15:15 Aintree

Sunday 23 October 2022

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5216:3017:05

Jewson Southport, Bispham Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 4m 58.8s

Gentleman At Arms¹⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 143| D

11/1

Fairly useful Flat stayer who has taken well to hurdling, scoring at Huntingdon twice, and posting excellent second in Sefton Novices' Hurdle here final run. Needs considering on his handicap debut.

Form: 512212-

Wilde About Oscar²³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 137| CD

9/1

C&D winner but he ended last season below par, cheekpieces tried when seventh of 10 in handicap at Kelso 7 months ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 10/6747-

West To The Bridge¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁵⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 137| C| D

50/1

In the form of his life last season, completing a 4-timer at Newton Abbot (26.5f) in March. Looked rusty after 6 months off when last of 10 in handicap at Chepstow (19.4f) 15 days ago. No surprise to see him bounce back now.

Form: 11115-0

Onemorefortheroad²⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 136

6/1

Three-time 2m winner last autumn who held his form well after, third in 2m Ayr handicap on his final run. Likeable type who is well in the mix on his seasonal return.

Form: 111243-

Petit Tonnerre¹⁹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 138

22/1

Winner of both starts over hurdles in France last year and overcame a late scare to score on his debut for current yard at Market Rasen (16.6f). Pulled up in Anniversary Hurdle here in April but is worth another chance after his break.

Form: 111P-

A Different Kind¹⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 133

3/1

Successful on his first 3 outings in this sphere but he came in a well-held seventh in Top Novices' Hurdle here in April. Goes handicapping now and can't be discounted back in these calmer waters.

Form: 111137-

Voix Du Reve^p²⁰⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 133| D

28/1

Smart at best and cashed in on a falling mark at Newcastle in March. Backed it up with a solid fourth in 2m Ayr handicap following month and shortlisted on his comeback run.

Form: 643514-

Blaklion¹⁹⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 11-3| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 132| C| D

66/1

Veteran chaser who scored twice at Haydock last December. Goes hurdling for the first time since early 2019 on his seasonal return and others are preferred on this occasion.

Form: 6/511P0-

Peking Rose^t¹⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 129WS

5/2

Got off the mark at Newbury in December and he signed off last term with good seventh of 21 over C&D. Returns after a wind op on a handy-looking mark so he merits serious consideration.

Form: 2/31227-

Bridge North¹⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly| OR: 127| D

5/1

Improved on the back of breathing surgery when making all at Bangor (19.6f) in March. 80/1, creditable fifth in Sefton Novices' Hurdle here on his final run and one to consider.

Form: 321P15-

The Navigator²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 120| BF

22/1

Reliable sort who landed 2m4f Kelso handicap last month. Posted another good effort off a career-high mark when fifth there three weeks ago so he's in the picture.

Form: 1-27215

Forecasts

Peking Rose (5/2), A Different Kind (3/1), Bridge North (5/1), Onemorefortheroad (6/1), Wilde About Oscar (9/1), Gentleman At Arms (11/1), Petit Tonnerre (22/1), The Navigator (22/1), Voix Du Reve (28/1), West To The Bridge (50/1), Blaklion (66/1)

Plenty are in with a shout. Well-weighted PEKING ROSE ended last term with a good C&D seventh (form has been franked) so looks the way to go on the back of wind surgery for his in-form handler. A Different Kind found the Top Novices' Hurdle here too hot to handle on his final run but is feared most now handicapping, with Onemorefortheroad and The Navigator shortlisted too.