17:15 Aintree

Friday 13 April 2018

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

Weatherbys Racing Bank Standard Open NH Flat Race (Grade 2)

Off time: 17:15 | Winning time: 4m 25.90s

Al Dancer^h1²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| D

28/1

Placed twice in bumpers for Christian Williams and made a winning debut for this yard at Bangor (soft) recently. Wears a hood for the first time today.

Form: 231

Amoola Gold⁴²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

50/1

Caught the eye when finishing runner-up in a Kempton bumper on good-to-soft ground in February last year. Represents a leading yard but set a tough task on his first outing since.

Form: 2-

Arthur Mac⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

20/1

Driven out to win a Hereford bumper on soft ground at the end of January. Form of that is nothing special but he represents a leading stable.

Form: 1

Chanceanotherfive⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish

33/1

Point-to-point winner last spring and successful twice in bumpers since. Beaten 5L on soft ground at Musselburgh last time out however and is an interesting runner here.

Form: 53-1112

Commanche Red⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon

20/1

Decent third on debut at Southwell (good) and followed up with a convincing win on soft ground at Kempton subsequently. Yard are in good form (3/13) and he is one to note in this contest.

Form: 31

Dali Mail^t⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Callum Whillans| T: D W Whillans

66/1

Seemingly improved for wind surgery following up a heavy ground Kelso third with an 18L success in similar conditions in February. Likely more needed if he's to take this.

Form: 4-31

Danny Kirwan⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls

11/4

Impressive point-to-point winner on soft-to-heavy ground in the autumn and made a winning debut on good ground at Kempton in February. Missed Cheltenham and is likely to play a leading role.

Form: 11

Dazibao³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: George Baker

66/1

Impressed when making a winning debut in an AW bumper at Lingfield in early March. Stepping up markedly in grade on turf debut in this contest.

Form: 1

Harambe⁶³

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

33/1

Ludlow bumper winner over 1m6f in December but held second at Bangor (heavy) subsequently. Looks to have plenty on his plate on this occasion.

Form: 12

Highland Hunter⁷⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

50/1

Good ground point-to-point winner last spring and made a winning debut under Rules when successful by a head on heavy ground at Kelso in January. Likely to appreciate further in time.

Form: 11

Kateson⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: T Scudamore| T: T Lacey

16/1

Chepstow bumper winner on good ground in October but has had his limitations exposed since including when mid-division in a Listed Ascot bumper on his penultimate start.

Form: 1272

Mercy Mercy Me³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 124

4/1

Made a winning debut on good-to-soft ground at Sandown last November and ran respectably when finishing 9½L eighth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham (soft) last month. One to note in this contest.

Form: 18

Portrush Ted^t1⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex

25/1

Placed twice from three starts since winning on debut at Uttoxeter (soft) in March last year. Stable are in good form (3/10) at present and he wears a tongue tie for the first time here.

Form: 1-2P2

Pym⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson

8/1

Ayr (good-to-soft) bumper winner 12 months ago and ran well under a penalty when finishing 2L second to Danny Kirwan at Kempton (good) on his seasonal debut. Likely to run well once for a yard that had a fine day here yesterday.

Form: 1-2

Sevarano⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: N D Fehily| T: O Sherwood

8/1

Impressive winner of a Kempton (soft) bumper when making his debut two months ago. Cost connections €110,000 at the sales a couple of years ago and is one for the shortlist stepping up in grade.

Form: 1

Skidoosh⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| BF

50/1

Worcester winner on good ground last October and put a disappointing Cheltenham effort behind him when finishing runner-up at Doncaster (good-to-soft) in February. More needed here however.

Form: 152

Theatre Legend⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J E Moore| T: C Grant| D

100/1

Dual winner at Sedgefield earlier this season but disappointed when beaten 16L at Musselburgh (soft) last time out. Looks up against it in this contest.

Form: 7-117

Thosedaysaregone¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: C Byrnes

14/1

Broke his maiden at the third time of asking upped to 2m4f at Wexford (heavy) last month. Finished third at Fairyhouse (heavy) subsequently and dangerous to write off.

Form: 3313

Mister Fisher²⁷

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

6/1

Victorious on soft ground in a Kempton bumper on debut last month. Represents leading connections here and is out of an unraced half-sister to a couple of classy jumps performers.

Form: 1

Normal Norman⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Garner| T: J Ryan

100/1

Victorious twice from four starts but well held in Listed company on heavy ground at Cheltenham in January and more needed if he's to register a first Graded success here.

Form: 2101

Forecasts

Danny Kirwan (11/4), Mercy Mercy Me (4/1), Mister Fisher (6/1), Sevarano (8/1), Pym (8/1), Thosedaysaregone (14/1), Kateson (16/1), Commanche Red (20/1), Arthur Mac (20/1), Portrush Ted (25/1), Al Dancer (28/1), Harambe (33/1), Chanceanotherfive (33/1), Highland Hunter (50/1), Amoola Gold (50/1), Skidoosh (50/1), Dali Mail (66/1), Dazibao (66/1), Theatre Legend (100/1), Normal Norman (100/1)

DANNY KIRWAN impressed when making his debut at Kempton earlier this year and he is taken to maintain his unbeaten record and in the process provide trainer Paul Nicholls with a win in this Grade 2 bumper. Sevarano, another to impress on debut can finish runner-up while Pym who finished runner-up to the selection at Kempton can get the better of Cheltenham ninth Mercy Mercy Me to claim third.