14:40 Aintree

Saturday 9 December 2023

All11:1011:4512:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:15

BoyleSports Daily Money Back 2nd Juvenile Hurdle (Listed) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 4m 50.43s

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Selected odds by:

Knight Of Allen²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Mrs J Williams

9/2

Carried out soon after the first on his debut in a Cheltenham Grade 2 last month so this is effectively his first start. Bred for the job.

Form: C

Latin Verse^p¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Reed| T: Anthony Charlton| OR: 108

28/1

Fair Flat winner for Ralp Beckett. Struck at the third time of asking over hurdles in Catterick juvenile 15 days ago (only run for Syd Hosie). More will be needed at this level.

Form: 231

Le Fauve⁸³

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

5/2

Ran a promising first race when narrowly denied by a next-time-out winner in a Bordeaux juvenile in September. Interesting having joined Dan Skelton, particularly if the betting vibes are strong.

Form: 2

Liari⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

11/4

Ran to a fairly useful level in just 3 races on Flat in France for Jean-Claude Rouget and looked a promising recruit to hurdles when scoring at Wincanton (soft) 6 weeks ago. Could be plenty more to come for top yard.

Form: 1

Midnight Lion^t1¹⁵⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: I JardineWS

33/1

Fairly useful Flat winner for Charlie Johnston. An interesting one for juvenile hurdles for new connections but this is a tough starting point. Has had wind surgery (also wears a first-time tongue tie).

Form:

Palio³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: A King

10/1

Fair maiden at up to 1½m on the Flat and translated that ability to hurdles when second at Huntingdon 5 weeks ago, understandably no match for the very talented Burdett Road. A good deal more will be needed at this level.

Form: 2

Max Of Stars⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-10| J: B S Hughes| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 117| D

11/4

Took very well to hurdling in the first half of the season, winning 4 times. Fine second in a fillies' listed juvenile at Newbury 8 days ago. Likely to give it her usual good shot.

Form: 112112

Virginia Lodge¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: C J Todd| T: D Skelton

66/1

Well beaten on Ludlow debut in October but totally different proposition when seeing off 4 rivals at Fakenham 6 weeks later. Probably capable of better again but jockey bookings suggest Le Fauve is the stable first string.

Form: 01

Non-Runners

Eagle Prince²¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 3

T: B Ellison J: Henry Brooke

Galactic Jack¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 3

T: Anthony Charlton J: James Best

Forecasts

Le Fauve (5/2), Liari (11/4), Max Of Stars (11/4), Knight Of Allen (9/2), Eagle Prince (8/1), Palio (10/1), Latin Verse (28/1), Midnight Lion (33/1), Galactic Jack (50/1), Virginia Lodge (66/1)

LIARI drew clear with another promising type when making a successful start to his hurdle career at Wincanton at the end of October and is selected to take the step up in class in his stride. Fellow French recruit Le Fauve is an interesting opponent on his first outing for Dan Skelton. The more-established Max of Stars ran a cracker in listed company among her own sex at Newbury last week and should get involved in the battle for minor honours along with Cheltenham Grade 2 fourth Eagle Prince.