14:20 Aintree

Friday 4 April 2025

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

William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 4m 53.33s

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Selected odds by:

Beacon Edge^b²³

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Danny Gilligan| T: G Elliott| OR: 145| D

40/1

Resumed winning ways at Wetherby in November and has continued in good nick, seventh of 26 in Coral Cup at Cheltenham (21f, good to soft) 23 days ago. Ought to be in the shake-up.

Form: 137247

Impose Toi^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145

7/1

Resumed with victory at Newbury in November and advanced his form in first-time cheekpieces when second of 26 in Coral Cup at Cheltenham (21f) 23 days ago. Can go well with headgear again sported.

Form: 1123-12

Steel Ally⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Dylan Johnston⁽³⁾| T: S Thomas| OR: 144

12/1

Landed 2m3f Haydock handicap in November and went down by only a neck to Nemean Lion in National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell (19.1f, heavy) 40 days ago. Can make his presence felt once more back in handicap company.

Form: 23-21P2

Hansard^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Freddie Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 141

25/1

Winless since bagging the 2023 Gerry Feilden at Newbury but not disgraced in first-time cheekpieces when 13th in County Hurdle at Cheltenham last month. Possibilities.

Form: 15-4830

Western Walk²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Brian Hayes| T: Jonathan Sweeney| OR: 139

28/1

Irish raider won his first 2 races for current yard in the spring of 2023. Lightly raced since and he shaped well after 10 months off when seventh of 16 in 2m3f Naas handicap 26 days ago, fading run-in having travelled strongly. Interesting.

Form: 11/5-427

Favour And Fortune³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 139

12/1

Dual 2m scorer last term but he failed to build on earlier promise when twelfth of 18 in handicap hurdle at Kelso (16.2f, good to soft) 34 days ago. Sort to bounce back though.

Form: 261-640

Be Aware²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 137| BF

9/2

Largely progressive hurdler who has been performing well without winning in big-field handicaps, favourite when just eighth of 26 in Coral Cup at Cheltenham last time. One for the shortlist.

Form: 222-238

Kopeck De Mee²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: M P Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136| BF

8/1

Fair ex-French Flat winner who also scored three times over hurdles there. Well touted and sent off 5/2 on yard debut in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham but raced freely and well held. No surprise to see him bounce back here.

Form: 32-10

Gin Coco^t¹³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry| OR: 133

33/1

Low mileage 8-y-o who failed to build on a good Chepstow second in October when only seventh in 2m Ascot handicap hurdle following month. Has a bit to prove now after a break.

Form: 104-027

Minella Missile²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 131

50/1

A promising novice hurdler (won Grade 2) in 2023 but lightly raced and mainly below par since, 16th in Coral Cup at Cheltenham last time. Needs a huge revival.

Form: 11-9PF0

Serious Operator^t³⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: P W Wadge| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 130| D

40/1

Enhanced good strike rate over hurdles when successful at Kelso (21f) last March. Off since coming in 11th over C&D 11 months ago but still merits respect for his in-form handler.

Form: 791510-

Wreckless Eric²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Kielan Woods| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 130

10/1

Bagged a 2m handicap at Cheltenham in November and has continued on the up, runner-up in 17-runner handicap at Sandown (2m) last month. Very much one to consider.

Form: 1-F1262

Ike Sport^t,p,h1²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 129| D

28/1

Developed into a useful hurdler last season, winning 3 times at around 2½m, but has found life tougher this term, 14th in Coral Cup at Cheltenham last time out. More is required in a first-time hood.

Form: 4F5P40

Wade Out³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 128| D

10/1

Made it 3-5 this season with a career best in 5-runner novice hurdle at Wetherby (19.7f, heavy) 37 days ago. Goes into handicaps with more to offer so needs considering.

Form: 1-12171

Listentoyourheart³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Atkins⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 127

13/2

Bagged her first 3 hurdles, completing hat-trick in Listed novice at Newbury in November. Posted a solid fourth in Grade 2 novice at Kelso (18.1f) last time and should have more to offer now handicapping.

Form: 5-11144

Helnwein³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 127| BF

20/1

In good form without winning over fences this term, undergoing wind surgery before coming in third of 6 in handicap chase at Kelso (17.1f, good to soft) 34 days ago. One to consider back in this sphere.

Form: 21-2443

Tune In A Box^t,p1⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 127| BF

28/1

Scored for fourth time in handicap company at Punchestown (19.5f) last April. Not disgraced this term, fifth of 11 in 3m Haydock handicap in January. Cheekpieces go on now and he's no forlorn hope.

Form: 1-10425

Tintintin^t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 125

10/1

Yet to score this season but he caught the eye when fourth of 17 in 2m handicap hurdle at Sandown 27 days ago, set a lot to do and finishing well. Scored twice last spring and he's weighted to go close nudged up 1 lb.

Form: 354674

Blenkinsop²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Hugh Nugent⁽³⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 123| D

20/1

A four-time handicap scorer (around 2m4f) last season. Only twice raced this term but he recorded a good third of 15 at Uttoxeter (19.9f, soft) 20 days ago. A likely player.

Form: 1118/03

Wellington Arch²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 123

14/1

Dual 2m novice scorer this season who continued on the up on his handicap debut when second of 15 at Uttoxeter (19.9f, soft) 20 days ago. Can make his presence felt again.

Form: 0-21212

Non-Runners

Brentford Hope⁴⁸

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: Harry Derham J: Non Runner

Off The Jury²⁷

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: A King J: Mr D Maxwell

Forecasts

Be Aware (9/2), Listentoyourheart (13/2), Impose Toi (7/1), Kopeck De Mee (8/1), Wade Out (10/1), Wreckless Eric (10/1), Tintintin (10/1), Favour And Fortune (12/1), Steel Ally (12/1), Wellington Arch (14/1), Helnwein (20/1), Blenkinsop (20/1), Off The Jury (20/1), Hansard (25/1), Brentford Hope (25/1), Ike Sport (28/1), Tune In A Box (28/1), Western Walk (28/1), Gin Coco (33/1), Beacon Edge (40/1), Serious Operator (40/1), Minella Missile (50/1)

This is wide open but Fergal O'Brien's TINTINTIN came good last spring and is fancied to build on a recent eye-catching Sandown fourth and open his account for the season. Coral Cup runner-up Impose Toi heads the list of dangers, although a good case can also be made for handicap debutante Listentoyourheart and Irish challenger Western Walk. Off The Jury, Wreckless Eric, Blenkinsop and Wellington Arch also need factoring into this cracking handicap.