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14:25 Aintree

Saturday 10 April 2021

All13:4514:2515:0015:3516:1517:1518:20

Betway Mersey Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 4m 55.36s

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Selected odds by:

Adrimel^p,t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: T Lacey| OR: 142

25/1

Useful bumper winner who won his first 3 starts over hurdles, including Warwick Grade 2 in gutsy fashion (2m5f) in January. Folded quickly from 2 out at Cheltenham but remains a useful prospect.

Form: 10-111P

Ballyadam²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 148

11/4

Smart hurdler who landed Royal Bond in November and back on the up when second to Appreciate It at Leopardstown in February. Ran below that level in Supreme but can still be a big factor here.

Form: 1-11422

Dreal Deal^t⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D F O'Regan| T: R McNally| OR: 145

7/1

Improving in leaps and bounds this term, sweeping past the whole field in the latter stages to complete the 4-timer in Moscow Flyer Novices' Hurdle at Punchestown last time. Not taken lightly.

Form: 80-1111

Guard Your Dreams²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR: 135

28/1

Progressive type who made a winning handicap debut at Sandown in January. Not seen to best effect in the Betfair Hurdle and Coral Cup at Cheltenham since but this asks for more.

Form: 141167

Jay Bee Why⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 136

28/1

Irish point winner who has shown useful form in winning 2 of his 3 starts over hurdles at up to 21f. Remains unexposed and looks an interesting runner.

Form: 10-151

Llandinabo Lad⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: David Bass| T: T Symonds| OR: 141| BF

16/1

Quickly surpassed his bumper form in winning his first 2 starts over hurdles. Good second to My Drogo in Kennel Gate, but ran poorly in Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle at Haydock last time.

Form: 22-1125

Lucky One^h³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 143

50/1

Free-going front runner who doubled his tally with a dominant display in 2m novice at Wincanton in February. Found it harder to boss stronger opposition in Grade 2 won by My Drogo at Kelso, though.

Form: 721315

Minella Drama^h⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 143

12/1

Signs of temperament but that hasn't stopped him winning 3 of his 4 starts since finishing second to Llandinabo Lad on his Bangor hurdling debut. Remains one to be positive about despite his quirks.

Form: 2-21121

My Drogo³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 150

5/4

Good looking son of Milan who is unbeaten over hurdles, conceding weight to all in emphatic fashion in Grade 2 at Kelso (18.1) 35 days ago. Sets the standard and capable of better still.

Form: 2111

Pipesmoker⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 135| BF

25/1

Showed useful form when placed both starts in novice hurdles last season and did enough to suggest all his ability is intact when third in 2m novice at Sandown on return. Remains with potential.

Form: 232-3

Straw Fan Jack²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Jones| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 134| BF| C| D

40/1

Progressed nicely over hurdles before the turn of the year, defying a penalty by a wide margin at this course. Ran to a similar level back form a break at Kempton but has more on his plate now.

Form: P-F1212

Striking A Pose²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 128

80/1

Irish point winner who was suited by step up to 21.4f when making winning handicap bow at Wincanton. Defied a penalty with ease back in a novice at Exeter but pulled up in EBF Final at Sandown latest.

Form: 1-3311P

Non-Runners

Ballybegg⁵²

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: Kerry Lee J: Non Runner

Forecasts

My Drogo (5/4), Ballyadam (11/4), Dreal Deal (7/1), Minella Drama (12/1), Llandinabo Lad (16/1), Ballybegg (20/1), Adrimel (25/1), Pipesmoker (25/1), Guard Your Dreams (28/1), Jay Bee Why (28/1), Straw Fan Jack (40/1), Lucky One (50/1), Striking A Pose (80/1)

MY DROGO maintained his unbeaten record over hurdles when conceding weight all around in an excellent time at Kelso last month and, with the prospect of more to come now stepping up to 2½m in this Grade 1, he's strongly fancied to strike again. Ballyadam wasn’t at his best when a distant second in the Supreme but his previous form entitles him to respect, with the thriving Dream Deal also feared.