15:25 Aintree

Thursday 12 April 2018

All13:4514:2014:5015:2516:0516:4017:15

Betway Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 5m 5.2s

Air Horse One⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 148

20/1

Progressed well last season winning three times over hurdles and subsequently acquitted himself well when placed in the County Hurdle. Has found life tough in handicaps off his new mark this year and given his last run this looks another tough test.

Form: 0-43023

Clyne²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 146| D

25/1

Smart handicapper who has twice pushed The New One close (in receipt of weight) but has operated below his best in Graded races this season. Returned to a handicap in optimum conditions last time he came back to form but this will more difficult.

Form: 232441

Cyrus Darius⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 148| C| D

12/1

Returned to hurdles last time to take a race at Kelso for the second year running in testing conditions (best effort since novice days). Needs more at this level though.

Form: 19-1431

Diakali^b³⁶⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 153

25/1

Lightly-raced in recent years, he still remains capable of some smart form (placed in this race in 2014) and won a decent event when last seen. Now returns after a significant absence and has to prove he can still produce his old form.

Form: 3410/41-

Izzo^h1¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: R Johnson| T: Mlle C Fey

50/1

Useful but free-going French hurdler who has won at Listed and Grade 3 level in his native land (fell on his only start in a Grade 1). Needed the run last time at Auteuil (2m3f, soft) when fading from the last but this will test him further.

Form: 1312F5

L'Ami Serge^h²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 159

5/1

High-class hurdler who often travels well in his races but can finish weakly and remains an enigmatic character. Failed to win since taking a Grade 1 in France last June and finished midfield last time in the Stayers Hurdle (behind Supersundae).

Form: 212238

My Tent Or Yours^h¹¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| OR: 162| C

9/2

So often the bridesmaid in races (second in this race for the past two years) but made perfect use of advantageous conditions to land a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last time. Kept fresh since then and he's given a chance to finally land this race.

Form: 24222-1

Supasundae²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 164| D

11/10

High-class hurdler who has progressed well this season and proved to be versatile winning a Grade 1 over 2m and finishing second in the Stayers' Hurdle last time. Second over 3m here last year, he bids to go one better back at an intermediate trip.

Form: 12-3212

The New One²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 161| CD

8/1

Record in this race reads 21F3 and whilst he's not getting any younger, his ability isn't on the wane either. Possibly failed to stay over 3m last time, he returns to 2m4f and probably still in good form; tough individual and hard to write off.

Form: 142210

Forecasts

Supasundae (11/10), My Tent Or Yours (9/2), L'Ami Serge (5/1), The New One (8/1), Cyrus Darius (12/1), Air Horse One (20/1), Clyne (25/1), Diakali (25/1), Izzo (50/1)

The biggest field since 2013 likely to go to post with the favourite having been successful in three of the last four years. The Irish also have a good record in this and provide the likely market leader SUPERSUNDAE who comes here on the back of his second in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham. He won’t have it all his own way though with Nicky Henderson (trained winner three times last seven years) running both My Tent Or Yours and L’Ami Serge, the former of that duo twice a runner-up in this, coming here fresh in an attempt to go one better. The New One also returns for another go having won this before adding some depth to the race.