13:45 Aintree

Friday 13 April 2018

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

Alder Hey Children's Charity Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 5m 12.70s

Jenkins^p1²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 150

20/1

Progressive earlier in the season but handicapper possibly caught up with him. Hard to fancy after two very disappointing runs despite the yard's form here on Thursday. Wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 77110P

Who Dares Wins²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 149

13/2

Won a Listed contest over hurdles and while he's kept some smart company since, he would appear to be in the handicapper's grip on recent evidence.

Form: 1033-35

Court Minstrel⁵⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 147| C

33/1

Impressive winner of a Grade 3 at Chepstow at the start of the season. This sort of mark probably beyond him at this stage of his career in a race as competitive as this.

Form: F41938

Ivanovich Gorbatov^h1,t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: B J Geraghty| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 145

25/1

Triumph Hurdle winner two years ago but completely lost his way this season. Very leniently handicapped if first-time headgear sparks a revival.

Form: 6-00700

Spiritofthegames^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Bridget Andrews⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 139| D

15/2

Off the mark on seasonal return at Lingfield and running very well in defeat subsequently. Step back up in trip looks like the right move and every chance he's on a workable handicap mark.

Form: 21-1235

Storm Home³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 138

7/1

Seems to have sorted his jumping out after some blunders earlier in the campaign and looks on a workable mark for his handicap debut. Not dismissed for a yard that had a winner here on Thursday.

Form: F/25F11

Three Musketeers^p⁸⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 138| BF| D

10/1

Beaten favourite last time over fences and he was out of form over hurdles when last seen. Well-handicapped on his form from 2015 but very few signs of encouragement of late.

Form: 67-0592

Zubayr²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 138

8/1

Grade 2 winner at Kempton a couple of years ago and positioned poorly last time out when conceding first run to the winner back at that same course. Suspicion he has a race such as this in him.

Form: 2-56022

Project Bluebook⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 136

25/1

Dual purpose performer who finished just over 5L fourth to Flying Tiger in the 2017 Fred Winter before winning a Grade 2 event at Fairyhouse the following month. Life has proved tougher this season but could improve for the step up in trip.

Form: 341-680

Grand Partner³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: D J Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 136| D

20/1

Consistent sort who has been running well this campaign. Just about a career best last time out at Leopardstown but may struggle from 6lb higher at this stage of his career.

Form: 430341

Massini's Trap^b⁶⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: J Nash| OR: 136| CD

16/1

C&D winner who finished third here last year over this trip again. Out of form in two runs in Ireland since but handicapper not missed him on return to the UK.

Form: 200-350

Jester Jet⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: R T Dunne| T: T Lacey| OR: 133| D

20/1

Rattled off a hat-trick around this time last year and returned to form with a fine second in Listed company last time out. Claims if she can build on that.

Form: 3213P2

Eamon An Cnoic^p³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 132| D

16/1

Beaten over fences at Cheltenham last time but he's and interesting runner off this lower mark on his return to hurdles and won't mind any rain that comes.

Form: 9-F1319

Wilde Blue Yonder⁶⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 132| BF

14/1

Not won since landing a maiden hurdle and needs to improve on his jumping. Yard have a stronger candidate in Who Dares Wins.

Form: F540/33

Landin³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 132| D

10/1

German Flat winner who opened his account over hurdles in the autumn and arrives here on a hat-trick following successive 2m4f wins in the mud at Sandown and Lingfield. Raised 8lb but another bold show is likely.

Form: 7-12511

Cyrius Moriviere^t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 128

20/1

Proving consistent of late but struggling to get his head in front. 1lb rise for his second at Ludlow last time won't help and others make more appeal.

Form: UP6-432

Sumkindofking^t¹³²

12/1

Not won since landing a maiden hurdle but running okay of late without threatening the judge. Needs to have improved for recent wind operation if he's to have a say.

Form: 550-964

Cornborough⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 125| C

66/1

Career best effort came here over a shorter trip. Handicap mark starting to look workable so not out of this if the return to Aintree sparks a revival.

Form: 4-45246

Eaton Hill^t1¹⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 122| D

20/1

Rounded off last season with an 8L success at Stratford but he's struggled in handicaps this campaign and he's out of the handicap here. Wears a first-time tongue-tie.

Form: 3P1-063

Non-Runners

Lough Derg Spirit²⁸

Weight: 10-13| Age: 6

T: N J Henderson J: J McGrath

Forecasts

Who Dares Wins (13/2), Storm Home (7/1), Spiritofthegames (15/2), Zubayr (8/1), Lough Derg Spirit (8/1), Three Musketeers (10/1), Landin (10/1), Sumkindofking (12/1), Wilde Blue Yonder (14/1), Massini's Trap (16/1), Eamon An Cnoic (16/1), Jester Jet (20/1), Eaton Hill (20/1), Grand Partner (20/1), Cyrius Moriviere (20/1), Jenkins (20/1), Project Bluebook (25/1), Ivanovich Gorbatov (25/1), Court Minstrel (33/1), Cornborough (66/1)

ZUBAYR is a Grade 2 winner who clearly loves a flat track and could be the one to side with here having travelled best in the race at Kempton and with a more prominent ride, may be seen to best effect. Jester Jet came good at this time of year last time and may be able to build on a promising run in Listed company from last time while Ivanovich Gorbotov is obviously well-handicapped on his Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle form. If first time headgear has the desired effect he's an obvious danger to all.