16:40 Aintree

Friday 4 April 2025

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

Oddschecker Sefton Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 6m 11.86s

1^st

Julius Des Pictons

611-8

14/1

T: Jamie SnowdenJ: G Sheehan

Towards rear of mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, led flat, stayed on well op 22/1

2^nd

Minella Rescue

711-8

50/1

T: G HanmerJ: S Bowen

Behind, headway on outside from 3 out, not fluent 2 out or last, switched left flat, stayed on well, went 2nd close home op 80/1 tchd 66/1

3^rd

Crest Of Fortune

511-8

25/1

T: A J HoneyballJ: Sam Twiston-Davies

Chased leaders early until after 1st, mid-division, mistake 5th, headway before 8th, switched right after 2 out, kept on flat, went 3rd last stride op 33/1

4^th

nse

Mister Meggit

711-8

7/2

T: J & A O'NeillJ: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Held up rear of mid-division, headway after 4 out, went 2nd going well and jumped left from 3 out, led after 2 out, dived left and mistake last, ridden and headed flat, lost 2 places close home op 3/1

5^th

Familiar Dreams

611-1

6/1

T: G ElliottJ: Danny Gilligan

Chased leaders until after 1st, held up in mid-division, closed from 4 out, switched left before 3 out, mistake last, no extra flat op 11/2

6^th

3 ¼

Califet En Vol

611-8

3/1f

T: N J HendersonJ: N de Boinville

Not always fluent, chased leaders, led before 3 out, headed after mistake 2 out, weakened flat op 11/4

7^th

Argento Boy

611-8

17/2

T: W P MullinsJ: Paul Townend

In touch in mid-division on outside, slow 2nd and lost place, some headway after 4 out, no impression, well beaten before 2 out op 9/1

8^th

Western Knight

611-8

25/1

T: J TizzardJ: Brendan Powell

Held up towards rear, some headway 3 out, no impression, well held 2 out op 33/1

Also Ran

Battle Born Lad

611-8

13/2

T: M WalfordJ: Jamie Hamilton

Prominent, led before 2nd, headed next, led 5th, headed after 7th, led before next, headed 3 out, weakened and pulled up before 3 out op 6/1

Jacob's Ladder

611-8

15/2

T: G ElliottJ: Sam Ewing

Chased leaders, lost place after 4 out, weakened and pulled up before 3 out op 17/2

King Of Answers

611-8

40/1

T: Miss Lucinda V RussellJ: Craig Nichol

Chased leaders early, ridden and struggling towards rear 7th, pulled up after 4 out

Moon Rocket

511-8

16/1

T: K Bailey & M NichollsJ: Thomas Bellamy

Not that fluent, led until before 2nd, led next, headed 5th, hit next, led after 7th, headed 8th, mistake 9th, led 4 out, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last

Holloway Queen

511-1

22/1

T: N J HendersonJ: James Bowen

Never going well in rear, pulled up before 5th op 28/1 tchd 25/1

Non-Runners

Laganhill³⁴

Weight: 11-8| Age: 7

T: H D Daly J: Stan Sheppard

Jupiter Des Mottes²⁷

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: Miss Lucinda V Russell J: P W Wadge

Jet Blue²¹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: D Cottin J: Non Runner

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£19.80Pl:£4.40, £12.60, £7.00EX:£776.40Trifecta:£12,865.40Tricast:£15,958.49SF:£586.43Swingers:£70.00, £43.20, £69.40

Forecasts

Califet En Vol (3/1), Mister Meggit (7/2), Familiar Dreams (6/1), Battle Born Lad (13/2), Jacob's Ladder (15/2), Jet Blue (15/2), Argento Boy (17/2), Julius Des Pictons (14/1), Moon Rocket (16/1), Holloway Queen (22/1), Crest Of Fortune (25/1), Western Knight (25/1), Jupiter Des Mottes (25/1), Laganhill (33/1), King Of Answers (40/1), Minella Rescue (50/1)

CALIFET EN VOL finished with a notable late flourish to come out on top over an inadequate test in the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon and, with his previous second to The New Lion reading extremely well in light of that one's Cheltenham Festival exploits, Nicky Henderson's 6-y-o makes plenty of appeal now stepping up to 3m. There's surely more to come from Grade 3 winner Jacob's Ladder on his first try at a staying trip, with Mister Meggit another to note following his stylish win in the autumn.

CALIFET EN VOL (IRE)
JACOB'S LADDER (IRE)
MISTER MEGGIT (IRE)

Previous Winners

2024

Dancing City

Weight: 11-8 |Age: 7

J: Paul Townend | T: W P Mullins

4/1

Prize Money

1st: £56,270.002nd: £21,200.003rd: £10,610.004th: £5,300.005th: £2,660.006th: £1,330.007th: £660.008th: £340.00