Racecards
14:35 Aintree
2 (Class A)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good
- Form 211510
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up mid-division, headway 6th, ridden approaching next, weakened 2 out
- Form 3P1215
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up in touch, behind from 6th, tailed off
Contraband
16- Form 111200
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
led, quickened approaching 3 out, hard ridden and hung left when hit last, caught near finish
- Form 4410
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer B Smart
- Jockey T Scudamore
always behind, blundered 3rd, tailed off from 5th, pulled up before 3 out
- Form 11
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer S Gollings
- Jockey R Thornton
held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and went 2nd next, hard ridden and all out to lead near finish
- Form 212112
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up in mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened next
Fleet Street
17- Form 1313
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on same pace from next
- Form 22512
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
in touch, went 2nd 4 out, soon ridden, one pace from 2 out
Green Tango
29- Form 31211
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey M Bradburne
held up mid-division, hit 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 400361
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer H Manners
- Jockey Mr J A Jenkins
always behind, tailed off from 3 out
- Form 1-112
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey B P Harding
held up, ridden approaching 3 out, headway approaching next, kept on same pace
- Form 00016D
- Age 4
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey T Siddall
with leader until quickly lost place 4 out, pulled up before next
In depth
Verdict
The Paul Nicholls-trained Albuhera disappointed at Cheltenham last time in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and is probably best passed over here in preference for Bold Bishop, who gets the verdict over Fleet Street. The last mentioned is trained by Nicky Henderson and put up a career best effort when third behind Brave Inca in the opener at the Festival meeting. That race may have left its mark on the son of Wolfhound though and we would rather side with Bold Bishop. Jonjo O'Neill's gelding has progressed well since beaten by Bourbon Manhattan on his hurdling debut over course and distance in November and comes here on the back of a fine second to Scorned in the Imperial Cup. The form of that race has worked out well and Bold Bishop is taken to go one better today. Martin Pipe's Contraband disappointed in the Coral Cup last time but may do better on this flatter track, while the undefeated Royal Shakespeare remains open to improvement but takes a step up in class. The Nicky Richards-trained Steppes Of Gold has done little wrong so far and is interesting having missed the Festival, along with Henry Daly's Green Tango who is going the right way. However, Bold Bishop lost no caste in defeat in the Imperial Cup last time and can go one better today.