13:40 Aintree

Thursday 26 December 2024

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

William Hill Offers Top Price Guarantees Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 5m 13.95s

Call Me Lyreen²⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: Eloise Quayle| OR: 135| D

100/1

Useful hurdles/chase winner in his pomp for Gordon Elliott but didn't look the force of old earlier this year for that yard. Starts out for new stable on the back of an 8-month break and others make greater appeal.

Form: 9/60930-

Act Of Authority⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 134| D

5/2

Three-time winner as a novice and he built on his reappearance run at Chepstow when impressively landing 9-runner handicap at Sandown (19.8f) in November. Unpenalized for that and followed up in ready fashion at Wetherby 6 weeks ago and respected despite career-high mark.

Form: 316-911

Uncle Bert⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 133| D

10/1

Useful hurdler who posted a career-best effort when adding to his tally at Bangor (19.6f) in March. Hasn't convinced in trio of starts over fences this autumn but this return to hurdling can see him in a better light now.

Form: 117-3P2

Red Dirt Road²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 128

12/1

Dual hurdles winner (at upto 16.7f) who ran a cracker when second from a 2 lb higher mark at Warwick (21f) during early 2023. Feasible to think the run was needed after 19 months off when fifth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Carlisle (17f, soft) 25 days ago and this should reveal more.

Form: 1214/2-5

Florida Dreams^p³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 126| C

2/1

Grade 2 bumper winner who doubled his hurdles tally on return at Hexham (16.2f) in October prior to a good fifth in last month's Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham. Cheekpieces worn then are retained here and he's respected back in calmer waters/back up in trip.

Form: 1538-15

Bingoo⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Charlotte Jones| T: James Moffatt| OR: 124| CD

14/1

Four-time 2m hurdle winner who landed this race 12 months ago off this mark. Hasn't been able to replicate that level subsequently, unlikely to have finished any better than fifth when unseating on return to action at Carlisle (20f) 53 days ago.

Form: 1/10P3-U

Patriotik³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 120| D

9/2

Point winner who opened Rules account in a 2½m Ffos Las novice in March. Sound start to life in handicaps when fifth in Silver Trophy at Chepstow (19.5f) in October prior to unseating at Haydock 33 days ago (in process of running poorly) but far too soon to be writing him off.

Form: 132-25U

El Jefe^h,t²⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Ben Smith⁽⁷⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 113| CWS

40/1

Had a fine 2023/24, gaining a fifth victory of the campaign when landing amateur riders' handicap (16.5f) at the National Meeting in April. More on his plate from career-high mark on seasonal return and this will understandably demand more. Had wind surgery.

Form: 381271-

One Eye On Vegas^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 112| D

12/1

Improved for the fitting of cheekpieces, winning pair of slow-ground handicaps in January/February. Back on the up when resuming winning ways at Leicester (20.5f) 21 days ago and he's fancied to give another good account up in class from this 5 lb higher mark.

Form: 134-U61

Forecasts

Florida Dreams (2/1), Act Of Authority (5/2), Patriotik (9/2), Uncle Bert (10/1), Red Dirt Road (12/1), One Eye On Vegas (12/1), Bingoo (14/1), El Jefe (40/1), Call Me Lyreen (100/1)

ACT OF AUTHORITY is asked his sternest question to date now his new mark has kicked in, yet he could well be up to the task judged on the manner of his victories at Sandown/Wetherby and he shades the vote with the Olly Murphy stable continuing in fine form. Florida Dreams and Patriotik rate next best, ahead of Uncle Bert who switches back from a spell chasing.