13:45 Aintree

Saturday 8 April 2017

All13:4514:2515:0015:4016:2017:1518:15

Gaskells Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 6m 2.4s

Zarkandar^b,t²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Stan Sheppard⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 151

14/1

Useful horse on his day and successful in Grade 2 company at Haydock in February. Well beaten seventh in a Grade 1 contest last time out. Making his first handicap start in over four years in this.

Form: 234/3-U5

Desert Cry^b²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 150

50/1

Easy winner of a handicap event on heavy ground over an extended 2m4f at Ayr last time out. Has won over 2m7f already this season and remains of interest despite a 10lb rise in the weights.

Form: 4-33621

Barney Dwan²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 148

9/1

Finished runner-up in a valuable 24 runner event at the Cheltenham Festival last month. Not beaten far off this mark when fourth at Exeter on soft ground the time before and likely to run well once more.

Form: 11413-2

Whataknight^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 146

12/1

Most recent success came in a four runner novice chase at Hereford in October. Finished a decent second in a handicap hurdle at Doncaster a month ago and likely to put in another decent effort off a 2lb higher mark here.

Form: 121026-

Briery Queen^h²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: L P Aspell| T: Noel Williams| OR: 144

16/1

Completed a hat-trick by winning first time out this season at Cheltenham in December. Ran a solid race when beaten less than 6L in a Grade 1 mares event over 2m4f at Cheltenham last month and steps up in trip here.

Form: 1F411-1

Golden Doyen²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 143

33/1

Winner of his penultimate outing at Cheltenham over 3m in October. Well beaten over the same C&D last month but yard going well at present (8/36) and could surprise a few better fancied rivals in this event.

Form: 241100

Rons Dream²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 143

33/1

Winner of a Listed mares hurdle over 2m5f at Warwick in February but finished behind Briery Queen amongst others when sixth at Cheltenham last month. Races off a mark 6lb higher than when successful in a handicap hurdle at Ayr 12 months ago.

Form: 25691-2

Splash of Ginge²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 140

25/1

Twice ran well at Haydock this season including when winning off an 8lb lower mark in December. Sent off a big price for a hot race at Cheltenham last time out and looks likely to find a few too good again here.

Form: 306-446

Holywell^p²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr J J O'Neill⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 140

25/1

Usually comes good at this time of year but disappointed when pulled up at Cheltenham over fences last time out. Winner off this mark over hurdles in the past but that success was over four years ago. Has a useful amateur in the saddle here.

Form: 4P2F-70

The Tourard Man²³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Kevin Dowling⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A King| OR: 140

25/1

Ran well when finishing fourth having been sent off 66/1 for a competitive 3m handicap at Cheltenham last month. Had been disappointing in a couple of handicap outings prior to that and remains to be seen whether he can repeat that latest effort.

Form: 505481-

Morello Royale^t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 139

33/1

Finished runner-up behind an improving rival at Newbury over 3m in February but well beaten over 2m5f at Cheltenham subsequently. Return to this trip should suit but appears vulnerable here.

Form: F4180-4

For Good Measure²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 138

16/1

Well beaten when ninth at Cheltenham last month but had been placed in two of his three previous outings this season, both coming at that track. Likely to prefer a stiffer finish than he'll encounter here.

Form: 03-2252

No Comment^h²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 137

5/1

Recorded a hat-trick earlier this season but well held when beaten 12L in a conditional jockeys event when making his handicap debut last month. Return to a less testing track likely to suit but stamina unproven over 3m.

Form: 211172

Fountains Windfall²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 137

11/1

Recorded a double in novice hurdles last month including when justifying odds-on favouritism at Plumpton last time out. Step back up in trip should suit and a leading contender in this.

Form: 173111

Dadsintrouble²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Alan Johns⁽³⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 136

16/1

Winner of two handicap hurdles at Haydock earlier this year but well beaten in an extended 2m4f contest at Cheltenham last month. Step back up to in likely to suit and and interesting runner here.

Form: 5/541-3F

Leoncavallo^p²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr Alex Ferguson⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 136

50/1

Runner-up in a four-year-old hurdle at Cheltenham on debut for this stable in October. Well beaten since including at Cheltenham last month and looks up against it in this.

Form: 1U5-27P

Mr Mcgo⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 136

50/1

Had just four outings under rules but a winner twice over hurdles already. Well beaten in a Grade 2 contest at Cheltenham when last seen out in January and makes his handicap debut here.

Form: PPF1-91

Joe Farrell⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Jonathan Moore⁽³⁾| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 135

20/1

Winner on debut for this stable at Ffos Las in November and best run since when finishing runner-up over an extend 2m7f at Ascot in February. Return to predicted better ground likely to suit.

Form: 127/1-17

Duke Street²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 135

14/1

Successful in a Flat handicap on his penultimate outing at Chelmsford in February. Ran well to finish fourth in a 19 runner contest at Kempton over hurdles subsequently and interesting in this.

Form: 022403

Doesyourdogbite²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 135

33/1

Victorious three times in late 2016 including off a 3lb lower mark over 2m5f at Kempton in December. Well beaten in three runs since however including at Cheltenham last month and more is needed to take this.

Form: 11

Forthefunofit^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 135

25/1

Winner of his last two hurdles outings including over 2m7f at Market Rasen last time out. Easily justified favouritism by 10L on that occasion. Races off a 10lb higher mark here and would ideally prefer softer ground than is predicted today.

Form: 10/64-96

No Hassle Hoff⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 134

4/1

Finished 9L runner-up in a Grade 2 contest over 2m7f at Haydock last time out. Also filled the same position at Doncaster in a similar event the time before. Makes his handicap debut here and likely to run well for a yard in good form recently (11/39).

Form: 2-

Forecasts

No Hassle Hoff (4/1), No Comment (5/1), Barney Dwan (9/1), Fountains Windfall (11/1), Whataknight (12/1), Duke Street (14/1), Zarkandar (14/1), Dadsintrouble (16/1), Briery Queen (16/1), For Good Measure (16/1), Joe Farrell (20/1), Forthefunofit (25/1), The Tourard Man (25/1), Splash of Ginge (25/1), Holywell (25/1), Rons Dream (33/1), Morello Royale (33/1), Golden Doyen (33/1), Doesyourdogbite (33/1), Mr Mcgo (50/1), Desert Cry (50/1), Leoncavallo (50/1)

BARNEY DWAN finished runner-up in a competitive event over this distance at Cheltenham last month. Only an impressive Irish raider was able to defeat the selection on that occasion and he can take this competitive opener here. Of his rivals No Hassle Hoff stays this trip well having finished runner-up over an extended 3m on his penultimate outing and is likely to be held up for a late run here while No Comment can claim third on just his second outing in handicap company.