15:25 Aintree

Thursday 4 April 2019

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

Betway Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:29 | Winning time: 5m 10.20s

Buveur D'Air²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| OR: 172| CD

5/6

Dual winner of the Champion Hurdle. He suffered an early mishap in this year's renewal (fell third) but he's a previous winner of this in 2017 and has the form to win this having a hurdles record of 12-15; trainer has won four of last 10 renewals.

Form: 11-121F

Ch'tibello²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 156

14/1

Never won at Graded level (plenty of placed efforts); looked primed for his County Hurdle win (trainer has won the race three times) off the back of wind surgery. Connections now try again at this level and vulnerable up in class.

Form: 0-56921

Faugheen²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 164| D

4/1

Not the brilliant force of old but still a high-class hurdler who has been given a new lease of life over longer trips; finished a creditable third in the Stayers' Hurdle last time. May well be vulnerable at this trip now; likely pace setter.

Form: 261-2F3

Melon^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 157

8/1

Champion Hurdle second (wore first-time cheekpieces) for the second year running showing his best form after a lacklustre campaign (given a more prominent ride). Tries this trip for the first time; strike-rate fails to match his talent over hurdles.

Form: 52F-442

Silver Streak²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 156

25/1

Rewarded his connections bold decision to record a career-best effort with a third in the Champion Hurdle having previously come up short at Graded level. He's a smart sort but doubts remain as to whether he can progress again especially over 2m4f.

Form: 112223

Summerville Boy¹¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 153

25/1

Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner (2018) showing high-class form; failed to get anywhere near that level this season disappointing twice in top-class company. Given a break (only one not to run at Festival); now tries 2m4f for first time; risks abound.

Form: 2311-47

Supasundae^t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 161| D

15/2

Smart hurdler who has won at up to 2m5f (Coral Cup) and over shorter in Grade 1 company. Runner-up on first three starts this year (chased home smarts sorts, all at Grade 1 level); appeared to find Stayers' Hurdle too much of a test last time.

Form: 21-2227

Non-Runners

Brain Power²³

Weight: 11-7| Age: 8

T: N J Henderson J: Aidan Coleman

Verdana Blue²³

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: N J Henderson J: N de Boinville

Forecasts

Buveur D'Air (5/6), Faugheen (4/1), Supasundae (15/2), Melon (8/1), Ch'tibello (14/1), Verdana Blue (16/1), Summerville Boy (25/1), Silver Streak (25/1), Brain Power (33/1)

Nicky Henderson has dominated this event in the last 10 years, winning the race on four occasions and his dual winning Champion hurdler BUVEUR D'AIR gets a chance to make amends for his Cheltenham fall; he can become the eighth dual winner of this event since 1977. Four others who ran in this year’s Champion Hurdle take their chance over this extra half mile with all of them facing doubts over the trip; Melon and Silver Streak in particular have to prove they stay the distance. Faugheen may find this trip his best having run a very sound race in the Stayers’ Hurdle last time with a tired looking Supersundae well beaten off back in seventh.