13:45 Aintree

Saturday 9 April 2022

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

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

Off time: 13:46 | Winning time: 6m 7.54s

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Selected odds by:

Beauport²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 148

10/1

Won the EBF Final at Sandown last March and improved further this campaign, filling runners-up spot 3 times prior to deservedly resuming winning ways at Uttoxeter (20f) 3 weeks (pulling long way clear with runner-up). Has to be of interest again from 6 lb higher mark.

Form:

J'Ai Froid^v⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: L Morgan| OR: 143

33/1

Enjoyed a highly productive hurdles campaign last term, landing 4 staying handicaps prior to finishing runner-up in this race final start. Has displayed some promise over fences in recent months but interesting connections' return to hurdling from what remains a workable mark.

Form:

Christopher Wood²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Bannister| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 142

33/1

Winless this term but he did run right up to his best when runner-up in class 2 handicap at Ascot (19.2f) in February. Not disgraced sixth in Coral Cup subsequently but this step up to 3m not sure to suit.

Form:

Dans Le Vent²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 141

12/1

Bagged valuable 3m Haydock handicap in November and again ran well when third behind Green Book at Sandown (23.5f) in February. Never in the mix in the Coral Cup latest but he ran well in a Grade 3 handicap over shorter at this meeting 12 months ago.

Form:

Mill Green²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 140

18/1

Fairly low-mileage 10-y-o who scored over fences at Ffos Las back in May and arrives here in good order, career-best display when third in Pertemps Final at Cheltenham last month. Should give another good account from 2 lb higher.

Form:

Saint D'Oroux^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁷⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 140

33/1

Much improved for his new yard, landing 21f Kelso handicap before excellent second in the Morebattle Hurdle (2m) back at that venue last month, staying on well. Does have a career-high mark to contend with now, though. Up in trip.

Form:

Winter Fog^h²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: P Townend| T: E Mullins| OR: 139| BF

9/2

Low-mileage 8-y-o who landed a Limerick maiden (19.2f) 12 months ago and much-improved in handicaps for new yard, impressing with change of pace to get into contention when fourth in last month's Pertemps Final. Remains unexposed and shortlisted.

Form:

Ilikedwayurthinkin²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: M P Walsh| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 137

16/1

Useful hurdler/chaser at his best who proved he's still a force in this sphere when 9 lengths sixth in last month's Martin Pipe. Eased 1 lb subsequently but he may just prove vulnerable to some less exposed sorts once more.

Form:

If The Cap Fits^b²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: D A Jacob| T: H Fry| OR: 137| CD

12/1

Really smart hurdler/chaser at his best who wasn't disgraced when sixth in the Pertemps at Cheltenham last month, albeit only really making late gains. Blinkers again the headgear of choice but others appeal more for win purposes.

Form:

Whatsnotoknow^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: D J O'Keeffe| T: M F Morris| OR: 136

28/1

Arrives on a long losing run, but hard to knock his efforts in ultra-competitive handicaps at Leopardstown/Cheltenham (both at 3m) in recent months. Cannot be ruled out for each-way purposes.

Form:

Emitom⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: W Greatrex| OR: 135

40/1

Smart hurdler in his pomp but he's failed to convince over fences/hurdles this campaign, in trouble some way out when pulled up in Grade 2 Rendlesham at Haydock (24.2f, heavy) in February. Others make greater appeal.

Form:

Coeur Serein^b²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 135| D

33/1

Useful hurdler/chaser who ran well considering he was caught up in early interference when eighth in the Pertemps Final on his latest outing. Mark goes unchanged and he should give another good account.

Form:

Whirling Dervish^p,t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: R A Doyle| T: J F Levins| OR: 133

150/1

Backed up his much-improved Thurles success when fifth in this race 12 months ago but he arrives here having been out of sorts over hurdles/fences in recent months. Others more persuasive despite reduced mark.

Form:

Remastered^t⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 133WS

15/2

Smart chaser who comes here on back of fair fourth in Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock. Had wind op and shouldn't be underestimated now reverted to hurdles off a much lower mark with yard going along very nicely.

Form:

Serious Charges²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 133

9/2

Very promising sort who continues to go from strength-to-strength, completing hat-trick on handicap debut with ease at Uttoxeter (23.3f) last month. Handicapper has reacted with 13 lb rise but this low-mileage sort shouldn't be underestimated.

Form:

The Cob^b1²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 132

66/1

Three-time winner last season (latterly at Grade 3 level) and performed with credit on 2 of his 4 starts this term, fourth in competitive Sandown handicap (23.5f) on penultimate run. However, needs to shrug off a lesser display at Cheltenham latest. Blinkers go on.

Form:

Flash The Steel^t³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 132

50/1

Career-best effort when landing Newbury handicap (20.5f) in November 2020. Missed all of last year and pulled up both starts upon returning, albeit not given a hard time when out of contention at Kelso recently. Still, this a tough enough ask on balance.

Form:

Party Business²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: C J Todd⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 132

11/2

Landed an Ascot maiden hurdle (21.6f) in December and having shaped better than form figures suggest next 2 starts he ran a cracker without being seen to anything like best effect when fifth in the Martin Pipe last time, coming home strongly. One to bear in mind.

Form:

Bushypark⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 132

200/1

Completed superb 5-timer over hurdles last term and scored readily on his Kelso chasing debut/return. Poor twice since however, finishing tamely on both occasions but given a break ahead of this switch back to hurdling.

Form:

Master Debonair^p1,t⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 131

33/1

Grade 2 novice hurdle winner at Ascot in 2019 who ran best race for present yard when runner-up at Taunton (19f) in January. Not disgraced when third at Wincanton (21.3f) subsequently and he's worth a crack at this longer trip. Cheekpieces fitted.

Form:

Pounding Poet¹⁰¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 128

12/1

Landed back-to-back handicap hurdles last spring and improved further in defeat thereafter, pulling clear with another low-mileage sort when second over 20f here in December. May of found Newbury coming too quick later that month but freshened up since and he's completely unexposed at 3m.

Form:

Non-Runners

Third Wind²³

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: H Morrison J: T J O'Brien

Forecasts

Serious Charges (9/2), Winter Fog (9/2), Party Business (11/2), Remastered (15/2), Third Wind (8/1), Beauport (10/1), Pounding Poet (12/1), If The Cap Fits (12/1), Dans Le Vent (12/1), Ilikedwayurthinkin (16/1), Mill Green (18/1), Whatsnotoknow (28/1), Coeur Serein (33/1), Saint D'Oroux (33/1), J'Ai Froid (33/1), Christopher Wood (33/1), Master Debonair (33/1), Emitom (40/1), Flash The Steel (50/1), The Cob (66/1), Whirling Dervish (150/1), Bushypark (200/1)

A smashing staying handicap to kick off the card with the vote in favour of WINTER FOG. A low-mileage 8-y-o, he ran his best race yet when fourth in last month's Pertemps Final at Cheltenham, impressing with his move into contention. He's on a handy mark, and a strong pace to aim at will suit, so he looks sure to go well. Party Business was a big eyecatcher himself at the Festival and is feared, along with upwardly-mobile pair Serious Charges and Beauport. Punting Poet appeals each-way.