13:40 Aintree

Friday 7 April 2017

All13:4014:2014:5015:2516:0516:4017:15

Alder Hey Children's Charity Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 13:41 | Winning time: 4m 56.3s

North Hill Harvey²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 146

9/1

Lightly raced gelding who won classy Grade 3 event at Cheltenham in the autumn. May have just needed the run when fading at the last at the Cheltenham Festival last month and has since been dropped 3lb so has to be respected.

Form: 21294-1

A Hare Breath²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling| OR: 142

40/1

7th in the Arkle Trophy over fenecs last month and switches back to timber here. Solid fourth last start over hurdles when 4th to North Hill Harvey in November and entitled to be there or thereabouts once again.

Form:

Runswick Royal¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 142

16/1

On a hat-trick after wins at Ayr and Kelso and comes here in cracking form. Does appear at his best when the mud is flying though and raised 7lb for his latest win so might find this a tough assignment.

Form: F2/P110-

Zubayr⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 140

16/1

Stable in top form at present. Disappointed in red-hot race at Newbury in February having previously shown useful form. Handicapper only slowly releasing his grip but represents top team and may well bounce back on better ground.

Form: 3F5062-

Thomas Campbell²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 139

8/1

Progressive handicapper who ran very well when fifth in a big field in hot race at the Cheltenham Festival last time out. Raised 2lbs since then, but clearly in great heart. Stable remains in very good form.

Form: 111554

Hawk High^b²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: T D Easterby| OR: 138

14/1

Appeared not to stay on first crack at longer trip in Coral Cup at Cheltenham last month and on this easier track could be a contender. Ground conditions are ideal, and has been dropped 2lb since last run so very much catches the eye.

Form: 320/59-3

Rather Be²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 136

10/1

Still unexposed at this level and had no chance when badly hampered and unseated rider early at Cheltenham last month. Classy sort who looks strong stable second string.

Form: 9-112U1

Geordie Des Champs⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonathan Moore⁽³⁾| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 135

12/1

Landed first three starts over hurdles earlier this term but wheels came off when beaten favourite and last of six in Grade 2 at Warwick in January. Soft ground didn't suit that day and may do better on sounder surface this time.

Form: 111263

Mad Jack Mytton²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 135

33/1

Capable but frustrating sort. In touch when unseated rider in this race 12-months ago, and was again in the mix when falling over fences at Cheltenham last month. Switch back to hurdles not sure to suit but can't be ruled out.

Form: U5-P225

Allee Bleue²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 135

40/1

Well behind when pulled up at Uttoxeter three weeks ago. Best form with plenty of give underfoot so likely to find things happening a bit too quick for him on this ground, in this company.

Form: 10-0512

Crievehill^h²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 135

33/1

Never figured in County Hurdle at Cheltenham last month but has ability and still relatively unexposed. Eased 2lb since last run, and with talented conditional rider claiming a further 3lb is not without hope.

Form: 6-2413

Byron Flyer¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 134

16/1

Industrious dual purpose performer who has won six of his last 12 races over the last year across both codes. Fit from the Flat and needs to improve on last hurdles effort, but yard continuing in fine form this term.

Form: 111801

Bigmartre²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Bannister⁽³⁾| T: H Whittington| OR: 134

33/1

Front runner who tired late on in soft ground in Imperial Cup at Sandown last time. On a better surface and sharper track here is of interest but has to prove himself at this trip.

Form: 1433-18

Ice Cold Soul^t⁷⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Cooper| T: N Meade| OR: 134

12/1

Raised 20lb since Boxing Day after two good wins at Leopardstown. Appears to have been saved for this race (didn't go to Cheltenham) and will be fresher than most. Top jockey on board and could command plenty of support.

Form: 15/5741-

Nautical Nitwit⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 134

100/1

Stays 3m well but might find things happening a bit quickly for him up in class. Others make more appeal in a hot race.

Form: 131B8F

Dream Berry^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: B J Geraghty| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 133

8/1

Didn't get best of runs at Kempton latest when good third and has done well most starts this term. Trip no problem and presence of top jockey in saddle sure to attract plenty of interest.

Form: 1-P6132

Dashing Oscar^t⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 132

16/1

Beaten odds-on favoruite last time over 2m and connections step him immediately back up in trip. Stable remains in fine form though so not beyond the bounds of possibility that he couldup his game.

Form: 19/20-11

Clondaw Kaempfer^b1,t⁶¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 131

33/1

Outpaced when fell in this race 12 months ago on soft ground. Better surface should help but might gfind a few too quick for him dropping back in distance.

Form: F/34177-

Craggaknock^p³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Jake Greenall| T: M Walford| OR: 131

33/1

Landed two Wetherby novice hurdles earlier in the term and should be fit after a spin on the Flat last month. Connections do well with limited firepower but this is a huge step up in class.

Form: 1150-

Sumkindofking²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 130

8/1

Solid enough run when fifth at Kempton last time, but handicapper appears to have his measure and needs to improve to be there at the business end of the race.

Form: 31-117

Sky Khan^p,t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 130

16/1

Interesting 4th in this race last year off a 10lb higher mark. Shaped with promise for a long way at Uttoxeter last month after winter break and looks to have been primed for another crack at this good prize.

Form: 665502-

Crystal Lad²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 130

16/1

Good effort latest when fourth and caught only on the run-in at Sandown in decent race. Raised just 1lb since, so defintely has claims in a very open affair.

Form: F4-42

Forecasts

Dream Berry (8/1), Thomas Campbell (8/1), Sumkindofking (8/1), North Hill Harvey (9/1), Rather Be (10/1), Geordie Des Champs (12/1), Ice Cold Soul (12/1), Hawk High (14/1), Byron Flyer (16/1), Zubayr (16/1), Dashing Oscar (16/1), Runswick Royal (16/1), Sky Khan (16/1), Crystal Lad (16/1), Clondaw Kaempfer (33/1), Bigmartre (33/1), Crievehill (33/1), Craggaknock (33/1), Mad Jack Mytton (33/1), A Hare Breath (40/1), Allee Bleue (40/1), Nautical Nitwit (100/1)

A hugely competitive event to start the meeting and many come here with genuine chances. Irish raider Ice Cold Soul has shot up the weights but looks very progressive and seems sure to be in the mix, a comment that applies to last year's fourth SKY KHAN who appears to have been laid out for a repeat bid and shaped nicely on his most recent start. Hawk High is another with claims back on this sharp track, as have Rather Be, Mad Jack Mytton, and Dream Berry. Paul Nicholls' Zubayr is another to catch the eye in a cracking contest.