Grand National festival day 1: Thursday’s three horse racing accumulator tips

The runner-up over the same 2m4f trip and on the same soft ground as that Cheltenham Festival success is Grey Dawning. He was second to Ginny’s Destiny at Cheltenham in December, giving 3lb to the winner.

Despite making an error at the second-last, he finished only three-quarters of a length behind. Grey Dawning has proven his stamina over a longer trip, winning a soft-ground Grade 2 over 3m by 14 lengths at Warwick in January.

Thus, he is expected to perform well and secure back-to-back Grade 1 victories at the Grand National meeting. Another contender is a filly who was a respectable runner-up on her stable debut for Mullins in a Grade 2 on yielding ground at Leopardstown on Boxing Day.

She then went on to win a Grade 1 at the same track in February, beating subsequent Triumph Hurdle winner Majborough by nearly two lengths. This victory came on the same soft ground that she will encounter here.

With a strong level of form, she is receiving 7lb from a rival and is expected to perform well at the Grand National meeting. Honky Tonk Highway, who recently made a successful stable debut for Dan Skelton, is also expected to perform well.

Emulating Diva Luna, she landed a Listed event on her first start under rules last month. With testing conditions not being an issue for the five-year-old, she is another contender to watch out for at the Grand National meeting.

Mullins won this Grade 1 with a filly, Zenta, last year and may repeat the feat. Offers from Racing Post are handpicked and come from operators that have the best first-hand experience.