14:20 Aintree

Friday 5 April 2019

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

Betway Top Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 4m 2.20s

Aramon²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152| D

3/1

Ex-German Flat racer; rose through the ranks over hurdles in Ireland, beating stablemate Sancta Simona by 10L in a Gr.1 at Leopardstown (2m) in December; twice beaten by Klassical Dream since, including in the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham (sixth).

Form: 213126

Felix Desjy^h²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 146| D

7/2

Solid from December onward; notched a second hurdles win when beating Jetez in the Gr.2 Moscow Flyer at Punchestown (2m, good); didn't quite stay up the Cheltenham hill when finishing 11L+ fifth to Klassical Dream in the Supreme Novices' (soft).

Form: 175215

Itchy Feet²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: O Murphy| OR: 150| D

7/2

On a continued upward curve over hurdles (2-4), proving himself on both soft ground and at Gr.1 level when finishing 5L third to Klassical Dream in the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham; those exertions did leave their mark (broke blood vessels).

Form: 2-11123

Precious Cargo²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 144| D

4/1

Bumper winner on debut for Lucinda Russell at Ayr (heavy) in January 2018; unbeaten in two starts over hurdles since joining Nicky Henderson; appreciates plenty of cut underfoot and has ample potential; faces by far his sternest test yet.

Form: 120-11

Rouge Vif^h³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D A Jacob| T: H Whittington| OR: 142| D

9/1

On a hat-trick following wins at Newcastle (2m+, soft) and Kelso (2m2f, gd/sft); made all (unchallenged) when taking the Gr.2 Premier Hurdle by 4L from Windsor Avenue latest; deserving of his place in the line-up, albeit this is a tough assignment.

Form: 521211

Southfield Stone⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 148| D

9/1

Far from disgraced when finishing 3¾L third to Elixir De Nutz in the Gr.1 Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown (2m, soft) in January, and a winner of 3 of his other 4 starts over timber (all on good ground); flat track ideal.

Form: 111321

Winston C¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 142| D

12/1

Five-time Flat winner (87-rated); a perfect 3-3 over hurdles in 2019; given a fine ride by Sean Bowen when getting up on the line to take a valuable Class 2 Handicap at Kelso (2m, good) recently; further improvement probable, but is required.

Form: 3111

Non-Runners

Sofia's Rock¹⁵

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: D Skelton J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Aramon (3/1), Felix Desjy (7/2), Itchy Feet (7/2), Precious Cargo (4/1), Rouge Vif (9/1), Southfield Stone (9/1), Winston C (12/1), Sofia's Rock (12/1)

Many in the line-up have the potential to better themselves in future, arguably none more so than the Nicky Henderson-trained Precious Cargo who would be suited by further rainfall. However, the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham provides rock-solid recent Grade 1 form, and therefore the most relevant clues. Itchy Feet broke blood vessels in finishing a career best third to the likeable winner Klassical Dream, coming out on top of both FELIX DESJY (fifth) and Aramon (sixth). Nevertheless, it's probably worth chancing the Gordon Elliott-trained runner at this much less demanding track in the hope and expectation that he can find a nice early rhythm towards the fore.