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14:20 Aintree

Friday 14 April 2023

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

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

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 4m 58.57s

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Selected odds by:

Jason The Militant^t³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 146

80/1

Smart hurdler for Henry De Bromhead and also bagged a listed race on the Flat in October 2021. Respectable effort in Cheltenham handicap hurdle in January on yard debut and out of depth in Champion Hurdle there since. Back up in trip.

Form: U7/3-497

The Bosses Oscar^p,t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: A P Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 144| D

40/1

Smart hurdler/chaser who landed 2½m Limerick conditions hurdle in July before resuming from 6 months off with good third in 3m handicap at Musselburgh in January. Below par in Pertemps Final at Cheltenham since, though. Back down in trip.

Form: 421430

Camprond³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Aidan Coleman| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 143| D

17/2

Smart effort to win a big-field handicap at the Punchestown Festival last spring. Very much back to form when close third of 26 in Coral Cup at Cheltenham (21f) last month, shaping better than result after committing for home a touch too soon. Raised 5 lb but still a major player here.

Form: U4B083

No Ordinary Joe²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 143| D

15/2

Made a winning reappearance at Kempton (2m, soft) over Christmas. Better than the result when mid-field in Betfair Hurdle at Newbury next time and back on the up with excellent second (Buddy One third) of 21 in Martin Pipe at Cheltenham (2½m) 4 weeks ago. Much respected.

Form: 13P-192

Captain Conby³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: K M Donoghue| T: E Sheehy| OR: 142| D

8/1

Maiden/novice winner at Punchestown last season and took form to a whole new level when second of 19 in a 19.5f handicap at that venue in December. Travelled well long way when sixth of 26 in Coral Cup at Cheltenham last month. Remains of interest in good handicaps.

Form: 3F-2326

Good Risk At All^t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas| OR: 141| D

12/1

High-end bumper performer who produced a pretty smart performance to land a 2½m Carlisle handicap in the mud on his reappearance in October. Failed to stay 3m at Haydock next time and respectable seventh (albeit behind a couple of these) of 26 in Coral Cup at Cheltenham latest.

Form: 216-167

Dargiannini^t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 138| D

8/1

Fell on chase/yard debut in December but better than ever when winning handicap hurdles around 2½m at Uttoxeter (soft) and Newbury (good to firm) since. This more competitive but he could easily have more to offer for his emerging stable. On the shortlist.

Form: 73P-F11

Molly Ollys Wishes^t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 137| D

33/1

Landed a Wetherby mares' listed hurdle for second year running in October but not in same form since, including only mid-field in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham last month. Others are more obvious.

Form: 8-13520

Martello Sky⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: L Wadham| OR: 137| D

14/1

Useful hurdler who has been consistent in defeat at listed/Graded level this season. Step back up in trip now should suit her and she won off a higher mark at Cheltenham last season. Not discounted.

Form: 17-2223

Jungle Jack^p²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 136| D

20/1

Yet to finish outside of the first 2 in 8 starts over hurdles, resuming winning ways with cheekpieces added (retained) in 7-runner 2½m Bangor handicap last month. This a lot more competitive, though, and he'll need a career best to extend that run of top 2 finishes.

Form: 12-1221

West To The Bridge^p,t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁵⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 136| C| D

50/1

Better than ever when winning a 2½m Sandown handicap in March for the second year running. Might have found the run coming too soon when fading into ninth in Martin Pipe at Cheltenham 10 days later.

Form: 953219

Tritonic⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| OR: 135

22/1

Well-served by strongly-run race when landing valuable Betfair Exchange handicap at Ascot (2m) last winter. As good as ever on the Flat in 2022 (won at Goodwood in October) but has yet to translate that back to hurdles, finishing 11¼ lengths fifth of 16 to Benson in Morebattle at Kelso latest.

Form: 400-985

Buddy One²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: J G Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 135| D

8/1

Progressive hurdler who shaped very well when 1½ lengths third (No Ordinary Joe nose ahead in second) in Martin Pipe at Cheltenham last month, making his effort earlier than ideal and not helping rider by hanging left in the closing stages. One to consider.

Form: 061223

Nells Son^p³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 133

14/1

Useful novice hurdler (won Grade 2) last season. Things haven't really gone to plan since a near miss on his chase debut/reappearance but he did shape a bit better in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham last time, travelling well before fading into eighth.

Form: 4-246F8

Irish Hill²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 133| D

25/1

Progressive when completing a handicap hurdle hat-trick this winter but another rise in the weights found him out in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham. Cobden seemingly prefers Sonigino.

Form: 221110

Sonigino^t⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 133| D

18/1

Looked a different proposition since returning from wind surgery this season, making it 3 wins in 4 starts when just clinging on at Huntingdon (19.5f) in February. Only nudged up another 2 lb but this is a much stronger race.

Form: 55-1181

Fennor Cross³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Ben Harvey⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 133

8/1

Fairly useful handicapper on the Flat who has taken well to hurdling, winning a maiden and Grade 2 over 2m at Cheltenham in the autumn. Found the Supreme too much there last month but more realistic chance now switching to a handicap. Up in trip.

Form: 3110

Pull Again Green^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 132| D

14/1

Useful/progressive form over hurdles last season, winning 3 times. A touch disappointing over fences in the autumn but shaped better back hurdling after a break when fifth of 10 at Kempton (21f, heavy) 4 weeks ago.

Form: 411-345

Harbour Lake²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 132| D

16/1

Won his first 4 completed starts over hurdles and mostly creditable efforts in defeat since, including over C&D. Hard to argue he has much in hand of his mark, though.

Form: 1-134P4

Off Your Rocco^p³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: K E Buckley⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 132

18/1

Won 4 of first 5 starts and looked a smart performer in the making. Hasn't been able to confirm that since returning from a year on the sidelines but he did shape a bit better in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham and sneaks in at the bottom of the weights for a stable with winning form in this race.

Form: 114-800

Non-Runners

Benson³⁰

Weight: 11-7| Age: 8

T: A M Thomson J: Ryan Mania

Playful Saint³⁴

Weight: 11-3| Age: 8

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Forecasts

No Ordinary Joe (15/2), Fennor Cross (8/1), Buddy One (8/1), Dargiannini (8/1), Captain Conby (8/1), Camprond (17/2), Good Risk At All (12/1), Playful Saint (12/1), Nells Son (14/1), Pull Again Green (14/1), Martello Sky (14/1), Harbour Lake (16/1), Benson (16/1), Sonigino (18/1), Off Your Rocco (18/1), Jungle Jack (20/1), Tritonic (22/1), Irish Hill (25/1), Molly Ollys Wishes (33/1), The Bosses Oscar (40/1), West To The Bridge (50/1), Jason The Militant (80/1)

This is ultra competitive. CAMPROND shaped very well in the Coral Cup and could be the answer. No Ordinary Joe and Buddy One are also much respected on the back of excellent placed efforts at the Cheltenham Festival. Harry Derham is starting to make a name for himself in the training ranks and his hat-trick seeking Dargiannini is also on the shortlist along with Imperial Cup third Playful Saint, who could prove suited by this longer trip.