17:15 Aintree

Friday 12 April 2024

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

Alder Hey Handicap Hurdle (Conditional Jockeys' And Amateur Riders') (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:22 | Winning time: 4m 19.05s

Ballee^h¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 135| BF| D

22/1

Looked progressive when winning a brace of 2m Taunton novice events during the winter. Unseated Micheal Nolan at the second flight back from a break at Chepstow recently, though, and his headstrong ways may present a challenge with a comparatively inexperienced rider aboard for this handicap bow.

Form: 52-311U

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Jungle Jack^p²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 134| D

40/1

Developed into a useful handicap hurdler last season and left his disappointing reappearance effort well behind following a wind op when going close at Kelso (2m, soft) in February. However, he checked out rather tamely at Bangor next time and now has a point to prove.

Form: 219-P26

Go Dante^p,t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Dylan Johnston⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 134| D

4/1

Only eighth in this race 12 months ago and 7 lb higher this time round but it's justified given the improvement he has shown this season. Indeed, last-gasp victory in the Imperial Cup at Sandown (2m, soft) last month represented a career-best and he has to enter calculations.

Form: 18-6131

Ted Hastings¹⁰⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Danny Gilligan⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 132| D

20/1

Irish raider who has won 4 of his 9 in this sphere and was a solid second in a 7-runner handicap over 2½m here when last seen on Boxing Day. Couldn't be sure that this drop back in trip will be in his favour, though, and others look stronger in any case.

Form: 116-382

Brucio^t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁵⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 132| D

16/1

Clearly going the right way over hurdles, winning a 2m Catterick maiden in January and big-field 2¼m Leopardstown listed handicap the following month. Didn't get the chance to show what she can do in a Grade 2 Kelso novice last time (brought down at the first) and she remains with potential.

Form: 53F11B

Afadil^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 130| D

9/1

Comfortable winner at the Ayr Scottish National meeting last spring and back on track equipped with cheekpieces in recent months, quickening well to take 13-runner Musselburgh handicap (15.5f, good to soft) in February. By no means disgraced off this mark at Cheltenham since and he's a player.

Form: 7P3315

Densworth^t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 130| D

9/2

Improved when bagging 2m novices at Newcastle and Southwell last term prior to misfiring in this race 12 months ago. Firmly back on track with a wide-margin success on belated reappearance at Doncaster (16.6f, heavy) and though now 10 lb higher in a stronger race, he commands respect.

Form: 5211P-1

Luttrell Lad^p,t⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Cameron Iles⁽⁷⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 129| BF| D

12/1

Resumed winning ways at Cartmel last summer and has acquitted himself well all 3 starts since returning from a break in November. On the downside, his current mark leaves very little margin for error and it's not hard to think that one or two of these are better treated.

Form: 441523

Maidenstreetprince¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Philip Byrnes⁽³⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 128| D

11/1

Limerick maiden winner last season and while his reappearance effort at Galway was uninspiring, he was making a real race of it with the long odds-on winner when departing 2 out at Cork (2m, heavy) recently. More needed but that's not out of the question given his low mileage.

Form: U313-0F

Rewired⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Luke Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R Newland| OR: 127| D

50/1

Winner of 2m handicaps at Doncaster and Taunton on first 2 starts of this season but the wheels came off on soft ground at Kelso last time. Opposable off the same mark here with similar conditions forecast.

Form: 214-11P

Pikar^t³⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Fergus Gillard| T: D Skelton| OR: 127| DWS

16/1

Winner of decent novice events at Chepstow and Warwick last season. Wasn't disgraced on the back of a wind op when fifth of 9 at Cheltenham on final outing of that campaign (since undergone another wind op) but this is a big ask following almost 12 months off. Yard also represented by Skycutter.

Form: 5/16315-

Your Honor^p⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Gavin Brouder⁽³⁾| T: J Nash| OR: 126| D

66/1

Did the job well when landing a heavy-ground listed handicap at Limerick in December. However, both efforts since have been poor and the addition of cheekpieces (well held sole start on the Flat in this headgear) may not be enough to help turn the tide.

Form: 75619P

Karuma Grey¹⁰⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: Christian Williams| OR: 125| D

80/1

Galway maiden hurdle winner last spring has made the frame on 2 of his 3 starts switched to fences for Ellmarie Holden this season. On a tough-looking mark back in this sphere for new connections (changed hands for £40,000), though, and it's probably best to look elsewhere.

Form: 51P-473

Zeeband^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: J G Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 122| D

17/2

Pretty useful stayer on the Flat and things have clicked for him over hurdles of late, winner of a Leopardstown maiden and Limerick handicap on his last 2 starts. Has shot up the weights as a consequence but it would be unwise to rule out further progress from this 7-y-o.

Form: 032611

Party Vibes²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Alice Stevens⁽⁵⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 121

12/1

Runner-up in an Irish point and confirmed previous promise under Rules when opening her account in Wincanton novice on Boxing Day. Followed up at Market Rasen next time and stamina perhaps to blame for her recent Newbury defeat upped to 20.5f. Not discounted back down in trip here.

Form: 2-22116

Skycutter⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 121| BF| D

15/2

Having only his third start for the Dan Skelton stable when comfortably seeing off 10 rivals over 17f at Carlisle (soft) in February. Backed that up with a good third at Kelso and there's more races to be won with him, providing he can cut out the mistakes.

Form: 29/2413

Eagles Reign³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr Shane O'Callaghan⁽⁵⁾| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 128| D

14/1

Modest maiden on the Flat but has proved himself a much better hurdler, showing a good attitude to get off the mark on handicap debut at Punchestown in January. Fine second in the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival (16.4f, heavy) last time and he's a serious contender.

Form: 72312

Lively Citizen¹²^{(ex 7)}

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Atkins⁽⁷⁾| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 112| D

33/1

In good heart since returning to this sphere following a stint over the larger obstacles, back on the scoreboard with a determined display at Ffos Las (15.8f, heavy) 12 days ago. Looks vulnerable under a penalty back in much deeper waters here, though.

Form: 64F271

El Jefe^h,t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Smith⁽⁷⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 109

40/1

Enhanced his terrific strike rate at Sedgefield last month and backed that up when finding just one too strong at Bangor next time. Can be excused for his latest display at Haydock, where a chance-ending mistake 4 out did for him.

Form: 438127

Forecasts

Go Dante (4/1), Densworth (9/2), Skycutter (15/2), Zeeband (17/2), Afadil (9/1), Maidenstreetprince (11/1), Luttrell Lad (12/1), Party Vibes (12/1), Eagles Reign (14/1), Brucio (16/1), Pikar (16/1), Ted Hastings (20/1), Ballee (22/1), Lively Citizen (33/1), El Jefe (40/1), Jungle Jack (40/1), Rewired (50/1), Your Honor (66/1), Karuma Grey (80/1)

It wouldn't be any great surprise were the Irish raiders to dominate with ZEEBAND spearheading the half-a-dozen challengers from across the pond. He has got his act together over hurdles in recent weeks and there could be even more to come from him given his exploits on the Flat a few years ago. Maidenstreetprince was going toe-to-toe with Sir Gerhard when falling 2 out at Cork last time and he is greatly respected, while Eagles Reign and the unexposed Brucio are others to consider.