14:20 Aintree

Friday 12 April 2024

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

William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 5m 6.36s

Springwell Bay^t⁶⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 145| BF| D

25/1

Scored over 21f at Cheltenham in November and resumed his progress when going down by a neck in 3m handicap at Musselburgh in February. No surprise were he to pull out more again but a really smart effort will be needed under top weight.

Form: 116-142

Icare Allen^h1²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 142

50/1

Smart hurdler at his peak. Caught the eye when a running-on third of 11 in 3m course handicap in November but pulled up at the Cheltenham Festival 4 months later (final start for Willie Mullins). New stable removes his regular tongue tie and replaces it with a first-time hood.

Form: 84353P

Sonigino^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 141| CD

22/1

Three wins last season and built on good in-frame efforts in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow and Greatwood at Cheltenham in autumn when scoring over C&D (heavy) in December. Has struggled in Lanzarote at Kempton and Martin Pipe at Cheltenham since, though.

Form: 3-3410P

Might I^t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry| OR: 140

20/1

Useful hurdler. Showed similar form over fences before Christmas (won a match race at Exeter) but his jumping was an issue and he also made mistakes back hurdling at Cheltenham last month, finishing mid-field in the Coral Cup. Others are preferred.

Form: 4-52130

Jango Baie⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 139| BF| C

9/1

Irish point recruit who won first 2 starts over hurdles, latterly the Grade 1 Formby over 2m here on Boxing Day. Not at best when runner-up in small field at Huntingdon in February but back to form when ½-length second in 2¼m Kelso Grade 2 6 weeks ago. His opening handicap mark looks workable.

Form: 2-1122

Kateira²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 136

5/1

Three-time novice hurdle winner last season and ended her campaign with excellent second in a C&D Grade 1 novice at this meeting. Below par in 2 comeback runs in November but back on form when fourth of 11 over 21f at Kempton 4 weeks ago. Much respected.

Form: 112-324

What's Up Darling²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 136

14/1

Bumper winner last spring who was having only his second start over hurdles when landing a 2m Navan Grade 3 (heavy) in November. Bettered that form when second in a Grade 3 at Gowran in February and made a sound start to his handicap career when sixth of 21 in Martin Pipe at Cheltenham (2½m).

Form: 121526

Guard Your Dreams³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 135| D

40/1

Developed into a smart and likeable hurdler in 2021/22 but has yet to show he retains that ability in 3 comeback outings this term, on the latest finishing down the field in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham.

Form: 23U/540

Uncle Bert²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: James Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 135| D

16/1

Made a winning handicap debut at Perth in September. Struggled immediately after that but firmly back on the up with wins in the mud at Wetherby and Bangor in recent months. 8 lb higher in a deeper race now but he will be at home on this ground.

Form: F5P211

Boombawn²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Skelton| OR: 135| CD

22/1

Largely progressive sort who scored over C&D (good) last May and followed up in a 21f Kempton handicap (good to soft) 10 months later. Much fresher than most for this stage of the season but testing ground a slight question mark and Harry Skelton is on Kateira this time.

Form: 2629-11

Spirit D'aunou³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 135

66/1

His success on heavy ground at Sandown (2m) in December was his fifth win in 6 starts. His run of good form has come to a halt in the Betfair at Newbury and Imperial Cup at Sandown this spring and his hopes are pinned on a step up in trip helping him to regain the progressive thread.

Form: 11-4100

Theatre Man²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 133| BF| D

12/1

Useful, dual-winning hurdler who has bettered that form in defeat over fences this term, notably second to Ginny's Destiny in the Timeform Novices' Handicap at Cheltenham in January. Fell in the Plate there since and now reverts to hurdles.

Form: 21-232F

Playful Saint^t¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Fergus Gillard| T: D Skelton| OR: 133

40/1

Lightly-raced 9-y-o who returned better than ever when neck second of 5 to Milldam in 2m handicap at Stratford (heavy) in March but failed to back it up at Haydock since. Steps up in trip now. The stable has other stronger candidates.

Form: 4213-26

Ocastle Des Mottes^h1²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 132

5/1

Dual 2¼m winner in France. Didn't get close to justifying favouritism in Betfair on yard debut but more promising signs when fifth of 21 in Martin Pipe at Cheltenham since, the fact he only weakened late on encouraging given he pulled hard. Could have big say if reffited hood helps him to settle.

Form: 71-P185

Serious Operator^t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: P W Wadge⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 131| D

28/1

Enhanced good strike rate over hurdles when successful at Kelso (21f, soft) 6 weeks ago. His fifth of 19 in the Lanzarote at Kempton prior to that shows he can mix it in competitive handicaps but he's gone up another 5 lb for Kelso.

Form: 1-79151

Champagne Twist³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 131| D

5/1

Irish point winner and going the right way over hurdles for new connections, making a successful handicap debut in the very competitive EBF Final at Sandown (2½m, soft) last month. Raised 7 lb for that but there's almost certainly more to come.

Form: F1-4211

Tronador¹⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Danny Gilligan⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 130| CD

100/1

Won this race in 2021 but has rarely threatened over jumps since. Did score on the Flat last summer but pulled up back hurdling at Chepstow in October and given a break since finishing a well-held fifth on chase debut in November. Others are more obvious.

Form: 8/00-3P5

Inthewaterside^h1⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 129| BF| CD

7/1

Imposing sort who was unbeaten in 2 bumper runs and has taken well to hurdling this season, winning an Ascot maiden and Lingfield handicap around 2½m. Good second of 6 in Ascot novice latest and unexposed for top yard now tackling only his second handicap. Hooded first time.

Form: 11-1412

Making Headway^p1³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 128

13/2

Irish point winner who has done well over hurdles for new connections, winning pair of novices around 2m. Good start to his handicap career when fourth of 16 in Imperial Cup at Sandown (2m again) and he leaves the firm impression there'll be more to come now stepped up to 2½m. Cheekpieces added.

Form: 1-12414

Non-Runners

Santos Blue²⁷

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: D Skelton J: Mr Ben Sutton

Kamsinas²⁷

Weight: 11-1| Age: 7

T: F O'Brien J: P J Brennan

West To The Bridge²⁰

Weight: 11-0| Age: 11

T: D Skelton J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Kateira (5/1), Ocastle Des Mottes (5/1), Champagne Twist (5/1), Making Headway (13/2), Inthewaterside (7/1), Jango Baie (9/1), Theatre Man (12/1), What's Up Darling (14/1), Uncle Bert (16/1), Kamsinas (16/1), Might I (20/1), West To The Bridge (20/1), Sonigino (22/1), Boombawn (22/1), Santos Blue (25/1), Springwell Bay (25/1), Serious Operator (28/1), Guard Your Dreams (40/1), Playful Saint (40/1), Icare Allen (50/1), Spirit D'aunou (66/1), Tronador (100/1)

An ultra-competitive handicap. MAKING HEADWAY is one who should have more to offer now stepping up to 2½m so he's the suggestion on the back of his good run in the Imperial Cup. If the refitting of a hood helps Ocastle des Mottes to settle better he could pose a big threat. Kateira, one of five for Dan Skelton, bounced back to form at Kempton recently and ran a blinder at this meeting last year so she's also on the shortlist along with Formby winner Jango Baie and Fergal O'Brien Kamsinas.