14:20 Aintree

Friday 8 April 2022

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

Betway Top Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:21 | Winning time: 3m 58.39s

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Selected odds by:

A Different Kind⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 134| D

33/1

Won both starts in bumpers and successful on first 3 outings in this sphere. Confirmed himself a useful novice when not beaten far in third in Classic Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham back in January but likely to come up short at this top level.

Form: 111113

Aucunrisque⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 133| D

14/1

Continues to go from strength to strength, impressing with his attitude to complete the hat-trick in Grade 2 Dovecote at Kempton just under 6 weeks ago. Worth a tilt at this given there could be even more to come from him.

Form: 432111

El Fabiolo^h1⁹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| D

4/1

Confirmed the promise of hurdling debut when impressively landing 15-runner maiden hurdle at Tramore on New Year's Day on first start for this yard. Has loads of potential, so well worth his place in this. First-time hood applied.

Form: 3-1

Eyed¹²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: T Scudamore| T: P R Webber

250/1

Kayf Tara gelding who was in need of the experience and probably a bit flattered to finish fourth in Sandown novice hurdle (well behind Constitution Hill) back in December. On just his second start, he's surely well out of his depth here.

Form: 4

First Street^h²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 147| D

9/2

Well-regarded 5-y-o who cashed in off 10 lb lower mark at Kempton (2m) in January. Enhanced his profile when third in Betfair Hurdle and ran another fine race in a top handicap when finishing runner-up in the County 3 weeks ago, noted doing his best work at the finish. Solid each-ways claims.

Form: 115132

Jonbon²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N J Henderson| OR: 147| D

1/1

Brother to top-class Douvan and could be of similar standard himself, winning first 5 starts (including a point). Lost little caste in defeat behind Constitution Hill in Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham last month and faces nothing of that calibre here. Outstanding claims.

Form: 11-1112

Salamanca Bay²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: M P Fogarty| T: J Fogarty| OR: 133| D

80/1

Stepped his form up a notch with a wide-margin success in maiden hurdle at Thurles last month, very much having the run of the race. This a completely different kettle of fish, however.

Form: 665251

Suprise Package²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: K C Sexton| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 145| D

12/1

Had been shaping well in Ireland and, played wide and late, he forged clear to land Imperial Cup at Sandown last month. Ran well but those exertions 6 days prior possibly took their toll when fading into sixth in the County 3 weeks ago. Respected with trainer landing this contest last year.

Form: 272916

Vina Ardanza²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 141| D

14/1

Landed sole start in bumpers for Stuart Crawford and made winning start for this yard over hurdles at Thurles (15.8f) in November. Shaped very well in the face of quite a stiff task when head second in Grade 3 at Naas last month and he's the type to go on improving.

Form: 1-12

Forecasts

Jonbon (1/1), El Fabiolo (4/1), First Street (9/2), Suprise Package (12/1), Vina Ardanza (14/1), Aucunrisque (14/1), A Different Kind (33/1), Salamanca Bay (80/1), Eyed (250/1)

Despite losing his unbeaten record last time, JONBON lost little caste in defeat when playing second fiddle to his outstanding stablemate Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle last month. Facing nothing of that calibre here, he gets the verdict to register a first success at the highest level. El Fabiolo falls into the 'could be anything' category after his demolition job at Tramore on New Year's Day so he's put forward as the main danger, with First Street next on the list.