16:40 Aintree

Friday 7 April 2017

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

Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 16:41 | Winning time: 6m 5.9s

Ballymalin²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 138

16/1

Winner of four novice hurdles this season from five outings in that sphere before he was stepped into handicap company at Exeter for his debut in that arena. He finished a very creditable third on that occasion and then emerged with credit from his second handicap start when finishing seventh in the Pertemps Final at the Festival. Reverts to novice company now but with the toughest competition he's faced.

Form: 203-131

Beyond Conceit^h1²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| OR: 142

9/1

Very useful on the Flat when trained by Andrew Balding, he's also shown a similar level of form over hurdles winning his first two starts over a shorter trip than today. Given a tough test in the Supreme when moving back to 2m and running as well as could be expected given a sharper test. Should be suited this test wearing headgear (hood) for the first time.

Form: /1

Constantine Bay²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 142

11/4

One of three in this that contested the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham and did the best of that trio when finishing in fourth spot. That defeat ended his winning run at three (previously unbeaten over hurdles) but he still showed that he could win a race at this level. His Doncaster win prior to his placed effort at Cheltenham showed what he could do and the tactical nature of the race at the Festival didn't really suit him. A strong pace will really suit him and he rates as one of the main players here.

Form: 21-1

Debece³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 137

11/1

An improving sort who the stable look to have taken their time with having raced him sparingly in recent seasons. Ran a couple of nice races in November/December at Cheltenham and Aintree in handicaps, before running away with a Newbury handicap coming back off a break and given a stiffer test of stamina than previously. Now moves up in grade over a new trip (should have no stamina problems) but would have a bit to do based on his form so far.

Form: 441-123

Elegant Escape²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 138

25/1

Winner of two novice hurdles on his first two starts at Chepstow and Ascot over 2m4f and 2m5f. Faced some tough tasks since then in top-class company and showed that Grade 1 level is a bridge too far for him at the moment when finishing seventh in the Albert Bartlett and looks set to have a tough task again here.

Form: 2-11

Get On The Yager²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 135

10/1

One of a small number in this that missed the Cheltenham Festival, and is the winner of three hurdles this year all in novice company. Found out when tried in a Grade 2 at Warwick in January (soft) over 2m5f behind the subsequent Neptune winner and that run alone gives him a little bit to find here.

Form: 11-12

Keeper Hill²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 139

9/1

The sole representative of the Neptune form in this having finished seventh in that event having won several novice events this year. Did show himself a little bit better than just novice level with that Neptune win and a Listed novices' hurdle win at Huntingdon, although the second in that Huntingdon race reversed the form at Cheltenham. Did make a bad mistake at halfway in the Neptune but like many of these will make a better chaser in time.

Form: 13-21

Monbeg Charmer⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 135

18/1

Bumper winner (on debut) who has won two of his three starts over hurdles; the latest coming in a small field at Musselburgh where he beat four last time out winners. Appears best when making the running and has a rather free-going style, but jumps well and worth a go in this grade although he will have to improve on his form so far.

Form: 1/17-12

Testify⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 135

33/1

Winner of two novice hurdles one over just short of 3m at Bangor which was his second hurdles win. Didn't look at his best last time out under a double penalty at Newcastle over 2m6f looking awkward for much of the straight and would need to step up on his form so far.

Form: 2-12

The Worlds End²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 149

3/1

Has looked a very progressive sort winning three hurdles on the bounce with a victory in a Haydock Grade 2 being the most impressive, beating a useful field by 9L over 2m7f. That run gave him a leading chance in the Albert Bartlett where he fell 2 out after travelling well through the race and looking as though he would take a hand in the finish. Provided that fall hasn't taken its toll he comes here with a leading chance to make amends.

Form: F1-

West Approach^t1²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 157

8/1

Despite some very solid form he still has only one hurdles win to his name and that came in a fairly ordinary Newton Abbot novice hurdle last May. He has been highly tried in most of his runs though with the last five all coming in Grade 1 or 2 company over staying trips. Connections took the brave route at Cheltenham and ran him in the Stayers Hurdle but shaped he shaped as if he was amiss there and was pulled-up before the last. Clearly has the form to be competitive here but has to bounce back from his last run.

Form: 20-1235

Non-Runners

Moulin A Vent⁴³

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: N Meade J: Sean Flanagan

Forecasts

Constantine Bay (11/4), The Worlds End (3/1), West Approach (8/1), Beyond Conceit (9/1), Keeper Hill (9/1), Get On The Yager (10/1), Debece (11/1), Moulin A Vent (14/1), Ballymalin (16/1), Monbeg Charmer (18/1), Elegant Escape (25/1), Testify (33/1)

Chasing will be the game of plenty of these in the future in a race that features some progressive and likeable types. The Albert Bartlett form is well represented by the principals with the fourth from that race – Constantine Bay again facing THE WORLDS END who fell two out when moving well having travelled strongly. Those two very much have the best form in the race with the jury still out on West Approach who ran a disappointing race last time out. It's then a case of looking at the runners with potential and that would bring Beyond Conceit, Debece and Keeper Hill into the equation. The first-named of that trio was a classy performer on the Flat and could well enjoy this trip while Debece would have a bit to do on his form so far but did demolish a handicap field last time out and has plenty of potential at this trip.