13:45 Aintree

Thursday 3 April 2025

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

EBC Group Manifesto Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:46 | Winning time: 4m 58.58s

Boombawn⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 145| CD

22/1

Useful hurdler and even better over fences, bagging the Grade 2 Rising Stars at Wincanton in November. Made a mistake at a crucial stage when well held in John Francome at Newbury later that month but soon back on track when runner-up to the reopposing Rubaud in the Pendil at Kempton in February.

Form: 203152

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Croke Park⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 154| D

7/1

Has made a cracking start over fences this term, taking his record to 3-3 - the latest pair at Grade 1 level - when edging out Better Days Ahead in the Fort Leney at Leopardstown (24.4f, good to soft) over Christmas. Unable to live with Ballyburn at the DRF but should be bang there again.

Form: 7P-1112

Fascile Mode³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 136

150/1

Made a winning start in this sphere at Punchestown in October but it's fair to say things haven't gone as planned since, failing to complete on 3 of his next 4 starts. Huge outsider at this level.

Form: 81F6PF

Gidleigh Park⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry| OR: 153| D

7/1

Useful winner of 3 of his 4 starts over hurdles last season. Bombed out on return at Kempton (had irregular heartbeat) but got his career firmly back on track when making all in Grade 2 at Windsor (16.2f) in January, beating subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Caldwell Potter. Better to come.

Form: 1116-P1

Impaire Et Passe^p1⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153| CD

9/4

High-class winner over hurdles, including Grade 1 at this meeting 12 months ago, and has made a smooth transition to chasing, scoring again at the top level in 7-runner Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick. Had winning run ended when third at the DRF and now first-time headgear is applied.

Form: 311-113

Jango Baie²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 159| C

6/4

Smart novice hurdler and has quickly made up into a better chaser, winning at Cheltenham on first attempt. Narrowly denied next time but conjured a remarkable run to get up close home in 5-runner Arkle last month (traded 300.00 in-running). Return to 2½m a big plus, but he did have a tough race.

Form: 222-121

Mark Of Gold²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: G & J Moore| OR: 144| D

33/1

Prolific hurdler who made the perfect start in this sphere when landing a 19f Ascot Grade 2 just before Christmas (shade fortunate). Third in Graded events next 2 outings before resuming winning ways courtesy of a good round of jumping on handicap bow at Exeter last month. Faces a stiff task here.

Form: P-21331

Rubaud⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 149| D

16/1

Smart hurdler, winning first 2 starts this season. Quickly reached same level over fences when length second to L'eau du Sud in Warwick Grade 2 in February and went one better with a gutsy display from the front in the Pendil at Kempton (20.5f, soft) since. Will need to step up to feature.

Form: 6-11F21

The Kalooki Kid⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 138| D

28/1

Dual hurdles winner last season and already proved himself a better chaser this term, confirming promise of reappearance second when readily going one better in a 19f Doncaster handicap in December. Followed up from 7 lb higher at Musselburgh last time but this demands significantly more.

Form: 485-211

Forecasts

Jango Baie (6/4), Impaire Et Passe (9/4), Gidleigh Park (7/1), Croke Park (7/1), Rubaud (16/1), Boombawn (22/1), The Kalooki Kid (28/1), Mark Of Gold (33/1), Fascile Mode (150/1)

A mouth-watering start to the Grand National Festival 2025 with the suggestion being IMPAIRE ET PASSE, who edged a 3-way photo in the Aintree Hurdle on this card 12 months ago and Willie Mullins' 7-y-o can get back on the up in first-time headgear returned to this track following a break. This return to 2½m will suit Jango Baie, so he heads up the opposition having found an extra gear to take the Arkle last month, with Gidleigh Park and Croke Park another couple worth considering, too.