15:30 Aintree

Thursday 11 April 2024

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

William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 5m 18.37s

Beacon Edge²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 144| D

33/1

Won on Thurles reappearance in October. Also a good second In Grade 2 Boyne at Navan in February but below par behind Langer Dan in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham. Others are preferred.

Form: 6-1P429

Bob Olinger⁶⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 161| D

9/4

High-class chaser who has reverted to hurdles this term, winning listed at Navan and Grade 2 Relkeel at Cheltenham (both 2½m), beating Marie's Rock by 7 lengths in the latter. No disgrace in being unable to live with State Man (Impaire Et Passe third) in Irish Champion since. Should go well.

Form: 253-112

Impaire Et Passe⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 160

1/1

Won Grade 1s at Cheltenham and Punchestown in unbeaten novice hurdle season. Even better form when second in Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse (2½m) and Matheson at Leopardstown (2m) this winter. Behind Bob Olinger when a below-par third in Irish Champion but leading claims if back to best.

Form: 111-223

Langer Dan²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 151| CD

18/1

Smart performance when becoming the first dual winner of the Coral Cup (Handicap) at Cheltenham last month. Has also tasted big handicap success over this C&D but a big career best will be needed to get heavily involved at Grade 1 level.

Form: 1-6P901

Mahons Glory^p,h¹⁰⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P Neville| OR: 136| CD

100/1

Useful effort to win a 21f Kempton handicap on Boxing Day on only his second outing for Patrick Neville but surely out of his depth in this company.

Form: 3/153-51

Nemean Lion³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 151

14/1

Took his form up another notch when landing the second Grade 2 success of his career in the Kingwell at Wincanton in February but he found the Champion Hurdle too hot to handle at Cheltenham and this isn't much easier.

Form: 1-15216

Luccia³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 149

15/2

Resumed winning ways in valuable Betfair Exchange Trophy (Handicap) at Ascot (2m) just before Christmas. Comfortably bettered that form when an excellent third in Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham since. Third in a Grade 1 novice at this meeting last year. Races beyond around 2m for first time here.

Form: 43-2313

Marie's Rock^t³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 146| D

20/1

Really smart hurdler at her best (second in last year's Liverpool Hurdle) but operating a bit below that level this season, with her Doncaster win in January coming a weak Grade 2. Pulled up in Mares' at Cheltenham since. Others arrive with more pressing claims.

Form: 72-421P

Forecasts

Impaire Et Passe (1/1), Bob Olinger (9/4), Luccia (15/2), Nemean Lion (14/1), Langer Dan (18/1), Marie's Rock (20/1), Beacon Edge (33/1), Mahons Glory (100/1)

IMPAIRE ET PASSE seemed to resent a switch to front-running tactics when 5 lengths behind Bob Olinger in the Irish Champion Hurdle in February. His runner-up efforts to Teahupoo and State Man prior to that set the standard here and he can bounce back to form and turn the tables on Henry De Bromhead's charge. Champion Hurdle third Luccia may prove best of the remainder if her stamina holds up in trip.