14:25 Aintree

Saturday 6 April 2019

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

Betway Mersey Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 4m 49.80s

Angels Breath²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 148

11/4

Winner of the Gr.2 Kennel Gate at Ascot (1m7½f, soft) in December, and produced an equivalent showing in the Dovecote at Kempton (second); outpaced in the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham when finishing 22+L seventh to Klassical Dream; new trip.

Form: 1-127

Brewin'upastorm²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: O Murphy| OR: 148

10/3

Narrowly failed to make the frame when finishing 5¾L fourth to City Island in the Gr.1 Ballymore (2m5f, soft) at Cheltenham; the forecast conditions are fine; strong contender, albeit is likely to come into his own once switched to fences.

Form: 14-14F4

Chosen Mate⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott

6/1

3m point-to-point winner prior to joining Gordon Elliott for £32,000; 2-3 over hurdles, including when scrambling home by a nose from Hannon (well beaten in the Triumph Hurdle since) in a Gr.2 at Naas (2m, good) in February; soft ground concerns.

Form: P-1121

Colonel Custard⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Matt Griffiths| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 137

25/1

A dual winner over hurdles on soft/heavy ground (Newton Abbot (2m1f) and Ffos Las (2m)); struggled when pitched into the Gr.2 Supreme Novices' Trial at Cheltenham in November - good ground a possible excuse; plenty to find on first attempt at 2m4f.

Form: 3-11521

Kateson⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: T Lacey| OR: 141| BF

6/1

Runner-up in the Gr.2 Aintree bumper (soft) in 2018; won his first two starts over hurdles (2m3½f-2m4½f), and should relish the underfoot conditions; disappointed over 3m at Haydock (keen); reasonable chance on his 3¼L third to Champ in the Challow.

Form: 22-1137

One For Rosie²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 143| D

5/1

Bangor bumper winner; upwardly mobile since returning to action; made a winning debut over hurdles at Carlisle (2m4f, good) in November; went down all guns blazing when edged out by Third Wind in the Gr.3 EBF Final at Sandown (2m4f, soft).

Form: 1-1312

Reserve Tank²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 139

20/1

Shown significant improvement in the second half of the season, winning back-to-back minor novice contests at Sandown (2m) and Kempton (2m5f); much sterner test today for a trainer/jockey combination who won this race in 2017 with Finian's Oscar.

Form: 3711

The Big Bite²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: C Gethings| T: T R George| OR: 142

25/1

Kicked off his hurdling career with a couple of low-key wins at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) and Haydock (2m, heavy); has lacked fluency over his obstacles since - finished well down the field in the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham; new trip.

Form: 10-1140

Umbrigado⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 142

10/1

Bought out of the Irish PTP scene for £160,000; bumper winner on stable debut and unbeaten in two subsequent hurdles starts (2m-2m2½f); raw and inexperienced, yet could well prove capable of making his mark in stronger company; conditions fine.

Form: 2-111

Forecasts

Angels Breath (11/4), Brewin'upastorm (10/3), One For Rosie (5/1), Chosen Mate (6/1), Kateson (6/1), Umbrigado (10/1), Reserve Tank (20/1), The Big Bite (25/1), Colonel Custard (25/1)

Arguably, this isn't the strongest Grade 1 Novices' Hurdle, but both Tom George (The Big Bite) and Colin Tizzard (Reserve Tank) chase further success following on from Black Op (2018) and Finian's Oscar (2017). The likely favourite Brewin'upastorm is worthy of respect after a solid run in the Ballymore at Cheltenham. Angels Breath could have more too offer now upped in trip, whilst the progressive stayer Umbrigado is untested in the grade. However, we'll seek some value and take aim at Tom Lacey's KATESON. 2m4f on soft ground provides his optimum conditions, and he ran well when finishing third to Champ in the Grade 1 Challow at Newbury in December.