Racecards
15:45 Aintree
Martell Cognac Fox Hunters' Chase (Class B)
- 25 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f 110y
- Going: Good
- Form PP5422
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer D Forster
- Jockey Mr J J Codd
close up, mid-division when hampered 10th, fell 12th (Canal Turn)
- Form 1-113PU
- Age 13
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer M Roberts
- Jockey Mrs J Gordon
towards rear, mistake 1st, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
Blyth Brook
20- Form P-11P1P
- Age 12
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer W Reed
- Jockey Mr R Morgan
chased leaders, led 6th, headed 8th, disputing 2nd when fell 10th (Bechers)
- Form 02-2341
- Age 9
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer Mrs C Gorman
- Jockey Mr M Gorman
in touch until behind from 10th (Bechers)
- Form 61P302
- Age 11
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Mr E Williams
with leaders, went 2nd 4 out, ridden and weakened after next
- Form 312423
- Age 12
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer Major General C Ramsay
- Jockey Mr W B Ramsay
always behind, tailed off from 9th
- Form 1/2P-33P
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer S Parkyn
- Jockey Mr G Barfoot-Saunt
in touch, fell 10th (Bechers)
- Form 221P/41
- Age 11
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer R Wernham
- Jockey Mr S Morris
chased leaders, in touch when fell 10th (Bechers)
- Form 25/112-3
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer R Ford
- Jockey Mrs C Ford
prominent, pecked 2nd, led 8th, ridden clear approaching 2 out
- Form 242313
- Age 11
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Miss A Goschen
towards rear, behind when brought down 10th (Bechers)
- Form F/P1P6-1
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer D Keane
- Jockey Mr J A Jenkins
prominent, mistake 11th, went 2nd 3 out, soon ridden, weakened last
- Form 5/0162-P
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer H Thompson
- Jockey Miss T Jackson
prominent to 4th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up
- Form 143656
- Age 12
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Miss C Tizzard
chased leaders, in touch when unseated rider 12th (Canal Turn)
- Form 165-316
- Age 9
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer M Roberts
- Jockey Mr C Gordon
led to 2nd, remain close up, led again 4th, headed 6th, chasing leaders when pecked 10th, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 31P1P2
- Age 9
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer Mrs A M Thorpe
- Jockey Mr R Stephens
mid-division, hampered 10th, soon behind
Master Jock
11- Form 421U41
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer P Jones
- Jockey Mr G Hanmer
always towards rear
Mr Mahdlo
12- Form 3P-P113
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer R D E Woodhouse
- Jockey Mr B Woodhouse
towards rear, jumped slow and left throughout, tailed off when pulled up before 8th
- Form P34101
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer D Lowe
- Jockey Miss S Phizacklea
always behind, unseated 8th
Royal Barge
19- Form 4143-02
- Age 14
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer G Barber
- Jockey Mr Marc Barber
jumped right throughout, always behind, tailed off from 9th
- Form 6/30-001
- Age 12
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer Mrs D Grissell
- Jockey Mr P G Hall
chased leaders, blundered 15th, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 003/11-1
- Age 11
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer D Easterby
- Jockey Mr T Greenall
mid-division, steady headway 11th, ridden approaching 3 out, went 2nd approaching last, kept on, no chance with winner
- Form P/FU6-U1
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Mr N Williams
mid-division, brought down 10th (Bechers)
- Form 21U4-20
- Age 13
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Miss P Gundry
chased leaders, led 2nd to 4th, in touch, hit 11th, hampered next, outpaced 5 out, kept on from 2 out, no impression
- Form 65-2113
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer Mrs S Alner
- Jockey Ms D Harding
mid-division, behind when slightly hampered 10th, never dangerous
In depth
Verdict
There are plenty in with chances in the Fox Hunters' Chase, but we will side with Silence Reigns over Gun'N Roses, Sikander A Azam, Irbee and, possibly, The Butterwick Kid. The Paul Nicholls-trained 10-year-old is a useful recruit to the hunter chase ranks and, after falling at the last when set to score at Fontwell in March, quickly made amends in first-time blinkers at Newbury five days later. The blinkers are retained today and, with a good rider booked, he can go well. Gun'N Roses has also attained a good rating over fences and judged on the way he romped home at Haydock on February 14, he can go well under the course chairman's son, Tom Greenall. Sikander A Azam also looks primed to run a good race following his Ascot success, while Irbee remains pretty consistent and ran well when fourth in this race last year. Turning to the others. Torduff Express won this race in 2002 but looks held by Gun'N Roses based on their Haydock runs in February, and Cape Stormer, Forest Gunner, Itsmyturnnow and The Butterwick Kid have showed enough recently to suggest they will give supporters a run for their money. This race is, once again, set to provide a huge crowd with a marvellous spectacle over the National fences and, hopefully, fill their pockets by virtue of a very good run from Silence Reigns.