 50/1 (5 places)
1.55 – Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
A few seem to have a squeak here at big prices and the one I eventually came down on was the Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies trained 5yo, Masked Man. By Masked Marvel, this point to point winner has scored in two of his three starts over hurdles.
On his Rules’ debut at Chepstow (2m, good) he was sent off the 7/4 fav and he won as he liked, making all for a 12l win and the runner up has since won twice and is now rated 132. The third and the fourth have both won races too so it wasn’t a bad maiden hurdle.
On his next start Masked Man was stepped up into Grade 2 company at Haydock (2m, gd-sft) and he probably just got done for a bit of toe by Diamond Hunter, who beat him by just under 2l. Almost 4l behind Masked Man in third was Sticktotheplan, since runner up in the County Hurdle and now rated 142.
Masked Man stepped up to just short of 2m4f in an egg and spoon race at Lingfield last time and won doing handstands. This is obviously harder but he’s a fresh horse, I think his form stands up to scrutiny and at odds of 20/1, he is worth chancing each way.
2026 Aintree Festival Saturday Tip: Masked Man e/w @ 20/1 NAP
2.30 – W Hill Handicap Chase (Premier)
Our old friend Deep Cave runs here after narrowly missing out on getting a run in the big one. He needs to go up a few pounds in the handicap to ensure he gets in next year so he should be trying here and I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins. However, he’s not 40/1 like last year so we’ll have to try and find an each way bet elsewhere.
Back in December Deep cave won at Ascot, beating Leave Of Absence by a head. Anthony Honeyball’s charge, who landed a place for us at Cheltenham in March when finishing fifth, is 1lb better off with that rival now so theoretically, there shouldn’t be much between them again.
Leave Of Absence has yet to run over jumps at Aintree but he did finish third in the Grade 2 bumper at this meeting in 2022 so he does at least have some form at the track. He loves good ground and while carrying 12 stone won’t be easy, I think he’s capable of going closer than he did at Cheltenham as that race didn’t pan out ideally for him. At odds of 14/1, back Leave Of Absence e/w.
2026 Aintree Festival Saturday Tip: Leave Of Absence e/w @ 14/1 (4 places) NB
3.05 – Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1)
We backed Take No Chances in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham but she ran a disappointing race. Perhaps 2m4f is a bit too sharp for her these days and given how well she ran on her last two starts at this sort of trip, she might be worth giving another chance to here.
The 8yo daughter of Milan got to within a neck of Strong Leader in a Grade 2 at Wetherby (good ground) in November and that gelding is a 4/1 shot here. On her next start in another Grade 2 on soft ground at Newbury, she finished third, just over 3l behind Impose Toi and Strong Leader, but I would expect her to get closer to both those rivals on this sounder surface.
I think her price of 25/1 is an overreaction to that last run at Cheltenham and at those odds, Take No Chances has to be backed each way.
2026 Aintree Festival Saturday Tip: Take No Chances e/w @ 25/1
4.00 – Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier)
I have already tipped up Jordans and High Class Hero for this race ante-post at 40s and 50s respectively. I have also written a 4k word runner-by-runner preview with two more e/w selections, you can read that by clicking here.
