13:15 Aintree

Sunday 28 October 2018

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Kay Pinfold 100th Birthday Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 5m 52.4s

Buckle Street^p²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Stock⁽³⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 129| D

20/1

Has refused to race in the past so could be considered an awkward customer although he did show his first form the year last time out (4th to Vive Le Roi). That effort looks better now in the light of subsequent events; still one to take care with.

Form: U10-R54

Sir Mangan²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Bridget Andrews⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 129

28/1

Last win came over fences off a 5lb higher mark but he quickly regressed in that sphere and reverted to hurdles. Has failed to show much spark of late though and offered little encouragement on his recent return over a 2f shorter trip.

Form: 6620-F7

Spider's Bite¹⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly| OR: 128

12/1

Bumper winner who opened his hurdles account at the 4th attempt in a 3m Ludlow novice (led at the last). Ran no sort of race on handicap debut (pulled-up at Ayr) off what looked to be a stiff opening mark; now dropped 2lb.

Form: 1/3361P-

Follow The Bear²⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Ned Curtis⁽³⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 127| D

11/2

Built on early promise when taking a small-field Kempton novice hurdle early last year. Has rather failed to meet expectations since then (twice in handicaps) and now returns from a break with something to prove; can run in snatches.

Form: 1237F4-

Quest For Life¹⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Teal⁽³⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 126

16/1

Took an age to get off the mark but finally did so when last seen in May scoring at Hexham (2m4f, good). Only got home narrowly there (rallied finish) and the extra 6lb that he carries here may be enough to count him out of this.

Form: 73223-1

Ready And Able¹³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁶⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 125

4/1

Showed ability without totally revealing his hand in four novice hurdles over 2m. Proved a different proposition switched to handicaps over 4f further after a break and still looks unexposed off a 7lb higher mark and longer trip; respected.

Form: 4869-11

Settimo Milanese²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 125

5/1

Trainer does well with this type and he's already recorded form figures of 211 for the yard his two victories coming in easy fashion in small-field novices over 3m. Now faces a much more difficult test; twice beaten off lower marks in Ireland.

Form: 40-P211

The Bay Birch³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Stan Sheppard| T: M Sheppard| OR: 125

50/1

Three-time winning chaser for this yard who has also taken the runner-up slot the same amount of times in the same sphere. Returned to hurdles in May to gain another victory and would have needed her race last time; trip a question mark now.

Form: 2112-16

The Hollow Ginge¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁸⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 123| BF

7/1

Confirmed the ability he showed in bumpers when winning on hurdles debut in testing conditions over a slightly shorter trip than today. Disappointing after he showed a little more last time but more needed here off the same mark.

Form: 13376-2

Petiville⁴⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Tom Broughton⁽¹⁰⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 122

16/1

Returns to handicaps off the back of a long break with a 6lb higher mark to cope with than when last seen in this discipline. A winner when last seen that victory only came at odds-on in a weak novice hurdle; this is much tougher.

Form: 423/321-

Bon Chic^b³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Charlotte Jones⁽¹⁰⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 120| CD

22/1

Won this last year when capitalising on a falling mark in a first-time visor and given too much rope by the rest of the field. Same rider takes the mount today but she arrives off the back of a poor effort 3lb higher than last year; inconsistent.

Form: R-67417

Zarib²⁸⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 120

66/1

Dual hurdle winner when he was with Dan Skelton; seemingly lost his way for that yard and despite falling in the weights has made little impact for this team. Sent chasing last twice and now back over hurdles off a slipping mark; not sure to stay.

Form: 455/445-

Three Star General^p¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Kieron Edgar| T: D Pipe| OR: 118

16/1

Heading in the right direction since cheekpieces were fitted over hurdles and ought to enjoy this trip. Given a recent spin on the Flat at Bath and off this mark he ought to be able to make his presence felt here.

Form: 27P823-

Skipthescales^p¹⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 117| D

16/1

Three-time winner since joining this yard with trips such as this looking to suit him well. Ran with credit when last seen at Perth in the spring proving that this mark may not be beyond him; needs a good test even at this 3m trip.

Form: 431413-

Jump For Dough^t1⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁸⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 116

10/1

Winner of three of his first four handicap start he's twice found a mark of 117 (1lb lower here) beyond him. Shaped better last time out after a break but was reportedly struck into; tongue-tie goes on for first-time and not out of this.

Form: 44115-5

Sliding Doors²⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Edward Austin⁽⁸⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 115

11/1

Education especially on the jumping front has been a gradual process in novice hurdles but it looked as though he was getting the hang of things last time. Now makes his handicap debut over the longest trip he's faced off a reasonable mark.

Form: 34/8074-

Forecasts

Ready And Able (4/1), Settimo Milanese (5/1), Follow The Bear (11/2), The Hollow Ginge (7/1), Jump For Dough (10/1), Sliding Doors (11/1), Spider's Bite (12/1), Three Star General (16/1), Skipthescales (16/1), Quest For Life (16/1), Petiville (16/1), Buckle Street (20/1), Bon Chic (22/1), Sir Mangan (28/1), The Bay Birch (50/1), Zarib (66/1)

One or two interesting types here in a race that Bon Chic won last year when given an enterprising ride and it will be a surprise if she’s given as much rope now. READY AND ABLE has come alive in handicaps and despite returning from a break over a longer trip he still has plenty to offer. Settimo Milanese can’t be written off given how well the Newland yard do with his type although this does look a stiff test. Three Star General and Skipthescales are two that will really appreciate this trip with handicap debutante Sliding Doors taking the eye off bottom weight for a stable that are not adverse to taking advantage of a mark such as this.