The Grand National Festival Day 2 races include four Grade 1 races. We offer the latest odds, cards, results, specials and tips for every race.
Friday, April 4th, 2025
| Time | Race | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| 13:45 | Mildmay Novices Chase | 1 |
| 14:20 | William Hill Handicap Hurdle | 3 |
| 14:55 | Top Novices Hurdle | 1 |
| 15:30 | Melling Chase | 1 |
| 16:05 | Topham Chase | 3 |
| 16:40 | Sefton Novices Hurdle | 1 |
| 17:15 | Hallgarten and Novum Wines Handicap Hurdle | CL 2 |
Overview of Day 2 Races
Day 2 of the Aintree Grand National Festival is packed with Grade 1 action, competitive handicaps, and the thrill of the Grand National fences. From promising novices to seasoned chasers, Friday’s card offers a compelling mix of speed, stamina, and spectacle.
Here’s a look at what’s in store:
1:45PM: The Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices’ Steeple Chase
- Distance: Three miles, one furlong, and 31 yards (3m 210yds + 41yds)
- Conditions: A Grade 1 chase for novice chasers aged 5 and older. With a prize fund of £120,000, this race acts as a key end-of-season test for young stayers and is often targeted by horses coming out of the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.
2:20PM: The William Hill Handicap Hurdle
- Distance: Two miles, four furlongs, and 37 yards (2m 4f + 37yds)
- Conditions: A Premier Handicap hurdle for horses aged 4 and above, offering £75,000 in prize money. This competitive race often features a deep field and provides a solid betting opportunity for punters.
2:55PM: The TrustATrader Top Novices’ Hurdle
- Distance: Two miles and 132 yards (2m 103yds + 29yds)
- Conditions: A Grade 1 hurdle open to 4-year-olds and older, with £100,000 at stake. A springboard for potential Champion Hurdle contenders, this race highlights the top novice hurdlers of the season.
3:30PM: The My Pension Expert Melling Steeple Chase
- Distance: Two miles, four furlongs, and 9 yards (2m 3f 200yds + 29yds)
- Conditions: A Grade 1 steeple chase for 5-year-olds and older, with a generous £250,000 purse. Known as one of Aintree’s most prestigious races, it attracts top-class two-and-a-half-mile chasers, often including horses from the Champion Chase and Ryanair Chase divisions.
4:05PM: The Randox Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Topham Handicap Steeple Chase
- Distance: Two miles, five furlongs, and 34 yards (2m 5f 19yds + 15yds)
- Conditions: A Premier Handicap run over the Grand National fences, for horses aged 5 and up. With £150,000 on offer, it’s a thrilling and unpredictable race that serves as a prelude to the Grand National itself.
4:40PM: The Oddschecker Sefton Novices’ Hurdle
- Distance: Three miles and 190 yards (3m 149yds + 41yds)
- Conditions: A true stamina test for novice hurdlers aged 4 and above. This Grade 1 event, worth £100,000, is a critical proving ground for potential future staying stars of the hurdling division.
5:15PM: The Hallgarten and Novum Wines Handicap Hurdle
- Distance: Two miles and 132 yards (2m 103yds + 29yds)
- Conditions: A Class 2 handicap for conditional jockeys and amateur riders. Open to horses aged 4 and older, this £50,000 contest wraps up the day with a fiercely fought and often wide-open finale.
Key Races to Watch on Day 2
While every race on Friday offers intrigue and quality, these events are the standout contests on Day 2 of the Aintree Festival:
The Melling Steeple Chase
A crown jewel of the Friday card, the Melling Chase regularly draws some of the best two-and-a-half milers in training. With past winners including greats like Sprinter Sacre and Fakir D’Oudairies, it’s a race of high class and tactical brilliance that often delivers a memorable finish.
The Sefton Novices’ Hurdle
A key test for future stayers, the Sefton is where we often see the next generation of long-distance hurdlers break through. Its grueling three-mile trip makes it a true stamina test, and the quality of winners historically has been very high.
The Topham Handicap Chase
Few races capture the Aintree spirit quite like the Topham. Run over the iconic Grand National fences, it mixes the thrill of a big-field handicap with the spectacle of those famous obstacles. It’s not only a betting highlight but also a fantastic visual spectacle for racegoers and viewers alike.
The Top Novices’ Hurdle
This Grade 1 race has a strong record of producing future stars. Horses that impressed in the Supreme at Cheltenham often turn up here, and the Aintree test provides a new tactical angle, making it a fascinating clash for form watchers.
