18:20 Aintree

Saturday 14 April 2018

All13:4514:2515:0015:4016:2017:1518:20

Pinsent Masons Handicap Hurdle (Conditional Jockeys' And Amateur Riders' Race)

Off time: 18:21 | Winning time: 4m 11.23s

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Selected odds by:

Unison⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Robert Hawker⁽⁵⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 146| D

20/1

Bidding to complete a hat-trick following a couple of soft ground wins at Taunton in February. Returning from an absence here and he is one for the shortlist in this contest.

Form: 195311

Sternrubin²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 140| D

7/1

Four time winner over hurdles, most recently in a Listed handicap at Ascot (good) in October 2016. Won twice on the Flat since and he is an interesting runner having run respectably at Cheltenham last time.

Form: 150-220

Dear Sire^h⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 140| D

12/1

Returned to form when winning over an extended 1m7f at Musselburgh (good-to-soft) in early February. Has form on soft ground and remains of interest despite having to race off a 3lb higher mark in this.

Form: 1154F1

All Set To Go²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: K Frost| OR: 136| D

25/1

Doncaster winner on good ground in December 2016 but well held on debut for this yard and first outing since at Cheltenham last month. Others make more appeal.

Form: 1/2341-0

Michael's Mount²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 134| D

4/1

Winner of two of his three starts over hurdles since joining this yard from Ed Dunlop including on soft ground at Ludlow last time out. One to note on handicap debut.

Form: 131

Solatentif^b,t¹⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 132| D

20/1

Placed at Newton Abbot in September but held since including at Cheltenham over an extended 3m1f in November. Making his first appearance since in this.

Form: 232486

High Expectations¹⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: D Meyler⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 127| D

15/2

In good form for much of 2017 including when winning on good-to-soft ground at Leicester in November. Represents a leading yard and is one to note off a 10lb higher mark on his first outing since.

Form: 46P0-U1

William Of Orange^b,t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 126| D

13/2

Soft ground handicap hurdle winner at Haydock two weeks ago on his first outing since having wind surgery. Raised 8lb for that success and likely more needed here.

Form: 512531

Birch Hill^p1,t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: C Gethings| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 125| D

25/1

Three time winner, most recently on soft ground at Huntingdon in February. Well held on his only completed start (from two outings) since and wears cheekpieces for the first time.

Form: 1P-P1U6

Maquisard¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Harry Teal⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 125| D

14/1

Successful over hurdles in France and off the mark for this yard when winning over 2m at Huntingdon (good-to-soft) recently. Has to defy a 5lb rise in this contest.

Form: 13/6-881

Havana Beat¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: James Nixon⁽⁷⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 124| D

12/1

Useful performer on the Flat and broke his duck over hurdles when winning a maiden contest at Huntingdon (good-to-soft) last month. Making his handicap debut for a stable running at a 50% strike-rate (4/8) of late.

Form: 2231

Scheu Time^h²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Ms K Walsh| T: J Nash| OR: 124| D

9/2

Placed behind subsequent Grade 3 winner Sam's Gunner at Catterick in February and recorded his first victory when winning a maiden hurdle at Thurles (2m, heavy) last time out. Leading amateur booked to ride on handicap debut.

Form: 424241

Final Choice^p²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Ben Hicks⁽¹⁰⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 123| D

16/1

Heavy ground handicap hurdle winner at Wetherby last time out. Raised 5lb for that victory and promising 10lb claimer takes the ride once more.

Form: 440-361

Broughtons Admiral^p¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁷⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 122| D

20/1

Placed on the Flat for Henry Spiller and broke his maiden over hurdles when winning on soft ground over 2m at Hereford last time out. Making his handicap debut from out of the weights.

Form: 5441

Colwinston^t⁷³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss S Barkley| OR: 110

66/1

Placed once from nine starts over hurdles and could finish only fifth in a Down Royal (heavy) handicap hurdle in January. Returning from a break but looks up against it racing from out of the handicap.

Form: 24-5745

Non-Runners

Chesterfield²⁹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 8

T: J W Mullins J: Non Runner

Amour de Nuit⁷⁰

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: P F Nicholls J: Bryony Frost

Not That Fuisse⁹⁵

Weight: 10-0| Age: 5

T: D Skelton J: Bridget Andrews

Always Resolute²⁰

Weight: 10-0| Age: 7

T: B Ellison J: P K Donovan

Forecasts

Michael's Mount (4/1), Scheu Time (9/2), Chesterfield (9/2), William Of Orange (13/2), Sternrubin (7/1), High Expectations (15/2), Havana Beat (12/1), Dear Sire (12/1), Amour de Nuit (12/1), Maquisard (14/1), Final Choice (16/1), Broughtons Admiral (20/1), Solatentif (20/1), Not That Fuisse (20/1), Unison (20/1), All Set To Go (25/1), Birch Hill (25/1), Colwinston (66/1), Always Resolute (66/1)

MICAHEL'S MOUNT, a winner twice from three outings over hurdles to date can take the concluding race of the meeting under leading conditional jockey James Bowen. The selection should appreciate the soft underfoot conditions here and can get the better of High Expectations who is the sole representative for Gordon Elliott on his return from a break while Chesterfield can get the better of top weight Unison in the battle for third.