15:15 Aintree

Saturday 3 December 2022

All11:4512:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:15

BoyleSports Extra Places Daily Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:17 | Winning time: 5m 6.56s

Langer Dan²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 144| CD

11/2

Well clear of rest when second to Galopin des Champs in 2021 Martin Pipe and, having been brought down in last season's renewal (sent off fav) he duly made amends in a C&D Gr. 3 handicap in April. Shaped as if needing last month's return to action here and he's not out of things.

Form: 12/6B1-3

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Herbiers^p,t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 138

12/1

Useful handicap hurdler who benefited from drop in grade on back of a wind op to score at Newbury 4 weeks ago, leading 3 out and drawing clear run-in. Career-high mark to defy now though back up in trip.

Form: 1492-71

Ballyhome⁵³³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien| OR: 134| BF

125/1

Veteran who tasted success twice over fences at Market Rasen in 2020 and filled runners-up spot over hurdles/fences back at that venue both starts last year. However, lengthy absence to overcome here and others make more appeal.

Form: 2P21/22-

Harbour Lake²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 134| D

16/5

6-y-o boasting an excellent strike rate over hurdles, gaining fourth success with a bit to spare on return at Market Rasen (20.6f) in October. Not at all disgraced when keeping on again for third in the Greatwood at Cheltenham and possible there's more to come back up at 2½m.

Form: 11B1-13

Sizing Pottsie^t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 133

14/1

Smart chaser for Jessica Harrington who, having changed hands (for 95,000 gns) made most of good opportunity to land Ayr novice hurdle in October. Creditable second in listed event at Haydock (15.6f) 2 weeks ago and not out of things making handicap debut in this sphere. Up in trip.

Form: U210-12

Walking On Air²³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 132

11/4

Well-bred 5-y-o who looked potentially smart in making a winning start over hurdles in a 2m novice at Newbury in January. Found C&D Grade 1 all too much when next seen in the spring but he returns as an unexposed sort with lots of potential. Market confidence would be significant.

Form: 2/1P-

Bold Plan²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 131| D

33/1

Resurgent over hurdles during second half of last term, looking about as good as ever when completing the hat-trick at Cheltenham (20f) in April. Has often needed first start of the campaign, so likely he'll be much sharper for last month's Kempton effort now.

Form: 69111-5

Hardi Du Mesnil³³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 127

28/1

Well-related sort who was acquired for €250,000 on back of success in a French juvenile hurdle success and promise when runner-up in an introductory hurdle at Newbury (16.3f) 11 months ago. Absent since but interesting connections who won this last year pitch him in here on handicap bow.

Form: 7F841/2-

Skippin Court^p1⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Kevin Sexton| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 127| D

33/1

Took his form up a notch when defying an 11 lb lower mark at Listowel in September and wilst not disgraced when sixth at Punchestown (20.3f) in October, he did hang badly right on that occasion. Cheekpieces go on now but mark demands that little bit more.

Form: 0-10616

Benson^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: B S Hughes| T: A M Thomson| OR: 125

7/2

Ended last term in disappointing fashion but back on track in filling runners-up spot both starts for new yard this year, keeping on well having been outpaced leaving back straight at Haydock (18.9f) 2 weeks ago. Returns to 2½m and booking of Hughes catches the eye.

Form: 4846-22

Foster'sisland²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 125| D

25/1

Progressive, 3-time winner over hurdles during 2021/22 who has returned in rude health, runner-up to a totally unexposed sort at Wetherby (19.7f) 3 weeks ago (clear of remainder). Mark has crept up a little but suspicion is he could pull out a little more.

Form: 11032-2

Romeo Brown³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Thomas Willmott⁽³⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 124

50/1

In excellent form during the spring, well ridden when adding to his tally at Haydock (3m) in May and matched that on back of 5 months off when third at Wetherby (2m) in October. Rare poor effort faced with testing ground at Carlisle since.

Form: 213-136

Whizz Kid^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 124

20/1

Useful Flat performer who landed back-to-back maiden/novice hurdles last spring and run well to hit the frame on 3 of his 4 starts since, keeping on for third at Ascot (15.7f) 2 weeks back. Longer trip may just be worth exploring here.

Form: 1147-23

Forecasts

Walking On Air (11/4), Harbour Lake (16/5), Benson (7/2), Langer Dan (11/2), Herbiers (12/1), Sizing Pottsie (14/1), Whizz Kid (20/1), Foster'sisland (25/1), Hardi Du Mesnil (28/1), Skippin Court (33/1), Bold Plan (33/1), Romeo Brown (50/1), Ballyhome (125/1)

WALKING ON AIR found his relative inexperience catching him out in Grade 1 company here at the National Meeting but he'd looked a most exciting prospect when successful on hurdles bow at Newbury previously and he could be worth siding with to get back on track now handicapping on return. Foster'sisland, who arrives on the back of a smashing second at Wetherby, Harbour Lake, back at 2½m, and Langer Dan head up the dangers in the finale.