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13:00 Aintree

Saturday 8 December 2018

All11:5512:2513:0013:3014:0514:4015:15

Merseyrail Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:01 | Winning time: 5m 6.6s

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Selected odds by:

Ch'tibello¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Conor Shoemark| T: D Skelton| OR: 143

20/1

Classy Grade One and multiple Grade Two placed hurdler failed to fire this season in three starts although all have come on a sound surface and he arguably prefers softer conditions. Handicap fallen and now gets said ground so much better expected.

Form: 280-569

Midnight Shadow²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Cook| T: Mrs S J Smith| OR: 141

4/1

Caused a major upset when winning the Scottish Champion Hurdle to end last season. Ran well on return off revised mark at Wetherby before finishing down the field in ultra competitive Greatwood. This easier however and softer ground no issue.

Form: 2U71-20

Tawseef³⁵⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 137

33/1

Prolific after joining this yard, winning three hurdle and two flat races. Won last start at Bangor but that almost a year ago. Absence since raises a few doubts and this a tough place to start out so others appeal more.

Form: 123121-

Jetstream Jack^t²²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: J W Kennedy| T: O Murphy| OR: 135| D

12/1

Highly tried and often struggled as a result for Gordon Elliott winning just once over fences where he was campaigned most recently. Less exposed over hurdles so not totally ruled out here on first run for this yard.

Form: 53F/0P5-

Notwhatiam^t¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 135| D

9/1

As many do when joining this yard he seems to have improved of late winning twice over 2m7½f at Uttoxeter and fell when going well in between. 7lb higher now and softer ground but handled that in Ireland and could still be on the up.

Form: U4-01F1

Dubai Angel³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Henry Brooke| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 132

13/2

Had a quite campaign last season running just three times and placing in each. Below that effort on return where last of nine at Carlisle however although faster ground possibly the excuse. Should fare better here and has each-way potential.

Form: 21/332-9

Rainbow Dreamer⁵³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 127

8/1

Dual 2m1½f hurdler winner as a juvenile and subsequently won a decent 2m2f flat race before finishing fourth at Royal Ascot when last seen 18 month ago. Hard to guess at his current fitness but unexposed and off an appealing mark.

Form: 231120/

Jet Set^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 125| BF

18/1

Lightly raced mare got off the mark at the fifth time of asking to end last season when winning easily in a modest race at Huntingdon. Unseated at the first in recent chase debut and now switches back to hurdles in a much tougher contest.

Form: 22F01-U

Uptown Funk¹¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Callum Bewley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 123WS

33/1

One from six over hurdles to date, that win having come at Musselburgh. Beaten a nose penultimately at Cartmel before disappointing more recently. Wind surgery in absence since perhaps explains that run but tough ask here.

Form: 14F-325

Faithful Mount^p⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 122

15/2

Useful hurdler in 2016 but not ran over timber since missing 508 days. Eight runs on the level this season saw gradual improvement and a win over 1m6½f in penultimate start. Hard to gauge now back hurdling but mark here not impossible.

Form: 134F26/

Mahlervous²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: S Bowen| T: W Greatrex| OR: 122

9/4

Lightly raced hurdler ran an excellent race on return when 1L second to potentially very well handicapped Speedo Boy at Cheltenham on good ground. Also handled soft last season so no concerns in that regard and genuine chances here now.

Form: 12U20-2

Forecasts

Mahlervous (9/4), Midnight Shadow (4/1), Dubai Angel (13/2), Faithful Mount (15/2), Rainbow Dreamer (8/1), Notwhatiam (9/1), Jetstream Jack (12/1), Jet Set (18/1), Ch'tibello (20/1), Tawseef (33/1), Uptown Funk (33/1)

Unexposed five-year-old MAHLERVOUS chases home a smart flat horse who looked very well handicapped at Cheltenham on his first run and that effort hinted that there might be more to come so he gets the vote here for Warren Greatrex. Notwhatiam has made rapid progress since joining Dan Skelton and remains on the up so is an obvious danger. Rainbow Dreamer has been off an awfully long time but appeals as a well handicapped horse if his fitness holds up.