13:45 – 20 Years Together, Alder Hey & Aintree Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) – Cobblers Dream
Moved to Ben Case’s yard for £85,000 and won his first start for new connections in September last year. Cobblers Dream has made six starts over hurdles this season, not once finishing outside the top three and, more recently, won the listed Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton. He then went on to be runner-up in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham and these two results have shown smart speed in the closing stages in fields with lots of runners. The runner-up in the Lanzarote, Highway One O Two, also runs here and there will be a swing of 11lbs in the weights between these two. However, the speed of this horse proved too much for Highway One O Two late on and the subsequent run at Cheltenham showed this horse has good stamina. He should be able to defy the rise in weight and is still 5lbs below his rating thanks to his jockey Jack Andrews.
14:20 – Betway Top Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – Jonbon
This horse comes to Aintree after a distant 2nd in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle behind the impressive Constitution Hill. This was a high class renewal and it was run at an incredible pace, with the winner looking to be something special. This horse does boast two graded successes so far this season. His trainer Nicky Henderson has said that he has the stamina to go two and a half miles, but ultimately has the speed to stay over two miles here. He also said better ground would suit, but this horse is a classy traveller and he claimed some impressive scalps in the Supreme despite not winning the race. He should be able to shine again in the absence of his talented stablemate.
14:55 – Betway Mildmay Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) – Bravemansgame
Paul Nicholls’ star staying novice gave Cheltenham a miss last month, after some rain saw the going description change to heavy for the Brown Advisory. Having been kept fresh for Aintree, he should be in top shape to face three classy rivals from the division. L’homme Presse ran out the emphatic winner for Venitia Williams at Cheltenham and will run again here. Bravemansgame is undefeated in four runs over fences, including a grade one victory in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton in December. There he beat an exciting prospect in the Lucinda Russell trained Ahoy Senor, who runs again here after finishing 2nd to L’homme Presse at Cheltenham. Paul Nicholls’ runner is an exceptional jumper and travels powerfully and this should see him through in such high company. Nicholls has stated that his runner’s freshness is a bonus here, one that his opponents don’t have after all running at last month’s festival.
15:30 – Marsh Chase (Grade 1) – Funambule Sivola
This horse has impressed this season by winning the grade two Game Spirit Chase at Newbury, before finishing a very credible runner-up in the Champion Chase last month. Despite being more than 8 lengths behind eventual winner Energumene, the remainder of a classy field was well strung out and this horse kept on well to the line. A touch of rain won’t hurt his chances and this horse is a likeable, reliable type. Last season only finished 31/2 lengths behind multiple winner at graded level and Nicky Henderson’s star two miler Shishkin. With the absence of both Shishkin and Energumene, this could be an excellent chance for this horse to shine. He faces Fakir D’oudairies who is fresh of the back of a grade one success at Ascot, but he took his time to see off Two For Gold who runs in the Grand National tomorrow. Joseph O’Brien’s charge isn’t without a chance, but this to me would suggest his turn of foot isn’t unbeatable. Funambule Sivola has the Champion Chase form behind him and his fighting spirit in the finish could prove to be a big problem.
16:05 – Randox Topham Handicap Chase (Grade 3) – Killer Clown
Since the application of a tongue tie in January, this horse has notched up two victories in three starts including a handicap at Kempton 19 days ago. He finished well ahead of smart types in Pistol Whipped and a fading Diego Du Charmil. He progressed through the field during the race ticking off opponents one by one which is a useful trait to have in a field with so many runners over the Aintree fences. Despite being 7th in the weights he will carry nearly a stone less than some of the prominent Irish runners. He also has better form than some of those lower in the weights, thanks to that Kempton success. After that race his trainer, Emma Lavelle stated that good ground is crucial to his chances and there is no rain forecast with the ground currently good-soft.
16:40 – Cavani Menswear Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – Banbridge
Horses that complete the Cheltenham – Aintree double are a rarity, but this horse might be able to do it. He won the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle, seeing off winner at listed level Cobblers Dream by a length and a half. He did so while carrying 1lb more than his rival and here he will be on level terms with his rivals, making it a case of who is the best horse. He ran emphatically through the finish line, a positive sign he could step up to three miles with success here. He faces the likes of grade one winner Green Book, who hasn’t reproduced that form in two more recent runs, and one of those was at Cheltenham. Sam Thomas’ Skytastic also looks an exciting prospect, but Banbridge finished ahead of more proven runners than those found in Skytastic’s form.
Hawkinsport 