13:45 Aintree

Saturday 10 April 2021

All13:4514:2515:0015:3516:1517:1518:20

EFT Systems Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 6m 9.43s

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Selected odds by:

Unowhatimeanharry^p,t²³

Age: 13| Weight: 11-12| J: K Brogan⁽⁵⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 149| CD

33/1

Confirmed he's still capable of smart form when landing handicap over C&D in November. Below par both runs since though so veteran needs to get back on track.

Form: 250-100

Vision Des Flos^h1,t⁸⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 146

50/1

Smart hurdler at his best but he's twice been below par back in this sphere after failing to convince over fences earlier this season. Hooded now and others appeal more.

Form: 60-U595

Janika^t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145

20/1

Grade 2 winner over fences during 2019/20 and not disgraced back hurdling when fifth of 26 in Coral Cup at Cheltenham (21f) 24 days ago. Has his stamina to prove, though.

Form: 4442-95

Reserve Tank^t1²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 144| C

16/1

Grade 1 winning hurdler who ran to a similar level over fences last term. Fair fifth in National Spirit at Fontwell on return but pulled up in Stayers' Hurdle (50/1) at Cheltenham since. Tongue tied.

Form: 212P-5P

J'Ai Froid^v²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Max Kendrick⁽³⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 143

11/1

Strong stayer who has made a fine start for his current yard, completing the four-timer by wide margin at Warwick 27 days ago. Up a further 13 lb but not taken lightly in current mood.

Form: 1/41111

Tea Clipper²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: T Lacey| OR: 142

8/1

Returned with Grade 3 Chepstow handicap in October and even better form when third of 26 in Coral Cup at Cheltenham (21f) 24 days ago. Should prove effective over this longer trip. In the mix.

Form: 12-1553

Stoney Mountain¹²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 140| BF| C

33/1

Likeable hurdler who was bought for £140,000 after his ninth in last term's Pertemps at Cheltenham for Henry Daly. Remote third over fences at Ludlow on yard bow but should fare better back hurdling.

Form: 11U59-3

Kid Commando^t⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 140

17/2

Ascot listed handicap winner in October who took a step back in right direction after wind op when fifth of 15 in 2m3f handicap there 49 days ago. Handily weighted, but not proven over this far.

Form: 13-16P5

One Night In Milan^t1¹³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Billy Garritty⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 140| D

50/1

Progressive hurdler last term who posted good second in novice chase at Carlisle in November. Stiff task in Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last time. Tongue tied. No forlorn hope back in a handicap.

Form: 233-P28

Tommy Rapper^p1,t²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 139

40/1

Useful winning hurdler/chaser but lightly raced nowadays. Made light of 17-month absence when second in Exeter handicap hurdle but pulled up over fences at Uttoxeter only run since. Cheekpieces on.

Form: 442/1-2P

Champagne Platinum²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 139

13/2

Has never entirely convinced over fences, but he has shaped well back hurdling this term, fifth of 25 in Pertemps Final at Cheltenham (3m) 23 days ago. One for the shortlist off same mark.

Form: 437-325

Burbank^p²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlotte Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 138

28/1

Smart chaser for Nicky Henderson last term. In good form for new yard this season, first run over hurdles for almost two years when tenth of 26 in Coral Cup at Cheltenham last time. Respected.

Form: 18P-130

Whirling Dervish^p³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R A Doyle⁽³⁾| T: J F Levins| OR: 137

12/1

Useful Irish hurdler who arrives on back of game success in 2m7f handicap at Thurles last month. Gutsy sort but he's been hit with a 13 lb hike.

Form: 126641

Hometown Boy⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 137

6/1

Quickly made up into a useful hurdler last term and returned after 11 months off with stylish win in 2m5f Kempton handicap in February. Up 7 lb but he remains of interest now upped to 3m. Player.

Form: 33127-1

Come On Teddy²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 137

8/1

Landed 3m Cheltenham handicap in December and has posted two excellent placed efforts since, third of 22 in Pertemps Final there 23 days ago. Type to keep improving, and a very interesting contender.

Form: 41-4133

Ballybegg⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 137

11/1

Improving hurdler who made it 2-3 in this sphere with gutsy all-the-way victory in 2m3f novice at Wetherby in February. Goes handicapping now with step up in trip likely to suit. Lively outsider.

Form: 523-211

Barnaviddaun¹⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 135

18/1

Progressive Irish hurdler for Thomas Mullins, bagging 2m4f handicap at Naas in November. This longer trip should prove within his compass on yard bow but much higher in the weights.

Form: 221-421

Ashtown Lad⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 135WS

14/1

Took a major step forward when bolting up on handicap debut at Uttoxeter in November. Disappointing up in grade since, though had excuses last time and has since had a wind op/break. Not discounted.

Form: 7-2115P

Earlofthecotswolds^p³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 132| BF

66/1

Useful hurdler/chaser. Landed Kempton jumpers bumper before good fifth in Wincanton handicap chase so he's not totally dismissed back in this sphere.

Form: 602415

Non-Runners

Corrieben Reiver²⁸

Weight: 11-3| Age: 7

T: A C Whillans J: Henry Brooke

Southfield Harvest⁴⁸

Weight: 11-1| Age: 7

T: P F Nicholls J: H Cobden

Polish⁴⁸

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: F O'Brien J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Hometown Boy (6/1), Champagne Platinum (13/2), Tea Clipper (8/1), Come On Teddy (8/1), Polish (8/1), Kid Commando (17/2), Southfield Harvest (10/1), J'Ai Froid (11/1), Ballybegg (11/1), Whirling Dervish (12/1), Ashtown Lad (14/1), Reserve Tank (16/1), Barnaviddaun (18/1), Janika (20/1), Corrieben Reiver (20/1), Burbank (28/1), Stoney Mountain (33/1), Unowhatimeanharry (33/1), Tommy Rapper (40/1), Vision Des Flos (50/1), One Night In Milan (50/1), Earlofthecotswolds (66/1)

Plenty in with a shout, but Tom George's COME ON TEDDY arrives on the back of a cracking third in Cheltenham's Pertemps Final so this upwardly-mobile hurdler is fancied to emerge on top. Hometown Boy is another low-mileage sort with better days ahead of him now stepping up to 3m and is feared most, although handicap debutant Ballybegg and Champagne Platinum also have much to recommend them.