17:15 Aintree

Friday 8 April 2022

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

Park Palace Ponies Handicap Hurdle (Conditional Jockeys And Amateur Riders) (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:16 | Winning time: 4m 0.91s

Faivoir²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 143| D

11/1

Talented hurdler/chaser who wasn't seen to best effect in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham last time. This is a lesser race, so could make a better first of it if the race is run to suit.

Form: 122330

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Hacker Des Places²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 133| D

10/1

French import who got back to winning ways in 5-runner handicap at Chepstow in February and was back on track when third despite racing on an unfavoured part of the track in the Imperial Cup at Sandown. Holds solid claims.

Form: 21-6413

Richmond Lake³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Theo Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 132| BF

5/1

Useful novice who made most of a good opportunity to land hurdle win number 2 at Sedgefield on Boxing Day. Has bettered that form since (second to Jonbon on penultimate outing), and was in the process of running well when coming down late at Kelso a month ago. Strong claims.

Form: 41312F

Antey^p1,t²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: P Griffin| OR: 130| D

150/1

Useful at one time for Willie Mullins but has offered nothing over fences for current stable. Hard to fancy back in this discipline with cheekpieces applied.

Form: 4P3F45

Albert's Back^p1³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Jack Tudor| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 129| D

33/1

Useful sort who was right back on track at Wetherby a month ago and remains below his last winning mark despite a 2-lb rise. One to consider with cheekpieces applied for the first time.

Form: 1F-6P42

Gipsy De Choisel³⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 128

11/1

Won big-field 4-y-o race in France in May and shaped encouragingly on a couple of his outings for new yard last season, still holding every chance when falling last at Ffos Las a year ago. Top yard should have him ready.

Form: 135F-

Due Reward^p1,t¹³³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Lily Pinchin⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 128| DWS

80/1

Useful hurdler/chaser on his day in Ireland but profile is rather hit and miss. Failed to beat a rival in 9-runer handicap chase at Newbury, but fitted with cheekpieces back over hurdles after a 4-month break.

Form: 640929

Marine One⁵³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Luke Scott⁽⁷⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 128

80/1

Irish import who won his first 3 starts for this yard but was last seen running poorly at Ffos Las 17 months ago. There's something to prove on return, but strength in the market would look significant.

Form: 35/1110-

Washington³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Fergus Gregory| T: O Murphy| OR: 127| D

13/2

Dual bumper winner who has looked useful over hurdles and readily doubled his tally in this sphere in a 7-runner novice at Southwell a month ago. Has some strong form to his name, so warrants plenty of respect.

Form: 1-12331

Mandarin Monarch^p,t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁵⁾| T: A J McNamara| OR: 126| D

33/1

Fairly useful hurdler who returned from a lengthy absence to score readily at Navan a month ago. Hard to know if he'll back that up in a better race, though.

Form: 0/2280-1

Severance³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: K Brogan⁽³⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 125WS

5/1

Useful on Flat and made winning debut over hurdles in November 2020. Hasn't kicked on from that but arrives on the back of a respectable effort at Kelso a month ago. Has undergone wind surgery since, so could have a bigger effort in him.

Form: 53-9424

Whizz Kid^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 125| D

3/1

Useful on Flat (stays 1½m) in Germany. Set stiff task on hurdling debut but has bolted up on better ground both subsequent starts. Might have been let in lightly and stable is red hot at the moment, so worth taking a chance on.

Form: 511

Thibault^t¹⁰^{(ex 7)}

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Mr Ben Ffrench Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: A West| OR: 118| D

50/1

Fairly useful but exposed hurdler. Landed a weak event at Fontwell 10 days ago and looks vulnerable under a penalty for that.

Form: 323U51

Red Force One²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 122| D

100/1

Fair hurdler at his best. Arrives fit from the Flat, but isn't in the form to make an impact in this.

Form: 3/106-06

Just The Man¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 122| D

28/1

Likeable type who was back to winning ways in smooth style at Ludlow 16 days ago. A well-run race in a big field is likely to play to his strengths, so he's not one to dismiss lightly.

Form: 315321

Lively Citizen²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Archie Bellamy⁽⁷⁾| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 122| D

8/1

Likeable and consistent sort who comes here on the back of a cracking second in the Imperial Cup at Sandown last month. Bound to give another good account.

Form: 3-31P12

Non-Runners

Homme Public³¹

Weight: 10-8| Age: 5

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: Toby Wynne

Forecasts

Whizz Kid (3/1), Severance (5/1), Richmond Lake (5/1), Washington (13/2), Lively Citizen (8/1), Homme Public (8/1), Hacker Des Places (10/1), Faivoir (11/1), Gipsy De Choisel (11/1), Just The Man (28/1), Mandarin Monarch (33/1), Albert's Back (33/1), Thibault (50/1), Marine One (80/1), Due Reward (80/1), Red Force One (100/1), Antey (150/1)

WHIZZ KID has been most impressive in running out a wide-margin winner of a couple of novice hurdles and, with 125 appealing as a rather lenient opening mark, he gets the nod to take this wide-open handicap. Richmond Lake is an obvious threat and the Imperial Cup third, Hacker des Places, is another one to be interested in.