13:35 Aintree

Saturday 11 November 2023

All12:2513:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:50

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:37 | Winning time: 6m 37.14s

Icare Allen^t⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142

10/3

Smart performer who arrives on the back of some creditable efforts in defeat in big-field events in Ireland. Showed his stamina for an extended 2¾m when third at Galway on penultimate start and big player if seeing out the extra 2f now.

Form: 00-8435

Iwilldoit²³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas| OR: 140| D

17/2

2021 Welsh National winner who defied an absence of 13 months when following up in the Classic Chase at Warwick last winter. Respectable fifth in Midlands National only subsequent start last season. Good record fresh provides hope now reverting hurdles on return.

Form: 7311/15-

Remastered^t²⁴²

6/1

Had wind surgery prior to making a winning reappearance in this race last year and returned to fences to finish second in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury and win at Kempton before the end of 2022. Ended the season with 2 disappointing runs but capable of bouncing back after break (had wind op again).

Form: 9/121PP-

Hillview¹⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: S Bowen| T: G Hanmer| OR: 134

50/1

Five-time winner over hurdles. Returned from 6 months off to finish a good second at Uttoxeter (23f) in May but not in anything like the same form at Cartmel only 9 days later and off again since.

Form: 1224-29

Storm Nelson²⁸⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: Olly Williams| OR: 133| D

40/1

Won 5 of his 8 starts during a very good spell with Sandy Thomson but left that yard after a below-par effort at Sandown in February and a watching brief is advised on his return for a new trainer.

Form: 182/110-

Omar Maretti²³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 129| D

18/1

Dual-point winner who bagged 4 of his first 5 starts under Rules but he lost his way over fences subsequently. Needs a return to hurdles to spark a revival back from 7 months off.

Form: 11P/3PF-

Imperial Merlin²⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Henry Brooke| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 127

10/3

Bumper winner who made it 3 wins from 4 completed starts over hurdles when seeing off 7 rivals in a 3m Ayr novice handicap in April, idling in front and value for more than the winning margin. Likely this 6-y-o can go on even better things this season.

Form: 1/112F1-

Starzov¹⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 126

9/2

Won a novice hurdle at Cork in January. Struggled to make an impact in handicaps at spring festivals here and at Punchestown but he might fare better in these slightly calmer waters.

Form: 0F1300-

Risk And Roll^p⁵³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: H J Evans| OR: 126| D

16/1

Temperamental sort but he put it altogether to win a small-field chase at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) in September. Should be competitive off 3 lb higher back hurdling but perhaps not an obvious one to follow up.

Form: 8693-61

Gentleman At Arms³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 124

9/1

Useful at his best. Might have needed the run after 5 months off when last of 5 at Uttoxeter 34 days ago and he is starting to look well handicapped again.

Form: 4984-05

Bushypark²¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: P A Kirby| OR: 121

25/1

Quite useful over hurdles and fences but his good days have been more infrequent in recent seasons. Probably best to look elsewhere on reappearance.

Form: PP21P3-

Forecasts

Icare Allen (10/3), Imperial Merlin (10/3), Starzov (9/2), Remastered (6/1), Iwilldoit (17/2), Gentleman At Arms (9/1), Risk And Roll (16/1), Omar Maretti (18/1), Bushypark (25/1), Storm Nelson (40/1), Hillview (50/1)

REMASTERED ended last season out of sorts but the fact he started the previous campaign in such good form provides hope he can bounce back with a bang and land this race for the second year running. Icare Allen will be a major threat if his stamina holds now tackling 3m for the first time, while Imperial Merlin is a lightly-raced improver who likely has even more to come this season.