13:35 Aintree

Saturday 10 November 2018

All12:2513:0013:3514:1014:4015:2015:55

Pertemps Network (Supporting BTRC) Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:36 | Winning time: 6m 5.5s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Regal Encore¹⁹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: R P McLernon| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 148

16/1

Failed to complete for the eighth time in his last 16 starts on final start at Sandown last season over fences (3m5f). Won over hurdles the time before at Ascot (3m) but the concern here is that all seven career wins come with cut in the ground.

Form: 8/03P1P-

Dream Berry^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁵⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 143

3/1

Having missed most of last season he finished seventh at Cheltenham and sixth at Punchestown festivals. Fell early over fences latest and reverts to hurdles over 3m for first time but has potential given he is relatively lightly raced.

Form: 322/76-F

The Organist²⁰⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: B J Geraghty| T: O Sherwood| OR: 139| BF

9/2

Winner over 3m on soft ground last season was subsequently a close fifth in the Coral Cup (soft) at Cheltenham before disappointing there next on quicker ground. Stays well and still off a fair mark but would have preferred softer ground.

Form: 4/71550-

Jeannot De Nonant^p,t¹⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 137| D

25/1

Struggled at Cheltenham and here after winning lesser event at Southwell lasts season but won since over fences at Cartmel although only two of four finished and only real rival on form fell. Hurdles mark appears high enough on recent showings.

Form: 4100-13

Jacks Last Hope^v²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Henry Brooke| T: C Grant| OR: 137| C

9/1

Does most of his racing in the summer months and won once this summer over fences at Perth. Race fit after three recent starts but well beaten third of seven at Wetherby latest gives him plenty to find here.

Form: 123243

William Of Orange^b,t⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 134

33/1

Won three times since March with the most recent over 2m6f at Cartmel in July. Never threatened in two fifths since however at same venue and at Perth and now faces stiffer competition.

Form: P-16155

Stamp Your Feet^t¹⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 132

12/1

Three-time hurdle winner at up to 2m3½f although seemed to stay 3m last season. Finished year with two very ordinary efforts here (last of 12) and at Sandown (pulled-up) so plenty to prove here.

Form: P124P-0

Abolitionist⁴⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 121| BF| D

11/8

High class chaser in 2017 winning Leinster National before third in Irish Grand National. Below par next and off for subsequent 440 days but runs here off 24lb lower hurdles mark so if ready he could be pretty much thrown-in.

Form: 22213/0-

Non-Runners

Hear No Evil³⁰³

Weight: 10-13| Age: 6

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Forecasts

Abolitionist (11/8), Hear No Evil (5/2), Dream Berry (3/1), The Organist (9/2), Jacks Last Hope (9/1), Stamp Your Feet (12/1), Regal Encore (16/1), Jeannot De Nonant (25/1), William Of Orange (33/1)

The form of HEAR NO EVIL has been working out really well and he too could prove really well handicapped now especially if appreciating this step up to 3m which breeding and evidence on the track both suggest he will. Abolitionist is feared and there is little doubt he is extremely well in off this mark if he's ready after such a long absence so perhaps the market will best indicate expectations. Owner JP McManus has four representatives and his retained jockey Barry Geraghty chooses The Organist who is still off a competitive mark although softer ground would have been preferable.