14:20 Aintree

Friday 13 April 2018

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

Betway Top Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:21 | Winning time: 4m 15.5s

Bedrock^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Ross Chapman| T: I Jardine| OR: 137

33/1

Bolted up in a weak race at Musselburgh (2m3f+ good to soft) on stable debut last month having left the care of previous trainer Dan Skelton. His previous Cheltenham form (2m) suggests that he has plenty to find with Slate House.

Form: 3-11341

Coolanly³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| D

40/1

Bumper and point-to-point winner with just limited experience over hurdles. Finished well down the field (12th of 14) in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival (2m5f) latest, so predicted to struggle now dropped in trip.

Form: 3P1-120

Distingo^v²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 137| D

40/1

Former French racer who produced a career best effort with a commanding victory at Kempton last month (2m good to soft), but much more is needed here pitched in against stronger rivals at Grade 1 level.

Form: 2F4121

Global Citizen⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 149| D

5/2

Cost £275,000 in April 2017 and has improved rapidly since joining his current trainer from Jonjo O'Neill. Seeks the hat-trick after thrashing Scarlet Dragon by an effortless 9L at Kempton in February (2m good).

Form: 1-15211

Impact Factor⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mark Walsh| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 139| BF| D

8/1

Yet to finish outside of the frame in six career starts, and deservedly broke the maiden tag when winning at Punchestown in January (2m soft/heavy). Races prominently so this sharp track should be ideal, but the opposition is much more daunting.

Form: 32-2212

Lalor⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: K Woollacott| OR: 133| C

14/1

No doubting his ability, being a 33/1 winner of the Grade 2 bumper at Aintree last season. However, he hasn't fully convinced over hurdles so far; often appearing quirky. Finished down the field (13th of 24) in the Grade 3 Betfair Handicap Hurdle.

Form: 11-2320

Midnight Shadow²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 134| BF| D

25/1

Started at prohibitive odds, but led astray by an errant rival at Haydock last month (ran out and unseated rider). Drying ground wouldn't be in his favour, and whilst showing a respectable level of form overall, he shouldn't prove good enough.

Form: 7-1222U

Mind's Eye³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 136| D

16/1

Progressive through the early months of the season, taking a 2m4f soft ground Leopardstown handicap by ¾L in December 2017. Handicapper in charge since and outclassed in the Ballymore latest. Drop in trip not an obvious move.

Form: 2-21100

Ornua¹⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: N D Fehily| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 138| DWS

33/1

Makes a first foray across the Irish Sea and his first start since finishing just over 7L third to Campeador at Punchestown in October (2m yielding to soft). Drying ground would be a plus, but success will represent a mighty training performance.

Form: 36-11P3

Scarlet Dragon^h⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King

11/1

107-rated on the Flat (five time winner), but put firmly in his place by Global Citizen on hurdles debut at Kempton last month (2m Grade 2, Good). Improvement anticipated, but this will need to be forthcoming in order to even threaten a reversal.

Form: 2

Slate House^t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 143| D

10/1

Cost £260,000 in March 2017 and despite starting off well over hurdles with a couple of victories, his long-term future undoubtedly lies over fences. Has previous with Bedrock (November 2017), but also a heavy Cheltenham Festival fall to overcome.

Form: 1-1145F

Vision Des Flos^t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 147| D

11/4

Revitalised for a wind operation when ploughing through the Exeter mud in a 2m1f Listed contest in Febraury before posting a perfectly respectable keeping on 10L sixth to Samcro in the 2m5f Ballymore. Much respected despite the inadequate trip.

Form: 1-34216

Style De Garde^h³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 142| D

8/1

Not at his peak level in the Chatteris Fen at Huntingdon in January (fourth) but finished strongly to take second place behind Veneer Of Charm in the Fred Winter (2m soft) last month. Place possibilities despite his tender age in a stronger contest.

Form: 3-1142

Non-Runners

Simply The Betts³¹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: H Whittington J: S Bowen

Irish Roe⁶²

Weight: 10-11| Age: 7

T: P Atkinson J: Henry Brooke

Forecasts

Global Citizen (5/2), Vision Des Flos (11/4), Impact Factor (8/1), Style De Garde (8/1), Slate House (10/1), Scarlet Dragon (11/1), Irish Roe (12/1), Lalor (14/1), Mind's Eye (16/1), Midnight Shadow (25/1), Simply The Betts (25/1), Bedrock (33/1), Ornua (33/1), Coolanly (40/1), Distingo (40/1)

In theory, a competitive Grade 1 contest for the novices, but fairly obvious as to why the thriving Global Citizen is clear at the top end of the market. He’s unbeaten in two starts for Ben Pauling and even allowing for debut progression, it’s impossible to see how Scarlet Dragon can reverse Kempton placings. It’s notable that Nicky Henderson relies solely upon the youngster Style De Garde from a strong hand at the entries stage, but despite some obvious concerns about this trip, it may be worth chancing VISION DES FLOS at a likely bigger price; he is rapidly on the upgrade since undergoing wind surgery early in 2018.