19:00 Aintree

Friday 13 May 2022

All17:1517:5018:2519:0019:3520:1020:45

Racing Supporting Mental Health Awareness Week Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 19:02 | Winning time: 4m 54.85s

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Selected odds by:

Champagne Well¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien| OR: 133

66/1

Below par since bagging 2m4f Plumpton handicap in November, only fifth of 6 at Uttoxeter (19.9f) 13 days ago. Needs to step forward.

Form: 2/P158-5

Monte Cristo⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 132WS

8/1

Below par all three runs last term, only seventh of 9 in handicap hurdle at Wincanton (21.4f) 83 days ago. Useful winner at his best, and he needs recent wind op to spark a resurgence.

Form: 109/P07-

Dorking Boy^t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 132| D

9/2

Resumed his progress when impressive winner of 8-runner handicap hurdle at Kempton (21f) 30 days ago. Not taken lightly despite taking a 7 lb rise in the weights.

Form: 312251-

Alqamar⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlotte Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 131

17/2

Completed a four-timer in 2021 and he wasn't disgraced after 6 months off when sixth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Ayr (16f) 41 days ago. Can give another good account now stepping up in trip.

Form: 1111U6-

Paddys Motorbike^p,t³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁷⁾| T: S Thomas| OR: 131| D

10/3

Fairly useful hurdle/chase winner who posted a good fifth of 21 in C&D handicap last month. That form is working out well, so he's weighted to go close off a 2 lb lower mark now.

Form: 15/1325-

Captain Morgs³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 130| BF

5/1

Scored at Ascot in November and largely in good form since, blundering 2 out when fifth of 9 in handicap at Cheltenham (20.2f) 30 days ago. Has flashed his tail but he must enter calculations.

Form: F/31285-

Flash The Steel^b1,t³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 127

14/1

Has been pulled up on on all this three runs since landing a Newbury handicap (2m4f) in November 2020, latest over 3m here last month. Blinkers are reached for now.

Form: 2F1/PPP-

Stormy Flight³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 123| D

9/1

Went winless last term but he arrives in good nick, fifth of 8 to Dorking Boy in handicap at Kempton (21f) 30 days ago. One for the shortlist.

Form: 7B2325-

Big Bad Bear²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 121| D

10/1

Capitalised on a much-reduced mark when bagging 2m4f handicaps at Newcastle and Perth when also jumping much better. Creeping back up the weights now but he still can't be discounted.

Form: 354811-

Made For You^t⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Daire Davis⁽¹⁰⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 118

22/1

Reliable sort who comes here on the back of very good second of 8 in handicap at Market Rasen (23.1f) 44 days ago. Can make his presence felt again.

Form: 512252-

Theatre Legend²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: B S Hughes| T: C Grant| OR: 118

16/1

Winless since early 2021 but he hinted strongly at a revival (on the back of breathing surgery) when fifth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Perth (20.2f) 22 days ago. Well worth considering off 2 lb lower mark.

Form: 7/83335-

Forecasts

Paddys Motorbike (10/3), Dorking Boy (9/2), Captain Morgs (5/1), Monte Cristo (8/1), Alqamar (17/2), Stormy Flight (9/1), Big Bad Bear (10/1), Flash The Steel (14/1), Theatre Legend (16/1), Made For You (22/1), Champagne Well (66/1)

THEATRE LEGEND signalled he's ready to go close again when fifth at Perth and he can capitalise on an attractive mark with Brian Hughes also an eye-catching booking in the saddle. Paddy's Motorbike is another weighted to have a big say, with taking Kempton scorer Dorking Boy also firmly in the picture in an open handicap.