13:20 Aintree

Saturday 13 April 2024

Premier Race Day Text
All13:2013:5514:3015:0516:0017:0017:35

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

  • 4YO plus  |   Class 1  |   3m 149y  |   Good to Soft (Soft in places)  |   21 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 13:20  |   Winning time: 6m 15.65s
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1
Horse silk
Red Riskp156
Age: 9|  Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Gingell(5)| T: P F Nicholls| OR:  146
50/1
Won twice back hurdling in 2022 and good second to Botox Has in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby in November. However, he was a well-held fourth behind the same rival in a Haydock Grade 2 last time and looks up against it under top-weight in this competitive handicap. Cheekpieces applied.
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2
Horse silk
Bold Endeavourp30
Age: 8|  Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR:  144
14/1
Likeable and reliable sort who has yet to get his head in front this season but has performed with credit on several occasions, not least when fourth to Monmiral in the Pertemps Final last month. Current mark doesn't leave much margin for error but he's effective in these big-field scenarios.
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3
Horse silk
Monmiralb,t30
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR:  144| C
9/1
Has proved costly to follow subsequent to landing the Grade 1 Anniversary Hurdle at this meeting in 2021 but the addition of blinkers reignited his spark when seeing off 21 rivals in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival. 6 lb rise looks manageable and he has to enter calculations.
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4
Horse silk
West Balboa28
Age: 8|  Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR:  141| CD
11/4
Decisive winner of this on final start of a productive 2022/23 campaign and made it 2-2 here when making a successful seasonal reappearance in November. Well held in graded company next 2 outings but shaped well back in a handicap at Kempton last time and likely to be spot-on for this assignment.
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5
Horse silk
Chantry Houseb30
Age: 10|  Weight: 11-9| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR:  141| CD
16/1
High-class chaser at his best and, having lost his way in that sphere, he has shaped well in a couple of handicap hurdles this season. However, he was only mid-field in first-time blinkers (on again here) in the Pertemps Final and Bold Endeavour appears to be the stable No 1.
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6
Horse silk
Cuthbert Dibble30
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR:  140| BF
13/2
Progressive last term and has continued on an upward curve this season, scoring at Chepstow and Haydock prior to finishing a fine third to Monmiral in the Pertemps Final. 5 lb pull gives him realistic hope of reversing those placings and he's a must for the shortlist.
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7
Horse silk
Landrake84
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR:  137
80/1
Useful hurdler for Gordon Elliott last season but hasn't taken at all well to fences this time round, offering little in 3 maiden chases in Ireland. Resumes in this sphere in a very competitive race but mark for this handicap bow/yard debut could be fair and he's one to keep an eye on.
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8
Horse silk
Ailie Rose70
Age: 8|  Weight: 11-4| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford| OR:  136
66/1
Resumed winning ways in good style when taking a 4-runner Ayr handicap (24.3f, heavy) in January but she was put firmly in her place in a big-field at Leopardstown next time. Others make more appeal.
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9
Horse silk
Johnnywhot29
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: Jonjo & A O'Neill| OR:  136
9/1
Successful in a Taunton bumper and 2½m Carlisle novice hurdle on first 2 starts under Rules. Followed those wins with a fine fourth in the Grade 1 Challow at Newbury in December but hasn't matched that since and will need to get back on track if he's to make a winning handicap debut off this mark.
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10
Horse silk
Floueurt28
Age: 9|  Weight: 11-1| J: Tabitha Worsley(3)| T: R Menzies| OR:  133
66/1
Useful winning hurdler/chaser for Gordon Elliott and, after a quiet spell for both Gary Hanmer and this yard, he bounced back when going close at Doncaster on penultimate start. However, failed to repeat that level form in the Uttoxeter handicap won by Gwennie May Boy last time.
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11
Horse silk
Johnson's Blue52
Age: 7|  Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR:  132| D
28/1
Progressive and likeable hurdler who added to his impressive strike rate when landing a 10-runner Doncaster handicap (3m. heavy) in February. 5 lb rise fair, albeit he was rather fortunate that day (looked booked for second when left clear 2 out) and this demands a clear career-best.
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12
Horse silk
Fine Margin70
Age: 7|  Weight: 10-12| J: B Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR:  130
12/1
Maiden who made a promising debut for the Willie Mullins yard when runner-up in a valuable Haydock handicap (24.2f, good to soft) earlier this season. Shaped as though amiss when returning from a break last month at Leopardstown but wouldn't be without a chance if able to get back on track.
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13
Horse silk
J'Ai Froidv56
Age: 11|  Weight: 10-11| J: J Kington| T: L Morgan| OR:  129| D
40/1
Tough veteran who was a big improver in 2021 and back to winning ways at Leicester and Warwick this term. Fair fourth behind Cuthbert Dibble at Haydock in February but will do well to turn the tables on that progressive rival here.
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Timeform
14
Horse silk
Black Bamboo31
Age: 7|  Weight: 10-10| J: S W Flanagan| T: J J Murphy| OR:  128
9/1
Made the most of a good opportunity to get off the mark at Cork in October and has shaped well in handicaps since, finishing sixth of 21 in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival (21f, heavy) last time. Stepping back up in trip here looks a good move and he's one to consider off the same mark.
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Timeform
16
Horse silk
Ramo83
Age: 7|  Weight: 10-9| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR:  127| D
33/1
Progressive since upped to staying trips, notching third success on return at Ludlow in November. Sound placed efforts on last 3 starts, most recently when overhauled close home by a fellow improver at Lingfield (23f, good to soft) in January, but no more than an each-way squeak here.
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17
Horse silk
Gwennie May Boy28
Age: 6|  Weight: 10-8| J: C J Todd| T: D Skelton| OR:  126
9/2
Won twice for Jonjo O'Neill last term and immediate improvement for new yard since returning to action in February, building on Bangor reappearance success when landing a big pot on Midlands National day at Uttoxeter (23.3f, heavy). Up 9 lb for that but he did the job well and has to be feared.
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Timeform
18
Horse silk
Classic Concordep28
Age: 11|  Weight: 10-7| J: C Brace| T: D Brace| OR:  125| D
66/1
Into the veteran stage of his career but has thrived this season, winning 6 times, the latest coming in comfortable fashion at Chepstow in February. The wheels came off in the race won by Gwennie May Boy at Uttoxeter last time but subsequently found to have bled, so that can probably be excused.
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19
Horse silk
Lord Snootie28
Age: 7|  Weight: 10-7| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR:  125| BF
18/1
Improver when sent handicapping last season, scoring over 3¼m at Warwick, and he ran a cracker when a strong-finishing second to Cuthbert Dibble at Haydock (24.2f, heavy) on penultimate start. However, subsequent moody display at Uttoxeter left a bitter taste and he now has a bit to prove.
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20
Horse silk
Storm Nelson52
Age: 11|  Weight: 10-4| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Olly Williams| OR:  122| D
125/1
Won 5 of his 8 starts during a very good spell with Sandy Thomson. Best effort since joining present yard when 13 lengths third of 10 to Johnson's Blue at Doncaster last time but will need to step up on that considerably if he's to play a leading role here.
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21
Horse silk
Seefin28
Age: 7|  Weight: 10-3| J: Tristan Durrell(3)| T: D Skelton| OR:  121| D
28/1
Much improved upped in trip/switched to handicaps this season, registering his third success in decisive fashion at Warwick in January. However, he was pulled up in the Uttoxeter race won by stablemate Gwennie May Boy last time and appears to be the least fancied of the yard's 3 contenders.
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Timeform
22
Horse silk
Russian Rulerp29
Age: 7|  Weight: 10-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: N J Henderson| OR:  119
80/1
Evidently not been the easiest to train but appeared to be on the improve when landing a Newbury handicap and Kempton novice late last season. This season hasn't gone to plan, though (over fences initially), and it's probably best to look elsewhere.
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Non-Runners

15
Horse silk
Honor Grey56
Weight: 10-10|  Age: 9
T: B Pauling  J: Ben Jones
NR

Forecasts

West Balboa (11/4), Gwennie May Boy (9/2), Cuthbert Dibble (13/2), Johnnywho (9/1), Monmiral (9/1), Black Bamboo (9/1), Fine Margin (12/1), Bold Endeavour (14/1), Honor Grey (14/1), Chantry House (16/1), Lord Snootie (18/1), Seefin (28/1), Johnson's Blue (28/1), Ramo (33/1), J'Ai Froid (40/1), Red Risk (50/1), Classic Concorde (66/1), Floueur (66/1), Ailie Rose (66/1), Russian Ruler (80/1), Landrake (80/1), Storm Nelson (125/1)

Verdict

Dan Skelton holds a strong hand with two of his three representatives, namely WEST BALBOA and Gwennie May Boy, boasting good credentials. The former doesn't look badly treated off a mark 6 lb higher compared to when winning this in good style last year and her latest effort at Kempton was encouraging. Gwennie May Boy looked good at Uttoxeter and is clear second choice despite going up 9 lb, while Black Bamboo makes serious each-way appeal. Monmiral and Cuthbert Dibble are others to consider.

Previous Winners

2023
West Balboa
Weight: 11-2  |Age: 7
9/2

Prize Money

1st: £42,202.002nd: £15,900.003rd: £7,958.004th: £3,975.005th: £1,995.006th: £998.007th: £495.008th: £255.00

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