14:25 Aintree

Sunday 28 October 2018

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

Racing UK Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:29 | Winning time: 4m 44.8s

Paisley Park²²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 140| D

4/1

Claimed a notable scalp on his hurdles debut (beat odds-on favourite) and was quickly upped in grade running with credit in two decent novice hurdles (one a Grade 2 affair). Ran no race in 3m novice at Festival (wore visor); handicap debut now.

Form: 2/1220-

Three Musketeers¹⁹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 136| D

7/1

Despite winning his first two career starts and subsequently two chases he's never really fulfilled his potential and is becoming increasingly unreliable. Looked none too keen when last seen here in April and makes little appeal.

Form: 7/05920-

Haul Away^p²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 135| D

6/1

Quirky sort (often hits flat spots in his races; finds for pressure) but has managed to win his last four races. Successful on handicap debut last time off 3lb lower over this sort of trip; hard one to love but equally tough to write off.

Form: 2-61111

Massini's Trap^b¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁷⁾| T: J Nash| OR: 134| CD

9/1

25/1 2016 winner of this race off a 7lb lower mark (suited by the hurdles being omitted in the straight) and ending a long losing run. Has run well (and won) on the Flat of late and that has facilitated a return to form over obstacles.

Form: 09-8P33

Byron Flyer¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: W T Kennedy| T: Ian Williams| OR: 133| D

4/1

Thriving on the Flat of late; completed his three-timer at Leicester looking more straightforward than in the past. Given his Flat mark he looks well handicapped on his return to obstacles having shaped well in his last two hurdles runs here.

Form: 180155/

Mischievious Max¹⁹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny Cook| T: H Bethell| OR: 132

40/1

Formerly trained in Ireland he makes his debut for this yard with something to prove given his recent displays. Mark still looks a stiff one and may be seen to better effect over further; best watched.

Form: 222099-

Cool Sky^p⁵⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Edward Austin⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 129| CD

25/1

Presence gives trainer a strong hand in this (also trains Byron Flyer) as he has won over C&D as recently as May under this rider. 7lb higher now and did turn in a rather lacklustre display last time (unsuited by the drop to 2m); could bounce back.

Form: 3/174-14

Eamon An Cnoic^p,t1¹⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 128| D

18/1

Sent chasing of late winning two small-field affairs; stretched by the 3m1f trip when last seen over fences (ran well to a point). Pulled up over hurdles here last time underlining his inconsistent nature; back from a break (first-time tongue tie).

Form: F1319P-

Eaton Hill^t¹⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 127| D

16/1

Both wins have come at similar trips in novice company and he's yet to take a handicap but has run well in last two tries in that sphere (both over C&D). 6th behind Cool Sky last time (slightly disappointing) although he did travel well; chance.

Form: 1/0632-6

Lygon Rock¹⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: R Johnson| T: H D Daly| OR: 123WS

4/1

Faced optimum conditions last time (2m5f, good/firm) and made all to take a Ludlow novice at the 5th attempt. Now steps into handicaps for the first-time on the back of a wind op; went from the front last time and won't have it easy here upfront.

Form: 42233-1

Forecast^t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Conor Shoemark| T: M Keighley| OR: 116| D

25/1

Ex-French gelding who raced over shorter last time on his first run back from a wind op and ran better that for a while. There are signs of temperament with him and he has looked a hard ride on the Flat and on balance is best left alone.

Form: 2F6/772

Non-Runners

Lungarno Palace²

Weight: 10-13| Age: 7

T: F O'Brien J: Alain Cawley

Forecasts

Paisley Park (4/1), Lygon Rock (4/1), Byron Flyer (4/1), Haul Away (6/1), Three Musketeers (7/1), Lungarno Palace (8/1), Massini's Trap (9/1), Eaton Hill (16/1), Eamon An Cnoic (18/1), Forecast (25/1), Cool Sky (25/1), Mischievious Max (40/1)

A couple of the leading contenders in Massini’s Trap (past winner of this race) and Byron Flyer have been showing good form on the Flat of late and if they can transfer those performances back into their hurdling careers then they will have a good chance of landing this. Haul Away arrives seeking a five-timer but this will be his stiffest test and he still doesn’t look an easy ride. Eaton Hill has yet to win a handicap but he’s not without hope in this along with Cool Sky who he was behind last time he ran. PAISLEY PARK has shown some class though before finding the 3m test at the Festival too much early in his career but he makes his handicap debut here and should find this more suitable.