Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets on Thursday at Aintree including 40/1 fancy

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Aintree Day 1 Superboost

Selma De Vary ran an excellent race in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, finishing a narrow fourth after being short of room up the home straight. She looks sure to improve on that in today's Boodles 4yo Juvenile Hurdle at 13:45, which is why she's 9/43.25 favourite to win the race.

She's also 2/51.40 to finish in the top three today but you can back her at the super-boosted price of 1/12.00 to finish in the placings, and with only 10 runners in the race, five of which are priced at 40/141.00 or higher, that looks an excellent price.

To take advantage of today's Superboost just click on the odds below to go directly to the Horse Racing section on the Betfair Sportsbook where you will see the Selma De Vary Superboost towards the top of the page.

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Listen to Racing...Only Bettor's Aintree Day 1 Preview...

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Aintree, 13:45 - Back Mange Tout @ 9/25.50

Likeable filly Mange Tout, who is a half-sister to talented Grade One winner Impaire Et Passe, missed Cheltenham therefore should be the fresher horse coming into this race. She has already shown to possess a high level of ability when beaten Narciso Has by two-and-three-quarter-lengths earlier in the season, and, although she couldn't confirm that form at the Dublin Racing Festival, remains open to further improvement and has had a break.

Clearly a talented filly with a bright future ahead of her, the daughter of Born To Sea should be able to hold her own in this field and remains open to further improvement. She wears a hood once again as she bids to return to the winners' enclosure by making it three from four for the season, and could use her extra freshness to her benefit late on in a tight knit affair featuring a number of talented young performers.

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Aintree, 13:45 - Back Ammes E/W @ 40/141.00

Equipped with a first-time visor, James Owen-trained Ammes in an interesting outsider in this competitive juvenile Grade One, the opening race of the 2026 Grand National Festival. He was narrowly denied when an eyecatching, perhaps unlucky second to Minella Study at Wetherby earlier in the season, sent off at odds of 2/51.40 that day when beaten by a horse that has shown great progression since.

Only seen once over obstacles following that Listed second, the son of No Nay Never managed only 12th in the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival, but could be worth forgiving that run in a tricky, big field handicap in which he was in the process of running well before being unable to quicken turning for home. He has previously show to possess speed and has shaped with great potential, and, if the addition of headgear has a positive effect, he could be able to outrun his odds under Sean Bowen.

It's too early to give up on the youngster who has form with one of the juvenile stars of the season so far in Minella Study, who reopposes. He holds each-way claims if shaping better, and, although he needs to step up and find further improvement, is far from a forlorn hope at generous odds of 40/141.00.

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Aintree, 14:20 - Back Mambonumberfive E/W @ 16/117.00

It's worth forgiving Mambonumberfive's latest run in the Kingmaker at Warwick as he was unable to get into a rhythm at a track where jumping well is crucial, in heavy conditions whilst in a small three-runner field. He's better than shown on that occasion, having previously landed the Wayward Lad, a race with a dazzling roll of honour in recent years which includes names such as Altior, Cyrname, Shishkin and Sir Gino. 

At Kempton in his penultimate start, the five-year-old made swift headway from towards the rear and quickly put the race to bed, appearing to have plenty left in the reserves. He steps up in trip here and could be able to show further improvement over the extra distance, having shaped well over the minimum trip under patient rides.

With course form in his favour too, and having missed out on his Cheltenham assignment, there's plenty to like about Mambonumberfive and his chance of running a big race in his first Grade One over fences. He'll need to improve plenty to match the level shown by Lulamba, and, whilst Koktain Divin is a promising chaser with plenty of potential, Mambonumberfive may be better suited by conditions and comes into the race a fresher horse, capable of taking advantage should either of the top two fail to show up at the best of their ability.

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Aintree, 16:05 - Back Alexei E/W @ 9/110.00

Alexei was in the process of running a brilliant race when making a mistake at the final flight in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He was on par with Brighterdaysahead and The New Lion at the time before losing momentum, likely to have posed a serious threat for the minor honours behind dominant winner Lossiemouth.

Finishing eventually in fourth at Prestbury Park, it was a hugely creditable effort at odds of 22/123.00, and he remains open to showing further improvement having risen from the handicap sphere to proving his mettle at the top table.

Trained by Joe Tizzard, Alexei is a horse on an upward trajectory and makes appeal at double-figure odds in this field. He was in contention with the two main market leaders in this race when last seen, and with a cleaner jump may have finished ahead of them that day.

Whilst he'll need to prove his stamina over this extra distance, Alexei has stayed on well enough over two miles at Cheltenham in softer conditions to suggest a step up is worth trying and he's an improver holding each-way claims.

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Aintree, 16:40 - Back Highlands Legacy E/W @ 15/28.50

Jonjo and AJ O'Neill-trained Highlands Legacy has already run well over course-and-distance this season when narrowly denied by a promising youngster in Mambonumberfive, who is now rated 18lb higher on 146 following a comfortable Grade Two success, with the scope for further progression.

The seven-year-old is 12lb higher than his latest appearance here, but has been in good form since and is only 6lb above his latest win when successful at Windsor in January. In his penultimate start, he finished a good second at Newbury to Mighty Bandit, who has since won twice, including a 17-length success from a mark of 142 when last seen, achieving a rating of 152 in the process.

Highlands Legacy has performed consistently well throughout the season and remains on an upward trajectory. The son of Kayf Tara has shown a good level of form against some progressive rivals, and, with course form in his favour too from a potentially lenient mark still, he holds leading claims under Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

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Aintree, 17:15 - Back Tiktok Casey E/W @ 16/117.00

Peter Fahey has been represented by only two bumper runners at this course, winning once. He saddles five-year-old mare Tiktok Casey in the concluding contest on the opening day of the Grand National Festival, a daughter of Poet's Word who could be capable of outrunning her odds of 16/117.00.

Holding each-way claims with four places available, the mount of Mark Walsh has shaped with promise in two starts under Rules. She won at Naas in her penultimate start, defying odds of 20/121.00 to beat a field which included subsequent winner Of Land And Sea, as well as point winner Think It Through, who has run well since.

Tiktok Casey then placed third in an eventful Grade Two bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival, beaten only by Moonverrin and Royal Hillsborough when ahead of the likes of Brosna Shine, Wonderful Everyday, second in Listed company since, in a race which also featured Celestial Tune.

This is only her third start under Rules and she remains open to showing further progression and a higher level of ability, but has already achieved black-type with proven form at this level. Considering this, she could represent value at double-figure odds, capable of making the frame at the least having gained experience in this Grade previously.

Her distant relative The Govaness once finished fourth in a Listed bumper at this meeting, whilst Red Marauder, an Aintree winner in the family, landed the most prestigious prize of all at the track 25 years ago.

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Aintree, 17:15 - Back Divine Diva E/W @ 25/126.00

Divine Diva is another to consider each-way in Thursday's finale. Representing Dan Skelton, she could outrun her odds under Tristan Durrell on the back of a creditable second in a Listed Cheltenham bumper to Celestial Tune last November.

That was her first and sole start to date under Rules, following a point win over the reopposing Lennon Grove, who has since franked the form and finished third in a Listed race of her own last month.

The daughter of Milan is another who has proven her credentials of competing in black-type company, having made the frame when last seen, and better ground with the benefit of experience could allow her to show further improvement, making her one to note at a price of 25/126.00.

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Back Highlands Legacy (16.40 Aintree) and Tiktok Casey (17.15 Aintree) in an each-way double 

Betfair is offering Bet £10 Get £10 on Racing Multis each day of the Aintree Grand National Festival (from 5pm Weds), and the multi that makes the most appeal on Thursday is an each-way double later on the card featuring Highlands Legacy and Tiktok Casey.

The former has course form with a talented performer in Mambonumberfive, who lines up in Grade One company earlier in the day. He's an improving horse still on an upward trajectory, with plenty of substance to his form this term, potentially still ahead of his mark.

In the finale, Tiktok Casey has already proven her capabilties of putting in a competitive effort at this level and, although she'll need to show further improvement against some less exposed rivals, is a promising mare representing a trainer with winning form in bumpers at the track.

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