Grand National gets taps turned on to ensure safe ground after long dry spell

Jon Pullin, the acting clerk of the course at Aintree, said on Wednesday that he will do whatever it takes to ensure that the Grand National meeting opens on good-to-soft ground on Thursday, despite unusually low levels of rainfall in the weeks running up to one of jump racing’s showpiece events.

March 2025 was one of the sunniest on record across much of the UK and watering of the track, which started at Aintree in the middle of the month, is likely to continue overnight once racing is underway to ensure that the going is as safe as possible for horses that will be taking off and landing at least eight times in every race.

“We’ve been watering since the week beginning 17th March, and we’re now up to an average of 60-65mm across the track, with some areas having had more and some a little less,” Pullin said.

“We’re watering again today, and it’s a warm and breezy afternoon with a similar forecast, if not a degree or two warmer, for tomorrow. So we’re hoping to certainly start with good-to-soft as the lead description and then we’ll reassess after racing as to what we may or may not need to do going forward.”

One positive for the ground staff at Aintree is that the unseasonally warm weather is settled, with little or no threat of rain arriving on watered ground.

“The evapotranspiration rate for the last few days has been around 2mm,” Pullin says, “so that’s 2mm that’s going straight up in the air through heat and wind. The grass itself is now in its growing stage so that’s taking up a considerable amount as well. It’s challenging conditions to alter the going but the team have done a fantastic job for the last two weeks and at least there’s no threat of rain, be it light showers or heavy. We know what we’re up against and we can act accordingly.”

The ground at Aintree is currently described as good-to-soft on the Grand National course – which also stages the Foxhunters’ Chase on Thursday’s card and the Topham Handicap Chase on Friday – while the Mildmay course, where the bulk of the meeting’s races will be run, is good-to-soft, good in places.

Keep faith in the Constitution

Constitution Hill’s aura of invincibility disappeared in an instant when he crashed out of the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, but he is reported to have been training well since and should prove that he is still the best hurdler around in the Grade One Aintree Hurdle on Thursday.

Nicky Henderson’s eight-year-old has always been brave over his hurdles and was arguably a little unlucky at Cheltenham as the fifth flight moved back at him mid-jump after being clipped by a runner in front of him.

He comfortably saw off the challenge of Lossiemouth, his main market rival, in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, and while she is at her best over Thursday’s two-and-a-half mile trip, it holds no fears for the favourite either after his easy success in the same race two years ago.

Even with a 7lb mares’ allowance taken into account, Constitution Hill (3.30) is nearly a stone in front of Lossiemouth on Timeform’s ratings and a top price of around 5-6 seems more than fair.

Constitution Hill was favourite when falling in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival. Photograph: ITV

Aintree 1.45 Jango Baie, the Arkle winner, looks sure to be suited by the return to two-and-a-half miles after his rattling late finish at Cheltenham but that was a big effort just over three weeks ago and Gidleigh Park could take advantage. Harry Fry’s runner was an impressive winner at Windsor in January from Caldwell Potter, who followed up in style in the novice handicap chase at Cheltenham.

Aintree 2.20 Another Cheltenham winner in Puturhandstogether looks to back up a huge run at the Festival. Dan Skelton’s Live Conti, a winner on a tight rein at Wetherby in February, will be fresher and may not have much to find to extend his unbeaten record to three starts.

Aintree 2.55 Grey Dawning was right back to his spectacular best at Kelso last time after a disappointing run in the King George at Christmas, with his jumping under pressure particularly impressive in the closing stages. That could tip the balance against Spillane’s Tower, who was also below his best at Kempton and has been freshened up since.

Aintree 4.05 A big field as ever for the Foxhunters’ over the National course though possibly less depth than normal behind the top four in the betting. All four have solid claims, including Willitgoahead, a fine third in the Cheltenham equivalent on his debut for Gordon Elliott last month but marginal preference is for Lifetime Ambition, who was running a fine race and jumping superbly over this track in the 2023 National before he was wiped out by a loose horse at Valentine’s.

Aintree 4.40 Petit Tonnerre should get the strong pace he needs to show his best, has an obvious chance on his winning form at Doncaster in January and is just 5lb higher here.