Grand National day at Aintree brought more live racing action in the Maghull Novice Chase, with the latest updates coming in just after 12.45pm. The race produced a fast early tempo, plenty of movement at the head of the field and another notable winner for Dan Skelton’s stable.
From the start, there looked likely to be a strong pace. Several runners wanted to go forward early, and Be Aware was among the first to make the running. The horse jumped to the right at the opening fence but still managed to grab the lead.
Salvatore Mundi then moved through the field well and joined Be Aware at the front. The favourite, however, was not especially fluent through the early stages, even as the leading pair continued to dictate matters.
As the runners turned for home, the race was still very much in the balance. Kala Conti appeared poised to mount a challenge, but the momentum changed when the horse fell at the third-last fence. That incident opened the door for the closers behind.
Mirabad seized the opportunity. Ready to challenge after the fall, the horse took over and quickly kicked clear to secure what was described as an easy win. It was another important success for Dan Skelton, who was noted in the live coverage as the “outative champion trainer” and who landed another big prize on the Aintree card.
Maghull Novice Chase betting
- Salvatore Mundi – 11/10
- Kala Conti – 11/4
- Mighty Bandit – 7/1
- Be Aware – 10/1
- No Questions Asked – 20/1
- Alnilam – 22/1
- Mirabad – 50/1
- King Of Kingsfield – 50/1
The live blog continued to track the day’s racing at Aintree, with full betting information available via Oddschecker. On a day dominated by Grand National coverage, the Maghull Novice Chase added more drama and another clear example of how quickly the race picture can change over the fences.
With runners jumping, early pace in place and a late mistake proving decisive, the race underlined the unpredictable nature of Aintree’s big-race atmosphere. Mirabad’s victory rounded off the contest in convincing style, while the pre-race market had placed Salvatore Mundi as the 11/10 favourite ahead of Kala Conti at 11/4.
The update formed part of the wider Grand National 2026 live coverage, which followed all the latest horse racing news and developments from Aintree throughout the afternoon.
