Fast Results

Scores

Racecards

14:55 Aintree

Friday 14 April 2023

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

Poundland Top Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:58 | Winning time: 4m 6.9s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Altobelli⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry| D

12/1

Promising sort who won his sole start in bumpers and is 2 from 2 over hurdles, defying a penalty by a wide margin at Carlisle (19.3f) 53 days ago. Exciting prospect and well worth his place at this level.

Form: 1-11

Found A Fifty⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 147| BF| D

10/3

Runner-up in his only bumper and made an impressive start to life over hurdles when making all in 25-runner maiden at Fairyhouse (2m, soft) in January. Coped well with the step up in grade when just touched off in Naas Grade 2 since and is open to further improvement.

Form: 1-212

Hansard⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 129| BF| D

40/1

Fairly useful Irish bumper winner for Charles O'Brien and made it 2-2 over hurdles for this yard when landing a 12-runner Plumpton novice in January. Proved a let-down when only fifth in the Dovecote won by Rubaud last time, though.

Form: 361-115

Hullnback^t⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 134| D

8/1

Useful bumper winner who confirmed the promise of his hurdling debut given a more positive ride when scoring at Haydock (15.6f) in November. Had plenty in hand when following up at Warwick (2m)10 weeks later and can go on improving now upped in class. Interesting.

Form: 152-211

Inthepocket³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 149| D

3/1

Cost £290,000 after winning his sole point and impressive when landing Wexford maiden hurdle in October. Maintained unbeaten record stepped up in trip/grade at Naas (19.9f) and ran his best race when fourth in the Supreme at the Cheltenham Festival (16.4f) last time. Sets the standard.

Form: 1-1124

Matata^h⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR: 129| D

80/1

Free-going front runner who resumed progress back on a left-handed track when landing 7-runner handicap at Newbury (16.3f, good to firm) 41 days ago, unchallenged. Will find it much harder to dominate a field of this quality, though.

Form: 1-122R1

No Looking Back³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: P T Enright| T: O McKiernan| D

10/1

Bumper winner who made it 2 from 2 over hurdles in a Grade 2 match at Limerick in December. Confirmed himself a useful novice when runner-up in Grade 3 at Naas subsequently and may still have more to offer.

Form: 14-112

Pembroke^t1²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 135| BF| D

33/1

Bumper winner who left hurdles debut form in his wake when landing back-to-back novice contests late last year. Progressed further when second in Cheltenham Grade 2 but failed to justify strong market support in the County at the Festival there 4 weeks ago. Tongue tie on and remains with potential.

Form: 1-71120

Rare Edition³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 138| D

40/1

Successful on his only outing in bumpers and again looked a good prospect in winning his first 3 starts over hurdles, particularly when seeing off subsequent Grade 2 winner Rubaud at Kempton (2m) on Boxing Day. Has disappointed both outings since, though.

Form: 1-1112P

Strong Leader³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 140| C| D

14/1

Looked highly promising in bumpers and impressively made it 3-3 in this sphere in a 2m Southwell novice, quickening clear under hands and heels from home turn. Ran about as well as could have been expected in the Supreme at Cheltenham and has each-way claims.

Form: 121119

Tahmuras³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 139| D

16/1

Point/bumper scorer who created a good impression when winning his first 3 starts over hurdles, including the Grade 1 Tolworth at Sandown, despite still showing signs of inexperience. That form is proving strong but he folded quickly once he came under pressure in the Supreme at Cheltenham.

Form: 21-1110

Luccia²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 138| BF| D

7/2

Looked an excellent prospect in bumpers and made it 2-2 over hurdles in impressive fashion in 6-runner listed event at Exeter (16.7f). Probably a little too keen for her own good when only fourth in Dawn Run at the Cheltenham Festival and remains capable of better.

Form: 11-114

Non-Runners

Colonel Harry⁴¹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: Jamie Snowden J: Non Runner

Rubaud⁴⁸

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: P F Nicholls J: Bryony Frost

Forecasts

Inthepocket (3/1), Found A Fifty (10/3), Luccia (7/2), Hullnback (8/1), No Looking Back (10/1), Altobelli (12/1), Strong Leader (14/1), Rubaud (14/1), Tahmuras (16/1), Colonel Harry (25/1), Pembroke (33/1), Hansard (40/1), Rare Edition (40/1), Matata (80/1)

HULLNBACK was a fine second in a Grade 2 bumper at this meeting 12 months ago and made it 2 from 3 over hurdles when scoring in a good time at Warwick in February, so he's the tentative selection in a very interesting renewal of this Grade 1. Inthepocket unquestionably sets the standard on his excellent fourth in the Supreme, but there's still a strong suspicion he'll be seen in a better light when returning to further. The unbeaten Altobelli, Found A Fifty and Luccia complete the shortlist.