Katie Midwinter (14/04/23)
1:45pm – Maghull Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
The market suggests Jonbon should make light work of his opponents and land another Grade One, but the heavy rainfall at Aintree on Friday will make it a tough test, and he will need to show that the Arkle at Cheltenham didn’t leave its mark.
At Warwick in February he faced a slight scare as Calico was sent for home early by Harry Skelton, whilst Jonbon looked complacent. Nicky Henderson’s star battled back and put the race to bed in the straight, and on that form Calico has to show improvement to get near his higher-rated rival.
Notlongtillmay showed he is a formidable opponent on his day and finished ahead of the likes of Mighty Potter and Appreciate It is no easy task. Stage Star wasn’t as electric as he was at Cheltenham, with Thursday’s race perhaps coming too soon, and the Turners form still be thought of positively.
Marvel De Cerisy steps up in grade following a ninth-place finish in the Plate. He has plenty to do on form, and 18lbs to find on ratings with Jonbon, but could be capable of further improvement at six.
Outsider of the field, 122-rated Fusain who has a mountain to climb based on ratings, is bidding for a hat-trick of wins following two small field victories but will likely be outclassed.
2:25pm – Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
Good Time Jonny is up 5lbs for his Cheltenham success but is still worthy of consideration under 5lbs claimer Liam McKenna. The slight concern is that he may have been trained specifically for last month’s assignment, and whether or not he will be able to back up that performance with another winning run remains to be seen. He has recorded successive successes in the past however, and is the one to beat.
Mill Green is capable of making the frame once again for Nicky Henderson. The consistent gelding has finished amongst the places in each of his last five starts, and remains on an attractive mark of 139, whilst last year’s victor Party Business runs off a 5lbs higher mark this time around and will prefer a sounder surface.
Outlaw Peter has recorded three successes so far this season and now runs off a career-high mark of 135. The seven-year-old may show further improvement and previously finished second to Three Stripe Life in a Point-To-Point, finishing ahead of Grand National runner Recite A Prayer.
Irish-raider Au Fleuron is an interesting contender in first-time blinkers. He ran fairly well in the Martin Pipe and, whilst his mark is stiff enough, Kieren Buckley claims 3lbs as the gelding steps up in trip.
Itchy Feet could be seen to better effect on a sounder surface, whilst Erne River is worth considering on his second run after wind surgery. Big-priced mare Glimpse Of Gala underperformed at Cheltenham and has only been dropped 1lbs but she is capable of bouncing back to form and will relish softer conditions. Bradley Roberts claims 7lbs onboard the Charlie Longsdon-trained mare, which will certainly help her cause.
3:00pm – Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Willie Mullins-trained Dark Raven finished sixth in the Supreme at Cheltenham, the form of which was franked at Aintree on Friday as Inthepocket landed a Grade One prize. This six-year-old gelding has proven form on soft ground and looks a classy type, stepping up in trip.
Challow-winner Hermes Allen could provide trainer Paul Nicholls with another success at this meeting following Pic D’Orhy’s success on Friday. He may be worth forgiving for his below-par run in the Ballymore, and could prove to be a stronger stayer than the Irish market leader, already proven over the trip.
Irish Point bypassed Cheltenham and features here for the first time since landing a Grade Three prize at Naas. He wasn’t competitive in the falsely run race at Leopardstown, but represents the best form on paper with a Royal Bond head second to Marine Nationale, finishing four-lengths ahead of recent Grade One winner Ashroe Diamond. A price of 7/1 is a gift, and he will be fresher than the pair ahead of him in the market.
Excellent mare You Wear It Well provided trainer Jamie Snowden with a special Cheltenham Festival winner as she landed the Jack de Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. She is capable of mounting a challenge against the boys here, and is certainly one to consider.
Kateira bids for a four-timer in her trickiest task yet but is unexposed at this level and has done very little wrong so far in her career. She was well beaten by Ashroe Diamond at this meeting last year, and on that form has plenty to find with Irish Point.
3:35pm – Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1)
The top three from last year’s renewal all feature again in this open contest. Reigning champion Sire Du Berlais landed the Stayers’ Hurdle at odds of 33/1 recently, and looks a generous price to repeat that feat at 13/2. Runner-up twelve months ago Flooring Porter is more than capable of blowing the opposition away on a going day but is yet to enter the winner’s enclosure this season and could be vulnerable once again.
Champ is best when fresh and has been given a rest since finishing a disappointing third in the Long Walk Hurdle at the end of 2022. He is a more attractive proposition with a few months between races, and could be competitive.
Brewin’upastrorm represents value at 25/1 on his second run following wind surgery, but can be a risky selection as he has the tendency to make mistakes. At his best however, the Olly Murphy-trained gelding is a talented individual.
Dashel Drasher put in a gallant effort to finish second past the post at Cheltenham, and can be relied on to give his true running once again in first-time cheekpieces. The nod, however, goes to current market leader Home By The Lee who could overcome the threat of Marie’s Rock and others to win his second Grade One. He finished fifth at Cheltenham but will be better suited to the track at Aintree.
4:15pm – Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
Fourth at this meeting last year, Beauport has been dropped 1lbs for a ninth-placed finish in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup and could be capable of bouncing back to form. He faces stiff opposition in the form of first-time tongue-tie wearing Midnight River, who ran below par in the Plate but is capable of much better and could be worth sticking with off a mark of 151.
Nassalam put in a gallant effort to finish fourth to Midnight River at Cheltenham in January over a shorter trip and shaped as though as step up would suit, but the Gary Moore-trained gelding faltered in the Ultima and is only 1lbs lower here. The yard are in excellent form however, performing at a 40% strike rate, and Nassalam could give a much better showing of himself this time around.
Shakem Up’Arry is a lively contender for Ben Pauling following an impressive third in the Plate. He is only 1lbs lower here and could be dangerous off a handy mark. Sam England’s course-and-distance winner
Kinondo Kwetu is back in handicap company after being exposed in the Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase. He has had wind surgery since and wears a first-time tongue-tie. Eldorado Allen is a stranger to handicap company, but is dropped in class here in an attempt to rediscover winning form. He faces a tough task carrying top-weight in testing conditions.
An intriguing runner is nine-year-old mare Darrens Hope. She beat Minella Crooner in a Punchestown Novice Grade Two earlier this season, and although her form has been poor since, she did have an entry in the Grand National but missed the cut. The Robert Murphy-trained, and owned, mare is better than her recent form suggests and she could enter the frame at a decent each-way price.
5:15pm – Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
Day 3 selections:
2:25pm – Good Time Jonny 11/2 EW, Glimpse Of Gala 33/1 EW
3:00pm – Irish Point 7/1 (NAP)
3:35pm – Home By The Lee 4/1
4:15pm – Darrens Hope 16/1 EW
5:15pm – Gaillard Du Mesnil 12/1 EW, Any Second Now 14/1 EW, Delta Work 9/1, Enjoy D’allen 40/1 EW
All runners/prices are correct at the time of writing.
THE CONDITIONAL 