15:15 Aintree

Saturday 4 December 2021

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Unibet - 2021 Horserace Betting Operator Of The Year Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:17 | Winning time: 5m 38.27s

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Selected odds by:

Ballyandy²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Finn Lambert⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 140| D

11/1

Has several good efforts to his name in strong handicaps but his 2 runs this season have been disappointing. Remains to be seen if a step back up in trip improves matters.

Form: 3339-00

Elvis Mail²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: C O'Farrell| T: N W Alexander| OR: 138

16/1

Useful hurdler/chaser. Might have needed the run when a bit below par on his chase reappearance (made a couple of mistakes). Now back over the smaller obstacles.

Form: 1422F-5

Midnight River²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 138| BF| D

17/2

Useful 3-time novice hurdle winer last term. Jumping fell apart after early error on his Carlisle chase debut/return, behind when eventually coming down 3 out. Retains potential back hurdling.

Form: 2141F-F

Albert's Back³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: G Sheehan| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 134

33/1

Decisive winner of handicap hurdles at Wetherby and Haydock at a similar time last year. Fell early back at Wetherby in February and not seen again until well held at Carlisle in October.

Form: 25/11F-6

Kateson²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Nick Scholfield| T: A Ralph| OR: 134| CD

12/1

Back down to the same mark as when winning this race for Tom Lacey 12 months ago. Ran poorly over fences on his return for a new yard last month but he may fare better back over smaller obstacles.

Form: 81305-8

Straw Fan Jack²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 133| C| D

7/1

Course winner who was a very good second on his 2m Cheltenham reappearance in October but not in the same form in the Greatwood back there 3 weeks later. Steps back up in trip now.

Form: 2126-20

Martinhal^t²⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 132

16/1

Won maiden/novice hurdles on heavy at Exeter last winter. Bombed out in Martin Pipe at Cheltenham on final start but he returns as an unexposed sort for a good yard.

Form: 1/44110-

Storm Nelson^t²⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: A M Thomson| OR: 128| D

14/1

Much improved when racking up a quick hat-trick in handicap hurdles for new yard in the spring. Runs off further 11 lb higher on this reappearance but it would be no surprise if he has more to offer.

Form: 1P3/111-

Tamar Bridge³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: O Murphy| OR: 128| D

2/1

Bumper winner who has looked useful when taking novice hurdles at Ayr and Wetherby 8 months apart. Doesn't look overburdened from opening mark of 128 with further progress very much on cards.

Form: 131-1

Winningseverything^t1⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry| OR: 128| D

12/1

Lightly raced since scoring twice in 2019 but his 2 handicap fourths this season have been creditable. Will need a bit more if he's to take this but low-mileage profile provides hope. Tongue tie on.

Form: 11/F7-44

Pounding Poet⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: R T Dunne| T: T Lacey| OR: 125| BF| D

11/2

Upwardly mobile in handicap hurdles, cosily scoring at Southwell/Warwick in the spring. Made a solid return when second over C&D in October and he's high on the shorltist under Robbie Dunne.

Form: 6941-12

Canford Light⁵⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 121

66/1

Made bright start over hurdles in Ireland, including 6-length win in 2m Kilbeggan maiden in July. Didn't need to match that to land small-field Ludlow novice on yard debut and this mark demands more.

Form: 211

Aurora Thunder³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 119| D

22/1

Placed on her last 3 starts in handicap hurdles, the latest at Musselburgh (3m) last month, but she may struggle to extend that run to 4 in this deeper affair.

Form: 632-342

Non-Runners

Carys' Commodity³⁷

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: J & A O'Neill J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Highway One O Two¹⁵

Weight: 10-13| Age: 6

T: C Gordon J: D A Jacob

Forecasts

Tamar Bridge (2/1), Pounding Poet (11/2), Straw Fan Jack (7/1), Carys' Commodity (8/1), Midnight River (17/2), Ballyandy (11/1), Kateson (12/1), Winningseverything (12/1), Storm Nelson (14/1), Elvis Mail (16/1), Martinhal (16/1), Highway One O Two (20/1), Aurora Thunder (22/1), Albert's Back (33/1), Canford Light (66/1)

Tom Lacey sent out Kateson to land this in 2020 and might be able to stage a repeat courtesy of POUNDING POET, who lost his unbeaten record in handicaps on his C&D return but still shaped well in second so can improve again and strike under Robbie Dunne. Olly Murphy is another trainer who has tasted recent success in this and his Tamar Bridge heads the many dangers along with Storm Nelson.