17:00 Aintree

Saturday 11 April 2026

All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0516:0017:00

Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open NH Flat Race (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 4m 5.47s

Barachiel^h1,t1¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: R Stephens

150/1

Posted his best effort yet on the back of an 11-month absence (had breathing operation in interim) when second in small-field bumper at Taunton recently but is surely biting off more than he can chew at this level. Wears first-time hood and tongue strap combination.

Form: 0-62

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Bass Hunter³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Cobden| T: C Gordon| OR: 126

15/8

Irish point winner who impressed when making all on first 2 bumper starts, including in an Ascot listed race (good to soft) just before Christmas. Improved further when excellent third in Champion Bumper last month and sets a clear standard on that form.

Form: 3/P1-113

Chicker³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 121

33/1

Looked good when winning his first 2 starts but has had his limitations exposed since, including when soundly beaten in the Champion Bumper last time.

Form: 1160

Cooltobecareless⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Tristan Durrell| T: D Skelton

33/1

Won sole outing in Irish points and confirmed bumper debut promise with victory in 6-runner event at Fakenham (2m, soft) in February, looking value for a bit extra over the result. This demands a whole lot more, however.

Form: 1-21

Forthfactor¹¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Miss Heidi Palin| T: D Skelton

10/1

Did the job well when making a winning debut for Tom Weston in a Hereford bumper and impressive turn of foot when following up under a penalty having moved to Dan Skelton at Hexham in November. Made effort earlier than ideal behind Bass Hunter at Ascot on latest start and in with an each-way shout.

Form: 1-15

Governors Rock⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex| D

66/1

Improved on debut form to land a weak affair at Wexford last July and took another step forward when following up at Ballinrobe on sole outing for Mark Fahey. Changed hands for £100,000 but was well held up in grade at Newbury in February.

Form: 8110

Le Roi Remi⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Andrews| T: T Ellis

40/1

Passed the post second in a void race on his only start in points and quickly settled matters in the manner of an above-average prospect in 9-runner bumper at Sandown in November. Disappointed bearing in mind that promise at Kempton 3 months later, though.

Form: 16

Look Me⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| D

10/3

Confirmed debut promise for Stuart Crawford 10 months earlier when landing the odds in 4-runner bumper at Fairyhouse in February. The third has boosted that form subsequently and further improvement certainly possible now stepping up in grade.

Form: 2-1

Makingplansfor¹¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: P D Evans

100/1

Has finished runner-up on 2 of his 3 starts in bumpers but the form is only fair and very hard to make a case for at this level.

Form: 292

Merry Away³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Lorcan Williams| T: B Pauling

22/1

Finished third on his sole start in Irish points and looked a good prospect in going 2 places better in a 2m Warwick bumper on Rules debut last month, responding well. That likeable attitude should stand him in good stead now tackling better company.

Form: 31

Moments Away^t1²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: M Keighley

80/1

Steady progress in 3 bumper runs (the first 2 in Ireland for David Harry Kelly) but it's hard to see him figuring prominently at this level. Tongue tied for the first time.

Form: 232

One Knight¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Tudor| T: Miss E C Lavelle

18/1

Left his debut run (for Toby Lawes) well behind when landing 9-runner bumper at Southwell in December 2024 and was even more impressive when defying a penalty at Hereford 16 months later. Well worth considering up in grade.

Form: 0/1-1

Rices Pool⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling

12/1

€32,000 yearling. €92,000 3-y-o. Milan gelding. Runner-up in an Irish point and created a good impression when going one better at Taunton on Rules debut in February, just kept up to work. Tidy prospect and the choice of Ben Jones.

Form: 21

Risky Obsession⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

6/1

£190,000 No Risk At All gelding who won his sole start in Irish points and looked an excellent prospect when following up in 9-runner bumper at Warwick (2m) in December. Worth forgiving his subsequent run at Newbury on heavy going and retains potential.

Form: 1-16

Ronnie Russet⁸⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| D

18/1

Has improved appreciably with each run to date, showing encouraging speed considering his breeding when defying a penalty in quite taking fashion at Newcastle. From a useful family the yard has had success with and is an interesting contender up in grade.

Form: 511

Smile John Boy⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Hammond| T: B Pauling

28/1

Made a winning debut in taking fashion in 14-runner bumper at Hereford in November. No match for Risky Obsession under a penalty at Warwick next time though, and again had his limitations exposed at Kempton on most recent outing.

Form: 124

Thelastmanfrompenr⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: L Morgan

80/1

Passing Glance gelding who was lacking nothing in fitness when making a successful debut in 9-runner event at Kelso in February. Sean Bowen booked but needs appreciably more at this much higher level.

Form: 1

The Perfect Poet²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Callum Pritchard| T: B Pauling

33/1

£42,000 Poet's Word gelding who justified support in decisive fashion in 5-runner bumper at Fontwell (17.7f) on debut last month. Open to improvement and well worth a try in this higher grade.

Form: 1

Merlin Allen⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: C Gethings| T: Mrs J Williams| BF| CD

16/1

Choeur du Nord gelding who emulated his dam in making a winning bumper debut in a well-run affair over C&D (good) in November, soon going clear in the manner of a good prospect. Ran to a similar level in defeat in better company at Kempton 4 months later but this is even tougher.

Form: 13

Nightflyer¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

100/1

Showed an encouraging amount of stamina considering his breeding when making a winning debut at Catterick (for Adrian Keatley) in January. Returned to a similar level after disappointing on yard debut when fourth at Warwick (2m) on most recent outing but has his work firmly cut out up in grade.

Form: 154

Forecasts

Bass Hunter (15/8), Look Me (10/3), Risky Obsession (6/1), Forthfactor (10/1), Rices Pool (12/1), Merlin Allen (16/1), Ronnie Russet (18/1), One Knight (18/1), Merry Away (22/1), Smile John Boy (28/1), Chicker (33/1), Cooltobecareless (33/1), The Perfect Poet (33/1), Le Roi Remi (40/1), Governors Rock (66/1), Moments Away (80/1), Thelastmanfrompenr (80/1), Makingplansfor (100/1), Nightflyer (100/1), Barachiel (150/1)

BASS HUNTER sets a clear standard on his excellent third in the Champion Bumper and is difficult to oppose considering this race has always promised to be a better fit given his style of racing. Risky Obsession created a notably good impression on his Rules debut at Warwick and is well worth another chance to build on that back under less testing conditions, with the promising One Knight and the fast-improving Ronnie Russet completing the shortlist.