20:05 Aintree

Friday 16 May 2025

All17:1017:4518:2018:5519:3020:0520:40

Liverpool Zoes Place Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 20:05 | Winning time: 3m 55.88s

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Selected odds by:

Lively Citizen^p¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell⁽⁷⁾| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 112| D

11/2

Cashed on drop in the weights returned to chasing at Ayr in January. Not quite at that level next 3 outings but in refitted cheekpieces, he bounced back to form for latest win in 6-runner handicap at Ffos Las 10 days ago (readily). Same mark here over timber.

Form: 71430-1

Bannister²¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁵⁾| T: N Kent| OR: 108| D

18/1

Multiple winner for Tom George and back to form for Nick Kent last year, landing a Market Rasen handicap in September prior to an excellent second back there 3 weeks later. Off 7 months and has no margin for error from this mark.

Form: 7/42512-

Fandabidozi^p,t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: G Hanmer| OR: 107

4/1

Low-grade Flat performer these days but better over hurdles, winning 11-runner handicap at Stratford a year ago and went with plenty of zest when going in against at Bangor last month. Raised 5 lb and gave another good account of himself at latter venue 3 weeks ago. Sean Bowen takes over.

Form: 247/113-

Ravenscraig Castle³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: B S Hughes| T: I Jardine| OR: 107

5/1

Fairly useful stayer on Flat but hasn't won since his 3-y-o days. Has been running with credit in handicap hurdles in recent months but does need everything to fall right given usual tactics.

Form: 242555-

Book Of Tales²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Lily Pinchin| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 107

5/1

Winner on Flat and over hurdles in 2023. Showed he retains his ability when reaching the frame in 3 of 4 hurdles outings since return with his heavy defeat easy-enough to excuse over a trip too far at Wetherby.

Form: 1/2402-

Waspy^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 107

7/1

Winning pointer who hasn't stood much racing, landing the odds in maiden company at Bangor in May 2023. Left Donald McCain after and having undergone wind surgery (also fitted with a tongue tie) he suffered a heavy defeat last month. This should reveal more.

Form: 132F1/P-

Come On Nia⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jay Tidball⁽⁵⁾| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 106| D

6/1

Improved away from the mud when winning back-to-back 2m handicaps early last season and back to form in when fifth in a deep mares' handicap at Newbury (20.5f) in March. Drop in trip far from certain to suit.

Form: 182245-

It's A Love Thing¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 106| BF

14/1

Fairly useful on Flat and much improved over hurdles when justifying support at long odds in a Sedgefield maiden (16.8f) in October 2023. Since added 3 more wins on the level to his CV, recording first success on turf at Pontefract 16 days ago and he's potentially well treated back over timber.

Form: 8P1P/

Aotano^t²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 109| D

20/1

Improved to land a second hurdles success in 2m Doncaster novice handicap in March. That form has been strongly boosted since but raised 8 lb, he never really threatened to follow up at Huntingdon 4 weeks ago.

Form: 153615-

Kingoftheswingerz^p,t⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: H Dickin| OR: 96| D

33/1

Good effort when runner-up on return at Ffos Las in November and cast aside a lesser effort when gaining a breakthrough success in first-time cheekpieces at Huntingdon (15.8f) in February. Held when hampered late on at Wetherby since.

Form: P8/2815-

Natzor^t⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 96

40/1

Fairly useful handicapper at up to 1½m on the Flat for David O'Meara. Showed an aptitude for hurdling when third at Musselburgh in February and while he's been a shade disappointing the last twice, he may well revive now handicapping.

Form: 384-

Trafalgar Square^b,t³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 96| D

16/1

Fair Flat maiden and crucially settled for a change when springing a surprise at Hereford a month ago. Sharp test in his favour and 7 lb rise still leaves him with a lowly mark to work with.

Form: 544391-

Forecasts

Fandabidozi (4/1), Book Of Tales (5/1), Ravenscraig Castle (5/1), Lively Citizen (11/2), Come On Nia (6/1), Waspy (7/1), It's A Love Thing (14/1), Trafalgar Square (16/1), Bannister (18/1), Aotano (20/1), Kingoftheswingerz (33/1), Natzor (40/1)

IT'S A LOVE THING has been in excellent order on the Flat in 2025 and with fitness assured, his hurdles mark looks within range. Trafalgar Square gets a handy 4-y-o allowance and if he settles as well as he did when winningat Hereford a month ago, he'll be bang there again. Of the rest, Natzor is a potential improver on handicap debut.