16:40 Aintree

Friday 13 April 2018

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

Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 16:42 | Winning time: 6m 40.90s

Another Stowaway^t⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 129

50/1

Takes in his second run back from wind surgery and has yet to get his head in front over hurdles (second the last three times). Beaten by some useful types but will find this much tougher and others make more appeal.

Form: 42-U222

Chef Des Obeaux²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: N D Fehily| T: N J Henderson| OR: 150| D

6/1

Progressed well before failing to impress when pulled-up in the Albert Bartlett at the Festival winning his previous start in impressive fashion by 15L. That win came in very testing conditions though and may have left its mark; needs to bounce back.

Form: 2-2111P

Count Meribel⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: M D Grant| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 139| BF

25/1

Showed the benefit of his experience when completing a hurdling hat-trick before the turn of the year, mostly from the front but at shorter trips than this. Rather lost his way since when given stiffer tasks and ran well below form when last seen.

Form: 111265

Dans Le Vent^p1²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 132

66/1

Despite only winning once over hurdles he has been very consistent with four placed efforts. Was found wanting at his only try at this level before though and even with first-time cheekpieces on, this looks a tough test up in trip.

Form: 321532

Good Man Pat³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 137

25/1

Appears to have found his mojo over hurdles of late after disappointing on a few occasions previously. Will find this far harder to cope with than his two wins though and while the trip won't be a problem the grade looks to be.

Form: 322411

Louse Talk³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul O'Brien| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 127

66/1

Has looked a decent prospect in winning his first two hurdle starts but by the same token looks far from the finished product. There is more to come from him, especially given a greater stamina test but this may come a little too soon.

Form: P-111

Ok Corral²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| OR: 146

7/2

Very lightly raced for one of his age but lived up to his potential when taking his penultimate start in fine style before stepping up in grade at Cheltenham last time. Finished an excellent second with more improvement to come; exciting prospect.

Form: 12/1212

Point Of Principle⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 136

66/1

Useful bumper sort who came good on his third start over hurdles (improved form) when scoring at Ascot despite being the outsider of the field. This is a very different test though stepped up significantly in distance and class.

Form: 27-2421

Sam's Gunner³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: W T Kennedy| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 136

12/1

A thorough test of stamina and a switch to handicaps saw him take the EBF Final (2m4f) in taking fashion looking as though a tougher test would suit him more. This is another level again but he has the scope for this and rates an attractive outsider.

Form: 44-2121

Santini²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 150| BF

6/4

Has some form that reads really well amongst fellow novices and despite getting beaten in the Albert Bartlett he shaped like the best horse in the race. Stays this trip but he may be seen to better effect on better ground; top-class prospect.

Form: 1-113

Tower Bridge^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 142

8/1

Work to do with a pair that finished in front of him in the Albert Bartlett (OK Corral and Santini) but looks the sort to run a sound race again. Already a winner this level but that came in a weak race for the grade and work to do here.

Form: 110415

Uppertown Prince³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 136

40/1

Looks to have potential but will need to have improved to take a hand in this and has work to do with Chef Des Obeaux on their Haydock Grade 2 running. The longer trip will help but he does have something to find with the principals.

Form: 61-1221

Roksana²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 139

9/1

The sole mare in the race who is progressing nicely and completed her hat-trick making her handicap debut in a competitive heat last time. Deserves to now take her chance at this level but could do with improving her jumping to compete at this level.

Form: 4-3111

Non-Runners

Poetic Rhythm²⁸

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: F O'Brien J: P J Brennan

Forecasts

Santini (6/4), Ok Corral (7/2), Chef Des Obeaux (6/1), Tower Bridge (8/1), Roksana (9/1), Poetic Rhythm (12/1), Sam's Gunner (12/1), Count Meribel (25/1), Good Man Pat (25/1), Uppertown Prince (40/1), Another Stowaway (50/1), Dans Le Vent (66/1), Point Of Principle (66/1), Louse Talk (66/1)

Nicky Henderson may hold the key to this with his Albert Bartlett second and third OK CORRAL and Santini looking very strong and it's the former who is taken to confirm the form. Quite a few of these are stepping up in trip and into the unknown and one of the more interesting ones would be Sam’s Gunner who could outrun his odds having taken a tough handicap last time. Both Chef Des Obeaux and Poetic Rhythm need to bounce back from a poor Cheltenham effort but are not written off totally. The Irish haven’t won this since 2005 and have just Tower Bridge running for them this time but he has work to do based on his Albert Bartlett running.