20:20 Aintree

Friday 17 May 2019

All17:3518:1018:4019:1019:4520:2020:50

Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 20:20 | Winning time: 6m 20.6s

Jacks Last Hope^v¹⁸⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: C Grant| OR: 135| C

16/1

Won on this card last year (2m); performed with plenty of credit in all his recent starts without getting his head in front. Back over hurdles for his last two starts he's slipped below his last winning mark; looks vulnerable to anything unexposed.

Form: 232433-

Ready And Able¹⁹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 133| BF| CD

10/3

Winning run ended thanks to some below-par jumping having won his three previous races looking a progressive sort (one win coming over C&D). Still looks to have potential though and remains a smart sort; should be able to cope with his mark.

Form: 69/111F-

Forecast^h,t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: R Johnson| T: M Keighley| OR: 132

11/2

Has been noted as having some quirks but hard to crab most of his efforts especially his win over 4f shorter at Uttoxeter last time (appreciated the good ground). Has been placed over this trip but does have a 7lb rise to cope with; not ruled out.

Form: 31040-1

Timeforben^b²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 126| D

7/1

Improved through much of 2018 last winning over 3m2f at Newton Abbot in September (first-time blinkers) off a 7lb lower mark. Returned from a much-needed break at Cheltenham (shaped well) possibly needing the run; not without a chance.

Form: 221208-

Follow The Bear³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 123| D

11/4

Lightly-raced of late (only had three runs last year) but ran creditably on his return at Ayr (made running) off a 2lb higher mark. That run likely to set him up for a spring/summer campaign; will appreciate this sound surface.

Form: 7F4/7F3-

River Arrow²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 122

7/2

Failed to get the run of the race at Cheltenham last time (too far back in a slowly run race) but still shaped well enough to remain of interest. Looks worth a try over 3m (lightly-raced in handicaps); one to note in the market.

Form: 1352/95-

Three Star General^v1¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 115

8/1

Not the most straightforward type and more likely to finish placed than win as he demonstrated to good effect on the Flat last time. Previously occupied another runner-up slot over hurdles at Warwick; hard to trust him to put it all in.

Form: 524222-

Non-Runners

Mance Rayder⁸²

Weight: 10-4| Age: 6

T: H Hogarth J: Billy Garritty

Forecasts

Follow The Bear (11/4), Ready And Able (10/3), River Arrow (7/2), Mance Rayder (5/1), Forecast (11/2), Timeforben (7/1), Three Star General (8/1), Jacks Last Hope (16/1)

The progressive form of Ready And Able immediately takes the eye and even off a mark such as this there is evidence to suggest that he can be successful again as he returns from a break. Follow The Bear ran a sound race at Ayr last time and would be dangerous if handed a soft lead again that run his first for five months will have brought him on. Forecast is another who has performed well of late despite his quirks and the same could be said of Three Star General although he hard to trust. RIVER ARROW hasn’t had many opportunities in handicaps and given the promise she showed last time at Cheltenham and up in trip here she’s worth chancing at a price that looks to underestimate her chance.