15:25 Aintree

Tuesday 26 December 2023

All11:5512:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:25

William Hill Stories Open NH Flat Race (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 4m 45.24s

Gamesters Guy³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

16/1

Made the ideal start with his stable going well when landing an 8-runner contest at Uttoxeter and, while he finds himself in a stronger race now, he could improve.

Form: 1

Union Avenue⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlotte Jones⁽³⁾| T: James Moffatt

6/1

Placed both starts in Irish points and made a successful start under Rules at Kelso 45 days ago. This is a better race, so might struggle to overcome the penalty.

Form: 32-1

Boundary Jack²⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Mrs M RowleyWS

40/1

Related to a Flat winner and travelled strongly when seventh at Market Rasen on debut. Too free at Ludlow next time and might need this first run for 8 months.

Form: 77-

Farland^h1²⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Lorcan Williams| T: P F Nicholls| BF

15/8

Half-brother to smart 2½m-2¾m hurdle winner Minella Cocooner and shaped well amidst greenness when fourth at Punchestown on debut 8 months ago. Has left Sean Thomas Doyle and joined top British stable, so worth taking a chance on fitted with hood.

Form: 4-

Jaccours

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: O Murphy

10/3

€50,000 3-y-o, Gris De Gris gelding. Half-brother to fairly useful hurdler Hourvari and fair hurdler Desir du Sud. Stable has a good record in this sphere, so he warrants respect.

Form:

Monty Bodkin⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling

3/1

Expensive as a store and showed plenty to work on when second in a bumper at Ascot on debut. More to come and likely to be on the premises again.

Form: 2

Disco Annie⁴¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: B S Hughes| T: R Menzies

14/1

£58,000 4-y-o, Court Cave mare. Half-sister to fair 2¼m hurdle winner Paddy Buns and fair chaser Upandatit. Runner-up completed start in points (Nov 2022).

Form: F/2-

Non-Runners

The New Lion

Weight: 11-2| Age: 4

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Forecasts

Farland (15/8), Monty Bodkin (3/1), Jaccours (10/3), The New Lion (5/1), Union Avenue (6/1), Disco Annie (14/1), Gamesters Guy (16/1), Boundary Jack (40/1)

FARLAND has been acquired by Paul Nicholls since shaping well at Punchestown first time out and, with plenty of improvement expected, he's fancied to open his account at the possible expense of Monty Bodkin, who also made a promising start. The New Lion is an interesting newcomer on paper.