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Preview
05 April 2008
Aintree Day 3
1.45 Listed Handicap Hurdle
The final day of the Aintree showpiece and it all heads to the
Grand National from now until 4 o'clock and my first tip is to mute
the TV in between races as the over hyping etc from the BBC is sure
to drive the most sane punter mad.
The big yards have enjoyed the best of meetings with a large % of
the winners taken care of and today could well continue that trend.
This isn't a easy start to the card today and Paul Nichols Poquelin
could well hold the key to this race with alight campaign this
season and a very good run to Kings Quay to call on in the early
stage of the season. Song OF Songs travelled superbly well in the
coral cup before not getting up the hill and is very unexposed and
should handle this sharper test well and could take all the beating
from the middle of the handicap.
Hide The Evidence, Heathcote and Kings Quay all have form at the
higher levels of hurdling and set the standards, while Tarlac has
always been regarded as a bit special but has never progressed to
show the talent they thought he had, while Forthright is a decent
spring horse and looks handicapped to go well with the ground
turning into his favour, while Mon Michel should return to form with
good form this time of year and with a interesting booking in Timmy
Murphy.
Verdict - 1st Forthright 2nd Mon Michel 3rd Songs of Song 4th
Poquelin
Advised bet - Forthright 1pt
win @ 25-1 (BF30-1)
2.15 Maghull Novice chase grade
1
A lot have been speculated about Tidal Bay race next season and
after seeing Master Minded in the champion chase and then over
further and step up in trip is likely in the future for this horse
who has been impressive at both Aintree and Cheltenham and even
though a stiffer track seems to get him jumping better he should
take all the beating in this race on a track that has seen
favourites at this meeting hard to win with.
Odds against is a surprise and many must believe he didn't beat
much in the arkle and wont enjoy this sharper test of stamina having
beaten the Royal Sun Alliance winner here over further earlier in
the season. The 2nd in the Arkle may cause more problems front
running at this track as it has proven so far this week that in
chase races those up with the pace haven't been stopping. While
Takeroc has been well talked up since winning at Sandown and is
rivalling Tidal bay at the head of the market, unexposed and from a
yard flying in form at present he could well take the scalp of Tidal
Bay here. Overall it's not a great race and Tidal bay at odds
against looks to be good value.
Verdict - 1st Tidal Bay 2nd Krugutorva 3rd Takeroc 4th Pearce
Rock
Advised bet - Tidal Bay 3pts
win @ 6-4 (BF13-8)
2.50 Aintree Hurdle Grade 1
Over half a mile further then the champion hurdle and has played
a second home to Al Ellie in recent years as he has continually
dominated this race, however he isn't as young as he was and is up
against some improvers in Osana who finished 2nd in the Champion
hurdle and shaped as if this extended trip should suit. A strong
traveller on the bit he finds a lot of the bridle and cant be called
a sole bridle horse anymore and should go close in this race and
holds Straw Bear I feel on form. The danger could well be Afsoun who
finished well in the champion hurdle twice now and is another who
travels strongly in his races.
Kept to hurdles he is sure to be a chaser next season and will no
doubly be favourite for the Arkle at some point I would feel with
Kicks for Free Hemming RSA horse next year. Lounaos has been found
out since improving last season and needs turn around his form,
while Mephistio is a lesser light these days. My Way De Solzan has
yet another code to run under here has been linked with the Ryanair
chase, Gold Cup, Queen mother champion chase and then running in the
World Hurdle. Doesn't seem to stay the trip well enough it is no
surprise to see him dropped in trip here having travelled so
strongly at Cheltenham last time and given the yard form could well
surprise.
Verdict - 1st Afsoun 2nd Osana 3rd Al Allie 4th My Way De Solzan
Advised Bet - Afsoun 3pts win
@ 8-1 (9'sBF)
3.25 Listed handicap hurdle 3M
The staying version of the handicap hurdle and is headed in the
market by the Nichols yard who are currently leading the way in the
trainer and jockey titles at this meeting. Don't Push it has had
enough of chasing for the time being and is reverting to hurdles
again in which he won over at the start of the season and could well
still be handicapped to go well as they try to find the key to this
horse and get the best out of him. Dream Alliance is another to
catch the eye having been a decent hurdler who has lost his way over
fences since being broken by Denman in the Hennessy Gold Cup and is
well weighted near the foot of weights and has to be regarded as
value at 22-1.
Fresh Winter would be a surprising winner if he was to be good
enough to win this, while Hennessy has been hit and miss since
making a decent impression earlier in his career. Superior Wisdom
stayed on well at Chelteham but doesn't look totally straight
forward while chase Copsale Lad just adds further complications to
this hurdle race having been better over hurdles then has sometimes
shown over fences and Mendo should be well suited to this track and
is another who caught the eye in the coral cup.
Reel charmer and Backboard both go well this season and Gustavo
is interesting turned out quickly for a shrewd yard, but it is a
trappy handicap made up of what if and isn't the ideal warm up race
for the national.
Verdict - 1st Dream Alliance 2nd Mendo 3rd Don't Push it 4th
Backboard
Advised bet - Dream
Alliance 1pt win @ 20-1 (BF24's)
Well Chief
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