13:45 Aintree

Friday 9 April 2021

All13:4514:2014:5015:2516:0516:4017:15

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:46 | Winning time: 5m 0.35s

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Selected odds by:

Wilde About Oscar²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 150| CD

13/2

Challow run aside (bad mistake did for him), he has been unbeaten over hurdles, showing smart form switched to handicap company at Uttoxeter (2½m) last time. Should go well again.

Form: 4-11P11

Edwardstone²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 149| C

7/1

Back to winning ways in a small-field handicap in January and good efforts when third in Betfair at Newbury and fifth in County at Cheltenham since. Bred to stay 2½m. Much respected.

Form: 6-5U135

Chapmanshype^t¹⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 146

80/1

Took form up another notch when landing a sixth handicap success at Kelso (21f) in September. May have been unsuited by soft ground when well held in Wetherby Grade 2 in October. Given break since.

Form: 11-9117

Monte Cristo²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145

10/1

French recruit and the ready winner of a competitive Kempton handicap (21f) on Boxing Day. Disputing fourth when badly hampered at last in Coral Cup at Cheltenham since. Remains open to improvement.

Form: 141-810

Master Debonair¹¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 142WS

25/1

Grade 2 novice winner at Ascot last season. Disappointed in 2 runs for Colin Tizzard before Christmas but may fare better for a new yard after wind surgery. Up in trip.

Form: 2113-60

Amour de Nuit^p1²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 139| D

50/1

Made light of 20-month absence when landing 2½m Plumpton handicap in November. Solid in-frame efforts the next twice and not disgraced in Martin Pipe latest. Cheekpieces go on.

Form: 2/12459

Kateson^p,t⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: T Lacey| OR: 138| CD

25/1

Doesn’t always look straightforward but galvanised by first-time cheekpieces to win over C&D (heavy) in December. Good third at Ascot next time but not in the same form back there since.

Form: 42-8130

Stolen Silver^t⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 137

33/1

Useful hurdler who matched that level without getting his head in front in three runs over fences to start this season. Ran poorly back hurdling at Ascot last time, though.

Form: 8P-332P

West To The Bridge^h¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 137| C| D

66/1

Bounced back to very best when runner-up at Wetherby (2½m) in February. Failed to stay 3¼m when remote fifth at Kelso last time so probably still in form.

Form: 5P42P5

Mister Coffey^h⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 137

6/1

Improved again to win on handicap bow at Sandown (2m) in November. Progress stalled twice since but far from disgraced when seventh of 23 in Betfair at Newbury latterly. Up in trip. Still unexposed.

Form: 1/12-137

Whatsupwithyou²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: K Brogan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 136

14/1

Just an Ascot maiden win to his name but he has posted some good efforts in defeats in handicaps this term, the latest when 12 lengths fourth in Martin Pipe at Cheltenham. Yet another to consider.

Form: P3-7254

War Lord³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 136

40/1

Solid second on return at Wetherby prior to going one better at Haydock. Not disgraced back at the latter course next run, but his last 2 efforts have been underwhelming. Bounce back required.

Form: 8-21304

Jacamar⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: P J Brennan| T: M F Harris| OR: 135| BF| CD

25/1

Useful hurdler who won over C&D (from Strong Glance) in October and added to tally over 21f at Wincanton on Boxing Day. Shaped as if still in form when midfield in jumpers bumper at Kempton since.

Form: 314418

Solwara One²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 134

15/2

Bumper winner in November and also successful twice in novice hurdles since. Lacks experience for a race of this nature but he's a strong traveller who could be suited by big-field handicaps. Player.

Form: 2-1121

Nightboattoclyro²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 131| BF| D

14/1

Real improver for new yard during the winter, completing the hat-trick at Wetherby. Winning run came to a halt at Kempton last month but he still performed with credit in third.

Form: 36-1113

Dans Le Vent²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 131| D

18/1

Better than ever when narrowly landing 7-runner handicap back hurdling following 13 months off at Hereford (19.5f) in December. Creditable efforts in defeat since but looks summed up by his mark.

Form: U2-1448

Thistle Do Nicely⁵⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Page Fuller| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 130

66/1

Useful novice hurdler in 2018/19 but absent since finishing fourth on Warwick chase debut in autumn 2019. This a big ask on his return.

Form: 42202/4-

Press Your Luck¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Joshua Moore| T: C Gordon| OR: 130

18/1

Irish point winner who landed 2 novice hurdles in autumn. Disappointed next 2 starts but back on track when second of in 19f Newbury handicap hurdle 13 days ago.

Form: 11P9B2

The Vollan^p,t¹⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 130| DWS

150/1

Dual hurdle winner last term and placed in 2 handicap hurdles over 23f to start this season. Hasn't taken to fences since then but may fare better back over the smaller obstacles after wind surgery.

Form: 0-23U04

Strong Glance²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 129

12/1

Won a couple of AW jumpers bumpers in February. Struggled back hurdling in the County at Cheltenham last month but has dropped back to the same mark as when second to Jacamar over C&D in October.

Form: 28R110

Tronador^p¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 128

22/1

Shaped better than the result in Fred Winter at Cheltenham on final start last season and should be sharper for last month's reappearance run at Downpatrick. Remains capable of better.

Form: 4139-7

Amarillo Sky³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 128

16/1

Improved effort over hurdles when making all on Exeter handicap debut a month ago. That was only a Grade 4 so this a significant jump in class but he had plenty in hand and is open to improvement.

Form: 1-4471

Forecasts

Mister Coffey (6/1), Wilde About Oscar (13/2), Edwardstone (7/1), Solwara One (15/2), Monte Cristo (10/1), Strong Glance (12/1), Whatsupwithyou (14/1), Nightboattoclyro (14/1), Amarillo Sky (16/1), Dans Le Vent (18/1), Press Your Luck (18/1), Tronador (22/1), Kateson (25/1), Jacamar (25/1), Master Debonair (25/1), Stolen Silver (33/1), War Lord (40/1), Amour de Nuit (50/1), Thistle Do Nicely (66/1), West To The Bridge (66/1), Chapmanshype (80/1), The Vollan (150/1)

Several possibilities in this very competitive opener. Nicky Henderson has tasted success in this 3 times since 2013 so the suggestion is MONTE CRISTO, who was still in with a shout of aplace when hampered at the last in the Coral Cup. Edwardstone has some very solid 2m handicap form to his name and is bred to stay this trip so he's next on the list ahead of Mister Coffey and Solwara One.