14:40 Aintree

Saturday 9 November 2019

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

Pertemps Network (Supporting BTRC) Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 6m 17.20s

Potters Corner^p¹⁸³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Christian Williams| OR: 140| D

33/1

Midlands National win (4m2f, heavy) in March is testimony to his reserves of stamina. 5lb higher here and returns from a break over hurdles. Has won when fresh, but this looks more like a launching pad for other targets.

Form: P1FF1-5

Jacks Last Hope^v²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: C Grant| OR: 136| C

10/1

Thorough stayer who arrives in cracking form after wins at both Sedgefield (3m3f, good) and Wetherby (3m, good to soft). Up 4lb for the latter, and in a stronger race. Soft ground a concern, but not ruled out.

Form: 553211

Vive Le Roi³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Bannister| T: A W Carroll| OR: 136

7/1

Last win came almost a year ago in a Class 2 at Newbury (3m, soft), when 8lb lower. Returned from a summer break to be 3L third from this mark at Stratford (2m6f) last month. Should be thereabouts.

Form: 1P520-3

Diomede Des Mottes^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 131

2/1

Won a Warwick maiden hurdle (2m5f, good) by 7L hard held in March. Returned from wind surgery to score again at Southwell (3m, soft) last month. Acquitted himself well in a Chepstow Grade 2 latest and looks a big player.

Form: 3301-14

Skandiburg²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 128

10/3

Dual novice hurdle winner at around 2m4f last season, including on soft. Just touched off on his reappearance at Market Rasen (front pair 15L clear) last month. Up 4lb but open to improvement and should be on the premises.

Form: 31281-2

Bialco^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 128

20/1

Won a Kelso handicap hurdle (2m6½f, good to soft) when 5lb lower in March, and added a Perth novices' hurdle in June. Soft ground no problem, but still has to fully prove himself over this trip. Flat track may help. Not ruled out.

Form: 12-6127

Rosy World¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 118| BF

5/2

Heavy ground bumper winner who scored over hurdles on soft at Plumpton in March (2m4½f), against her own sex. Not beaten far back there on her reappearance. Up 1lb for that, but remains unexposed and a contender here.

Form: 1/6361-3

King Golan^b¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 107

40/1

Multiple chase winner at around 3m (all on good ground) who is 0-7 over hurdles. Others make greater appeal.

Form: 331164

Forecasts

Diomede Des Mottes (2/1), Rosy World (5/2), Skandiburg (10/3), Vive Le Roi (7/1), Jacks Last Hope (10/1), Bialco (20/1), Potters Corner (33/1), King Golan (40/1)

An interesting contest, where the vote goes the way of DIOMEDE DES MOTTES, who reverts to this grade after a good effort in a Grade 2 contest last time. He looks the one to beat. Vive Le Roi is much respected, having already won a Class 2, while Skandiburg, Rosy World and Bialco can't be ruled out.