AINTREE FESTIVAL DAY 1 - 2026

This looks like a great and very competitive renewal of the Juvenile Hurdle with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th from Cheltenham, all running in this race. At Cheltenham our main bet was MAESTRO CONTI and we also had a cover bet on Selma De Vary at prices of 15/2 and 4/1. We can’t cover both today because the prices do not allow it, but even so, I am firmly in the MAESTRO CONTI camp given he is a bigger price than Selma Da Vary, despite finishing ahead of her at Cheltenham. MAESTRO CONTI was 2nd and Selma was 4th.

I thought Selma travelled well but I have questions about how she finishes her races. In her two races this season she has travelled very well, but when it mattered most, she didn’t finish either race as I would like to see. That could change; she is still improving but those are my reservations and why I want to be in the MAESTRO CONTI camp.

Like Selma, MAESTRO CONTI is still vastly improving and we have not seen anywhere near his best in my opinion. I feel that at Cheltenham he may well have won on another day, he travelled, he jumped, he flew up the hill but perhaps the wide route was his undoing.

With fewer runners in this race there will be less traffic, allowing Harry Skelton to basically pick his desired path. I think MAESTRO CONTI will turn into a proper horse, he has a lovely huge frame and a great way of racing. Most importantly he can dig deep at the end of the race, which is a natural ability some horses lack.

The other danger is Minella Study who was 3rd in the Triumph Hurdle. However, in my opinion—and I could be wrong—I don’t see any further improvement from him, I think he has reached his ceiling, whereas I can see more improvement coming from MAESTRO CONTI and Selma De Vary.

It is a great race and you could make a strong case for a few of these but at the price of 7/2, I am happy enough with MAESTRO CONTI who I think will excel at a course like Aintree and in a small field. WIN.

 

This was quite an easy selection for me to be honest as I have had UNEXPECTED PARTY on my radar for this race, since 14th February when he won at Haydock. Immediately after the race Dan Skelton said the intention is to go to Aintree. Cheltenham was never mentioned, this race has been the plan for sometime and he comes here a fresh horse. Not only is he a fresh horse but he is also the highest rated horse in the race. For over half the field he is rated a 20lb better horse. UNEXPECTED PARTY, a former winner of the Grand Annual Chase, is all class. Although Barton Snow and It’s On The Line present competition, they both had a very hard race at Cheltenham. It was also over 3 miles and we have seen twice in the past with It’s On The Line that he gets left at the back of the field in this race because he can’t maintain the pace at the start, given the race distance is over two miles five furlongs, despite being a former winner of this race. 

I just think the trip is perfect for UNEXPECTED PARTY, the ground will be perfect and when Dan Skelton has a long term plan, you take notice. WIN.

 

Good Luck