16:20 Aintree

Saturday 8 April 2017

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

Ryanair Stayers Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 6m 3.6s

Aux Ptits Soins⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 148

20/1

Lightly-raced in recent seasons although has shown some good form in decent events having won the Coral Cup at Cheltenham two years ago. Only seen once last season (finished fifth in the World Hurdle) and then tried over fences this season with one success to his name. Returned to hurdling last time out when second in the Rendlesham at Haydock despite making mistakes to stablemate Zarkandar. Can travel strongly in a race but the mistakes do hinder his chance.

Form: 1311/5-2

Ballyoptic²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: R Johnson| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 160

7/1

Smart sort but has had a chequered season full of ups and downs although he started the season very much on the up winning a good Chepstow handicap to complete a four-timer from the preceding season. That run of wins included winning the 3m Grade 1 novice hurdle at last year's Grand National meeting. All his runs subsequent to his Chepstow win have come in Graded company with a couple falls late on in races blighting his record. Pulled-up in the Stayers Hurdle last time and has to turn the form around with a couple.

Form: 111-1F2

Cole Harden^v1²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 161

4/1

Winner of the World Hurdle in 2015 he's not won a race since despite some very creditable efforts in the highest grade. Finished second in this race after World Hurdle triumph and that has set up a run of placed efforts, the last three coming at Cheltenham. Front-running tactics always mean he's there to be shot at and needs the ground to be on the quick side to show his best.

Form: 4/2324P-

Different Gravey^p1⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 158

16/1

Only defeated once in his first five starts over hurdles and showed his best form in those races when returning from a long absence to win impressively at Ascot in early 2016. Upped in grade after that he failed to shine in this race last year finishing fifth of the six runners. Sent chasing this year and won on debut but returned to hurdling (unsuccessfully) after a poor second run over fences and the jury is still out on his prospects here.

Form: 11/15-15

Ptit Zig^b⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150

14/1

Has won some good-class races over both hurdles and fences with his biggest win coming last summer in France in an extended 3m Grade 1 hurdle. Very lightly raced since then and seen just three times with his last two outing in Britain being very disappointing and the displays were both laboured. Stays this trip and the break he's had may have benefitted him but he comes with risks and others are preferred.

Form: 413486

Puffin Billy⁷²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 142

33/1

Comes back from a very long absence after winning his last three races in 2015 all over fences. Did well to come back from a very heavy fall at Ascot that season but hasn't run over hurdles since being pulled-up over them directly after the Ascot fall. Stays this trip but it's expecting too much here for him to return at this level and against some in-form horses.

Form: 1FP111/

Snow Falcon²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 157

9/1

Started the season in good style (had run on the Flat prior to first run over hurdles this season) with a win in Grade 2 at Navan before falling 3 out when likely to be involved in the finish at Newbury. Has looked in good heart in three starts since that fall all in graded company but his fifth in the Stayers Hurdle last time out probably summed up how good he is at the highest level.

Form: 1F3253

Supasundae²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 155

5/1

One of many Irish winners at Cheltenham when taking the Coral Cup (beat Taquin Du Seuil) and looking in that race as though he was capable of stepping up in grade over hurdles. Interestingly enough his bumper form was very classy (beat Yanworth and Thistlecrack in that sphere) and he may well have a lot more to offer over hurdles. The turn of foot that he showed in the Coral Cup was impressive and he's not to be taken lightly here for his very capable trainer.

Form: 6/9317-4

Taquin Du Seuil²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 153

20/1

Won the BetVictor Gold Cup this season and finished a very good second in the Coral Cup running off an 8lb lower mark than when he won the BetVictor Gold Cup. Faces a tougher test here though back at this level and has work to do at the weights with the improving Supersundae on their Coral Cup form. May well outrun his odds with the stable in good form over the recent weeks.

Form: 9/165-61

Three Musketeers^p⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 147

25/1

Started his hurdling career in good style winning his first two races before running a very sound third in a Grade 1 novice at this meeting two years ago over 2m4f. Switched to fences after that run his career in that sphere has rather flattered to deceive with two wins along the way but a few flops also occurring. Now comes back to hurdling over a testing trip and he's not always looked as though he wants this far.

Form: 154-6U1

Yanworth²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: B J Geraghty| T: A King| OR: 163

9/4

Has come up short at the Cheltenham Festival on three occasions having been beaten in the Champion Bumper, the Neptune and the Champion Hurdle. Apart from his two Festival hurdles defeats he's won all his other seven races over hurdles and despite never having tried this 3m trip, he looks very much ready for a try at the trip. Has shown signs of temperament in his last two start (both in cheekpieces) and the headgear is removed today.

Form: 11112-1

Non-Runners

The New One²

Weight: 11-7| Age: 9

T: N & W Twiston-Davies J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Yanworth (9/4), Cole Harden (4/1), Supasundae (5/1), The New One (6/1), Ballyoptic (7/1), Snow Falcon (9/1), Ptit Zig (14/1), Different Gravey (16/1), Taquin Du Seuil (20/1), Aux Ptits Soins (20/1), Three Musketeers (25/1), Puffin Billy (33/1)

Plenty of options in this and with Cole Harden in the field we should get a decent gallop and he will appreciate the drying conditions after getting slightly bogged down on watered ground at Cheltenham. He’s capable of gaining another placing but will be there to be shot at throughout the race and may not quite have the zip to hold on. Yanworth is a fascinating contender stepping up in trip to 3m for the first time and it should suit him but he has looked a little quirky of late and he’s not one to be taking too short a price about. Both Ballyoptic and Snow Falcon will have to reverse Stayers Hurdle form with Cole Harden and it could well be the Coral Cup form that holds the key to this. SUPASUNDAE looked to be a real improver in that race beating Taquin Du Seuil more easily than the winning distance suggests and on the same terms he could well build on that and it should be remembered that his bumper form was well up to winning in this grade.