15:42 Aintree

Sunday 25 October 2020

All12:4713:2213:5714:3215:0715:4216:17

arenagroup.com Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:42 | Winning time: 5m 3.3s

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Selected odds by:

Voix Du Reve^h²⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 148| D

50/1

Have to go back to 2018 for the last time he raced over hurdles. Since developed into a smart chaser for Willie Mullins but has left that yard and this is no easy assignment on stable debut.

Form: 1/45436-

Clyne²²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 142| D

20/1

Plenty of useful efforts to his name since landing 19.9f handicap from 4 lb higher at Uttoxeter in March 2018. Did end last term in slightly disappointing fashion but has gone well fresh in the past.

Form: 742358-

Mohaayed^t²²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 141

11/1

2018 County hurdle winner who landed another big handicap at Ascot later that year. Had a wind op prior to a mid-field finish in the aforementioned race at the Festival and off since.

Form: 9/50990-

Earlofthecotswolds²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 137

6/1

Improved on his hurdles form over fences last season, landing a useful novice at Exeter. Just mid-field on last month's return in listed handicap hurdle at Market Rasen.

Form: 2F310-6

Point Of Principle²⁷⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 137

11/1

Career-best effort when second in a big-field handicap over C&D in April 2019, Restricted to just two runs last term but has been given a chance by the handicapper on reappearance.

Form: 2592/74-

Clever As A Fox⁹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁷⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 137| D

17/2

Hs returned a much-improved performer in handicaps, supplementing his Uttoxeter win in pretty effortless fashion at Perth in July. Raised 10 lb, but a good-value conditional is booked.

Form: 1565-11

Monte Cristo²⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 136

10/1

Fairly useful winner at Auteuil who failed to meet expectations in the Finesse on stable debut. Also unconvincing seeing off 2 rivals at Newbury but in top hands for return to handicaps up in trip.

Form: 662141-

Highway One O One²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: R Johnson| T: C Gordon| OR: 135

9/1

Smart handicap chaser at his peak, for all he ended last term under a cloud. Underwent a breathing operation ahead of an encouraging reappearance 3 weeks ago and is 5 lb lower back hurdling.

Form: 43PP0-6

Sir Ivan^p,t²⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 135

18/1

Back to near best fitted with this headgear to capitalise on lowest mark in 4 years at Wincanton in January. No real surprise given profile he failed to back it up over fences the following month.

Form: 8/3UP15-

Jolly's Cracked It^t²⁵³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Nick Scholfield| T: H Fry| OR: 133

14/1

Fragile 11-y-o but still retains a pretty useful level of ability as indicated by a brace of in-frame efforts during the winter. Thorough test at this trip may just find him out, though.

Form: 05P/034-

Beeno^h⁶³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: Danny McMenamin⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 129

40/1

Veteran front runner who looked better than ever when scoring at Cartmel (goes very well there) in August, sticking to it gamely. Was no match for Clever As A Fox at Perth prior to that.

Form: 126-021

Strong Glance²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 129

9/2

Useful dual-bumper winner who left previous hurdling efforts behind when forging clear to make a winning handicap debut in January. Excellent third on return to action at Market Rasen.

Form: 55/212-3

En Meme Temps^p²⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Ross Chapman| T: P A Kirby| OR: 126

20/1

Ascot maiden winner in March 2019 and having switched yards he raised his game with a pair of runner-up efforts early last season. Up in trip and remains unexposed, though may not be straightforward.

Form: 2821/23-

Jacamar²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: P J Brennan| T: M F Harris| OR: 119

6/1

Scored twice in 2019 and in process of running good race on return when forced out 3 out at Newton Abbot. Did well to finish third at Fontwell having messed around at the start. 3 lb wrong.

Form: 547-R53

Non-Runners

Caius Marcius⁴⁸

Weight: 11-5| Age: 9

T: N G Richards J: B S Hughes

Marlborough Sounds³⁷

Weight: 10-8| Age: 5

T: Miss A Murphy J: J M Quinlan

Forecasts

Strong Glance (9/2), Jacamar (6/1), Earlofthecotswolds (6/1), Clever As A Fox (17/2), Highway One O One (9/1), Monte Cristo (10/1), Caius Marcius (10/1), Mohaayed (11/1), Point Of Principle (11/1), Jolly's Cracked It (14/1), Marlborough Sounds (14/1), Sir Ivan (18/1), En Meme Temps (20/1), Clyne (20/1), Beeno (40/1), Voix Du Reve (50/1)

Plenty worthy of consideration, but STRONG GLANCE returned with an excellent third in an up-to-scratch listed handicap at Market Rasen a month ago, and sure to improve for the return to this trip, he could be the answer. Clever As A Fox arrives here on the up and is feared with a top conditional rider taking over, while Monte Cristo should have more to offer this term.