18:40 Aintree

Friday 18 May 2018

All17:3518:0518:4019:1019:4520:2020:50

Smarkets Betting Exchange Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:41 | Winning time: 4m 57.8s

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Selected odds by:

Sternrubin^p1³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 139

7/1

Recently switched back to hurdling, and though those two runs have been far from his best, the better ground and first-time cheek pieces could help him here.

Form: 50/2203-

Theclockisticking³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: T J O'Brien| T: S Edmunds| OR: 138

7/2

Form in novice company ties in with some very nice horses, and making his handicap debut here off a mark of 138, he may well be able to get competitive over a trip he seemed to enjoy last time out.

Form: 211332-

Stamp Your Feet^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: B J Geraghty| T: T R George| OR: 135| D

12/1

Pulled-up in a fairly similar (though probably slightly more competitive) race at Sandown last time and all wins off 7lb lower than this at the highest.

Form: 2P124P-

Massini's Trap^b³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁵⁾| T: J Nash| OR: 134| CD

14/1

Previous course winner and generally goes fairly well here. Needs to improve on recent form but not beaten far off 2lb higher on his most recent visit here.

Form: 00/3509-

Canelie³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Miss A B O'Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 130

40/1

Has been pulled-up three of her last four starts, often fairly quickly which is an obvious concern, but if replicating the form of her Taunton victory three starts back she's have to have a chance off 6lb higher.

Form: 8/4P1PP-

Diamond Fort¹²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 129| D

25/1

Has looked held by the handicapper on his last two starts following a good spell, and off just 2lb lower here it's easy to imagine a similar story.

Form: 331/1P9-

Whatzdjazz²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 128| D

9/2

Ran well in a Cheltenham Listed race when last seen, and her last win came off 6lb lower than that. Ground should suit and she should go well again.

Form: 11F582-

Eaton Hill^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 127| D

4/1

Out-ran his odds to finish a close second in Grade 3 company last time out. A 3lb rise looks a fair one, and if can run to that level on a sounder surface he should go very well.

Form: P1/0632-

Wenyerreadyfreddie¹⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 126

8/1

Pulled-up when jumping poorly on chasing debut last time out, and reverts to hurdles here. Could have more to offer over the smaller obstacles, especially on the basis of a smooth success at Doncaster as a novice.

Form: 2321/4P-

Caius Marcius²⁰¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 124

10/1

Unsuccessful in stepping up to this trip for the first time at this course last time out and more needed here off just 2lb lower.

Form: 7/14289-

Lisheen Prince³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 122| D

12/1

Down the field in a highly competitive handicap hurdle at Cheltenham last time on stable debut. Horses often improve for switch to this yard so interesting to see how he fares in this smaller field.

Form: 18214/0-

Cool Sky¹⁶⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Edward Austin⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 122| D

33/1

Down to just 1lb above his most recent winning mark, but this looks much tougher and it's easy to imagine him getting outclassed.

Form: 613/174-

Forecasts

Theclockisticking (7/2), Eaton Hill (4/1), Whatzdjazz (9/2), Sternrubin (7/1), Wenyerreadyfreddie (8/1), Caius Marcius (10/1), Lisheen Prince (12/1), Stamp Your Feet (12/1), Massini's Trap (14/1), Diamond Fort (25/1), Cool Sky (33/1), Canelie (40/1)

A competitive handicap hurdle, where THECLOCKISTICKING could be the one to side with. A handicap newcomer here, his form in novice hurdles saw him finish close to some good horses, including the likes of Claimantakinforgan (now rated 151), so off an opening mark of 138 he should be able to get involved in this. Eaton Hill finished close in a Grade 3 last time and would go close if repeating that performance on better ground, while Wenyerreadyfreddie is another with claims.