14:20 Aintree

Thursday 4 April 2019

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

Doom Bar Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:21 | Winning time: 4m 13.20s

Adjali²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 141| D

14/1

Looked potentially smart in France and made winning debut for this yard at Market Rasen in December. Narrowly denied in Grade 1 at Chepstow (2m, soft) but well held since at Cheltenham, including in last month's Triumph. This track may suit better.

Form: 1-31237

Band of Outlaws²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 149

9/4

Ex-Flat performer quickly going the right way over timber, latest when landing the Fred Winter at Cheltenham (2m½f, soft) last month off a mark of 139. Deserves his tilt at a graded prize and should be in the firing line.

Form: 3111

Beat The Judge⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 135

40/1

No match for Fusil Raffles in Grade 2 Adonis at Kempton (2m, good) in February but beat the rest in convincing enough fashion, albeit giving the impression he wanted a step up in trip. Skipped Cheltenham and seemingly up against it on the formbook.

Form: 132

Christopher Wood³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142

10/1

Decent flat performer (rated 85) who was picked up by connections for 80,000 gns and has scored nicely in hurdles starts at Fontwell (2m1½f, soft) and Newbury (2m, good to soft) so far. Upped in class but could be capable of having a big say again.

Form: 11

Fakir D'Oudairies²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 146| BF| D

5/2

Easy winner of a Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham in January, ducked that race in favour of the Supreme last month (2m½f, soft) and finished an honourable fourth. Could be more to come and gives trainer a strong hand in this race.

Form: 64F114

Fanfan Du Seuil²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: T R George| OR: 136| D

20/1

Some useful form since arriving from France, including Exeter win in November (2m1f, good to soft). Fifth in last month's Fred Winter at Cheltenham, leaving him some 6¾L to find with Band Of Outlaws and unlikely to turn things around.

Form: 1-F125

Pentland Hills²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 153| D

11/4

Flat recruit is 2-2 over timber in quick time, surviving a significant error at the first flight before impressively coming up the hill to win last month's Triumph Hurdle (2m1f, good to soft) at Cheltenham; likely has more progress to come.

Form: 11

Song For Someone⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: T Symonds| OR: 139| D

25/1

Couple of minor wins at Newbury and Warwick (2m, good), the latest in February, ensure he's going the right way but this represents a whole new ball game seemingly and hard to make strong case for.

Form: 312211

Statuario¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 110

100/1

Peak rating of 90 on the Flat boasts promise but has only managed placed efforts in minor events at Ludlow and Bangor over timber and appears to be in too deep in this line-up.

Form: 32

Forecasts

Band of Outlaws (9/4), Fakir D'Oudairies (5/2), Pentland Hills (11/4), Christopher Wood (10/1), Adjali (14/1), Fanfan Du Seuil (20/1), Song For Someone (25/1), Beat The Judge (40/1), Statuario (100/1)

Pentland Hills' victory at Cheltenham in the Triumph Hurdle was all the more admirable for the fact he nearly didn't get over the first jump intact. He's progressing quickly and is a key player. Preference is for BAND OF OUTLAWS, also a Festival winner in the Cotswolds. He travelled powerfully and won the Fred Winter with a bit in hand, despite meeting traffic. His trainer boasted such a strong team of juvenile hurdlers this term and he may prove himself in graded company. Stablemate and Supreme fourth Fakir D'Oudairies is not dismissed readily, while the unbeaten hurdler Christopher Wood is clearly talented and can have a say despite rising rapidly in class now.