19:30 Aintree

Friday 15 May 2026

All16:3517:1017:4518:2018:5519:3020:0520:40

Mental Health Awareness Week Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 19:31 | Winning time: 4m 6.23s

Jamada³²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 109

4/1

Bumper winner in Ireland who made the most of a good opportunity returned to less testing conditions when landing 4-runner maiden hurdle at Fakenham (2m, good) last month. Remains open to improvement, the speed-favouring nature of handicaps sure to suit him well this spring.

Form: 1/25231-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Lively Citizen^p³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Atkins⁽⁵⁾| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 107| D

9/1

Back in the groove when scoring in decisive fashion over fences at Ffos Las last May. Solid second in this race next start but pulled up both chase starts this winter. Took a step back in the right direction returned to hurdles when fifth of 7 at Haydock last time and could step up on that.

Form: 0/12PP5-

Uhtred Ragnarson¹²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 106

15/2

Much improved after 6 months off when readily opening his account in 8-runner handicap at Warwick in November. Creditable third of 6 at Market Rasen the following month and still looked in good form prior to departing at Newbury in January. Freshened up since.

Form: 32/313F-

Grey Skies^b,t²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 106| D

28/1

Won twice in a fairly productive summer jumping campaign last year, though turned in a lacklustre display after 5 months off at Hereford recently. No surprise to see his usual blinkers reapplied and although back down to his last winning mark, he's got plenty to prove.

Form: 113067-

Juan Bermudez^p,t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Lily Pinchin| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 105

10/1

Raced mostly at Stratford and stepped up plenty on his comeback run when second of 13 there (19f, good to soft) last month, sticking to task but headed close home. Nudged up 2 lb for that near miss but could well feature if in the same mood.

Form: 310652-

Spartan Times¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: William Shanahan⁽⁵⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 105

5/2

Looked favourably handicapped on pick of Flat form and shrugged off any thoughts of rustiness with a battling display to make a successful handicap hurdle debut in 16-runner event at Uttoxeter (2m, good) on return earlier this month. 5 lb rise doesn't look insurmountable so leading claims.

Form: 517-1

Theophilos⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Midgley⁽³⁾| T: P T Midgley| OR: 102

80/1

On a long losing run but probably needed the run on first start for new connections after 4 months off when eighth of 9 at Southwell (11f) just over 6 weeks ago. Returns to hurdles for the first time since last year and others look stronger.

Form: 00U8/7-

Land Of Punt^v1⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 100| BF

10/3

Matched rather than improved on previous form sent handicapping over a trip more in line with his pedigree when third of 9 at Haydock (21f, good to soft) 10 weeks ago. Cheekpieces worn that day replaced by a visor here and returns to 2m.

Form: F/9533-

Promethean^t1⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 96

33/1

Fair 1½m maiden winner on the Flat last summer for David Menuisier. Has struggled since, though showed plenty more than previously over hurdles when third of 7 in maiden at Southwell (2m, good to soft) just over 6 weeks ago. Capable of better again now handicapping.

Form: 783-

A Good Yomp^h⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Dillon Butler⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 93

9/1

Has remained in good form since winning at Huntingdon (2½m) in November, though seemed stretched by the 4f longer trip when fourth of 8 at Ascot (3m, good) just under 7 weeks ago. Back down markedly in distance and is just 1 lb above his last winning mark.

Form: P15334-

Non-Runners

Book of Secrets⁴⁵

Weight: 11-3| Age: 8

T: James Moffatt J: Leah Noreci

Forecasts

Spartan Times (5/2), Land Of Punt (10/3), Jamada (4/1), Uhtred Ragnarson (15/2), A Good Yomp (9/1), Lively Citizen (9/1), Juan Bermudez (10/1), Book of Secrets (12/1), Grey Skies (28/1), Promethean (33/1), Theophilos (80/1)

A few in with chances but SPARTAN TIMES upped his game to make a winning handicap debut in this sphere at Uttoxeter earlier in the month. With a conditional offsetting a subsequent 5 lb rise, Jennie Candlish's 5-y-o is fancied to follow up at the expense of Jamada, who should be well suited by the speed-favouring nature of handicaps at this time of year. Juan Bermudez rounds off the shortlist.