12:40 Aintree

Sunday 29 October 2017

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Bet 10 Get 20 At 188Bet Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 4m 58.7s

Almost Gold

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: Ian Williams

100/1

Unraced son of Gold Well purchased for €36,000 at the sales last year. Half-brother to dual winner Oscar O'Scar and market likely to prove the best guide to expectations on debut.

Form:

Another Stowaway⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George

80/1

Decent efforts in bumpers but unseated rider at the first on hurdling debut at Worcester (2m4f, good) earlier this week. Interesting if putting that mishap behind him.

Form: 3/542-U

Aye Aye Charlie¹⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Conor Shoemark| T: F O'Brien

16/1

Dead-heated for first in a Southwell (soft) bumper in January and ran well to finish fourth under a penalty subsequently. One to note on hurdling debut.

Form: 3614-

Bang On Frankie²⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| BF

11/1

Ran well to finish third in a Listed bumpe rat Ascot (good-to-soft) but slightly disappointing when only fifth at Newbury (soft) subsequently. Making his hurdling debut on his first outing since January.

Form: 35-

Costly Dream³⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

20/1

Well held sixth in a heavy ground bumper at Haydock when making his debut in January 2016. Stable won this two years ago and worth a check in the market now he embarks on a hurdling career.

Form: 6-

Enniscoffey Oscar¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Miss E C Lavelle

5/1

Ex-point-to-pointer and the winner of a Lingfield bumper on the AW in February. Finished runner-up in a Grade 2 bumper her esubsequently but proved a slight disappointment when only fourth on his recent hurdles debut.

Form: F12-4

Global Citizen¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill

4/1

Point-to-point winner on good-to-yielding ground in April and had a relatively simple task when successful in a three runner bumper at Worcester (good-to-firm) earlier this month. Likely to prove hard to beat on this occasion.

Form: 1-1

New Quay²¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

12/1

Improved on his point-to-point debut third when winning on yielding-to-soft at Liscarroll in March. Has joined a leading stable and is one for the shortlist on his rules debut.

Form: 31-

On The Blind Side²⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

2/1

Purchased for £205,000 following a victory in a 17 runner point-to-point. Represents a leading stable today and he is one to note on his debut under rules.

Form: 1-

Perfect Harmony²²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ian Popham| T: A King

5/1

Looked a likely winner when falling in a point-to-point on debut in that sphere and off the mark at the first time of asking in a Newbury (soft) bumper in January. Finished mid-division in a Grade 1 subsequently and making his hurdling debut today.

Form: F10-

Non-Runners

Florrie Knox¹⁸²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 4

T: A M Hales J: Harry Bannister

Linenhall²²⁵

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: B Pauling J: Non Runner

Forecasts

On The Blind Side (2/1), Global Citizen (4/1), Perfect Harmony (5/1), Enniscoffey Oscar (5/1), Bang On Frankie (11/1), New Quay (12/1), Linenhall (12/1), Aye Aye Charlie (16/1), Costly Dream (20/1), Florrie Knox (33/1), Another Stowaway (80/1), Almost Gold (100/1)

GLOBAL CITIZEN can follow up his recent bumper success by registering a win on his hurdling debut in this opening contest. The selection was a point-to-point winner in the spring and should appreciate the step up in trip today. On The Blind Side represents a leading stable here and while likely to appreciate a stiffer test of stamina in time he can claim second today ahead of Enniscoffey Oscar who can put a disappointing hurdling debut ast time out behind him by getting the better of New Quay in the battle for third.