13:45 Aintree

Saturday 6 April 2019

All13:4514:2515:0015:4016:2017:1518:20

Gaskells Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 6m 0.6s

Sire Du Berlais^p,t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 153

7/2

Game winner of the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham last month in first-time cheekpieces (retained). Didn't have much to spare and 5lb higher, though excellent claimer negates the bulk of that weight.

Form: 248-861

Aux Ptits Soins⁷⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 149

11/1

Won the 2015 Coral Cup on debut for Paul Nicholls after arriving from France and has had an interrupted career since. Scored over 3m at Cheltenham on New Year's Day and no shame being outclassed in Cleeve Hurdle soon after. Could go well here.

Form: 428/517

Mia's Storm^p1¹³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 148| D

16/1

Winner of her last six completed starts, she twice fell last season over fences. Listed winner over extended-3m at Kempton in November. Sports first-time cheekpieces and chance here back from a break.

Form: 11FF-11

Keeper Hill²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 144| D

25/1

Runner-up in a competitive handicap at Cheltenham's International Meeting in December and scored a month later at Warwick (3m1f, good). Disappointing next time at Sandown and well beaten in Stayers' Hurdle latest. Others preferred.

Form: P-52100

Nadaitak^p²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: B Pauling| OR: 141

33/1

Former Flat racer (87-rated); 2-5 over hurdles (2m-3m). Had been kept almost exclusively to a sound surface on Town Moor at Doncaster and didn't relish Cheltenham last month in Albert Bartlett. This track more to his liking, possible improver.

Form: 41210

Coolanly²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 140

8/1

Has kept decent company this season, winning 2m5f good-ground Grade 2 novice at Cheltenham in November. Creditable efforts since, including fifth in Martin Pipe last month. Unexposed over 3m and is a point-to-point winner over the trip.

Form: 5-F1525

Red Indian^p1²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Kelly Morgan| OR: 139

16/1

Fairly useful hurdler, finished just better than midfield in this contest last year off a mark 3lb higher. Has been chasing this season (1-4) and not discounted back over timber with new headgear on.

Form: 67-14U0

Forza Milan²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 139

10/1

Back over hurdles following wind surgery and looked as good as ever in scoring last month at Sandown (2m4f, soft), tougher ask now but gets this trip no worries and could go well with Geraghty booked.

Form: 22P-0P1

Coole Cody^t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: H Cobden| T: M Blake| OR: 138

33/1

Has some useful form but front-running style not ideal in this sort of field and dropped away to be beaten a wide margin in Pertemps Final at Cheltenham won by Sire Du Berlais last month.

Form: P-4P620

Burbank^b1²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 138

25/1

Hasn't won since a maiden hurdle success nearly two years ago but has run some fair races in big fields including a decent effort in last month's Coral Cup (2m5f, soft). Given a chance by the handicapper should first-time blinkers eke out some more.

Form: 6379-20

Gunfleet⁷⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 138

40/1

Won a handicap at Doncaster over this sort of trip in February 2018 off a mark of 130. Rather lost his confidence in three chase starts this season and hard to fancy diverted back to hurdling amid this hustle and bustle.

Form: 511-23P

Poker Play^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 137

5/1

Steadily improving in four outings since a wind operation, duly notching a seamless success at Uttoxeter (2m4f, heavy) three weeks ago. An 8lb hike makes things significantly tougher, but no concerns on stamina.

Form: 33-3P21

Flemcara^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 137

16/1

Useful hurdler, won a Pertemps Qualifier at Exeter (2m7f, good to soft) in February (beating Poker Play) though was since held at the Cheltenham Festival final (won by Sire Du Berlais). Not handicapped out of this on his best stuff.

Form: 0-8U310

Theclockisticking²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 137

12/1

Very consistent sort who only gave best late in the piece in last month's Pertemps Final at Cheltenham. Handicapper has offered him a decent chance in this contest and likely he'll muster a challenge.

Form: 254126

Knock House^b⁹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Henry Brooke| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 136| BF| D

80/1

Front-runner who has evidently drawn considerable benefit from wind surgery; 6lb higher than when scoring on soft ground at Bangor (2m7f) in December; but ran well enough in small field at Musselburgh in January when last seen.

Form: 2-85712

Burrows Park¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 136

16/1

Not suited by the speed test of the Martin Pipe last month, a fact emphasised when he notched his third win of a rewarding season at Kelso (3m2f, good) since. More on his plate now raised 5lb.

Form: 112391

Nestor Park⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 136

11/1

2-4 in novice hurdles this season, though the defeats have come when trying his hand in graded company at that level. Should have more to offer but probably does well to sneak a place.

Form: 50-6171

Tommy Rapper^t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 136

20/1

Three-time hurdles winner last season from 2m4½f-2m7f on testing ground. Began this term with chasing aspirations, well held at Chepstow (2m7½f, good to soft) back over timber in February and this is much deeper.

Form: 119-344

Vive Le Roi²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Bannister| T: A W Carroll| OR: 136

50/1

Had a fantastic 2018 culminating in a valuable handicap at Newbury when proving he can act on soft ground. Readily dismissed in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell (2m3f, good to soft) on penultimate start. Bit to prove in this field, trip fine.

Form: 121P52

Canyon City³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 136

50/1

Fair handicap hurdler, bounced back from a rare poor effort when winning at Fakenham last month over just shy of 3m. Needs to pull out something extra in this competitive affair.

Form: 122031

First Drift³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁵⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 135

50/1

Back over hurdles to win a Class 3 Newbury handicap (2m4½f, good to soft) last month off a mark of 128 with this 5lb claimer on board. This is much tougher and unproven over 3m.

Form: 2-P1271

Non-Runners

Maximiser⁶⁴⁸

Weight: 10-8| Age: 11

T: S G West J: Joe Colliver

Forecasts

Sire Du Berlais (7/2), Poker Play (5/1), Coolanly (8/1), Forza Milan (10/1), Aux Ptits Soins (11/1), Nestor Park (11/1), Theclockisticking (12/1), Burrows Park (16/1), Flemcara (16/1), Red Indian (16/1), Mia's Storm (16/1), Tommy Rapper (20/1), Keeper Hill (25/1), Burbank (25/1), Nadaitak (33/1), Coole Cody (33/1), Gunfleet (40/1), Canyon City (50/1), First Drift (50/1), Vive Le Roi (50/1), Maximiser (66/1), Knock House (80/1)

Gordon Elliott hasn't missed a trick in securing the services of Jonjo O'Neill Jnr to partner Pertemps winner SIRE DU BERLAIS here. He ensures the bulk of a 5lb rating-rise is offset and, in any case, the Cheltenham winner appears open to further improvement and will take beating here. Mia's Storm, Coolanly and Theclockisticking are much-respected while Poker Play was impressive at Uttoxeter and stays this trip well. Aux Ptits Soins completes the shortlist, on the strength of his impressive New Year's Day success at Cheltenham.