Racecards
17:30 Aintree
St Austell Brewery Mersey Novices' Hurdle (Class A)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Mildmay & Hurdles Course Good, Grand National Course Gd, G/F
- Form 21112D
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey B J Geraghty
with leader, led 4th, one length up when fell 3 out
Puntal (FR)
22- Form 122010
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
led to 4th, remained prominent, pushed along 6th, ridden and weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Korelo (FR)
22- Form 314115
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
held up in midfield, ridden and weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
- Form 1-161
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer P Doyle
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
towards rear, pushed along and some headway approaching 4 out, soon ridden and no impression
Skibb (IRE)
18- Form 301443
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer M F Morris
- Jockey D J Casey
held up in touch, ridden and weakend after 4 out, left remote 4th 2 out, no impression
- Form 1-3210
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Miss H Knight
- Jockey J Culloty
midfield, headway approaching 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, behind when pulled up before next
Julies Boy (IRE)
102- Form 5P-102
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey J M Maguire
behind from halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
- Form 1-3442
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
held up in touch, headway approaching 4 out, close up when hampered next, soon led, ran on well
Sh Boom
22- Form 1-11215
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey G Lee
tracked leaders, reminder 6th, soon pushed along, ridden and weakened 4 out, tailed out when pulled up before next
- Form 111135
- Age 4
- Weight 10-10
towards rear, struggling 5th, no danger
- Form 221-301
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer Kevin Francis O'Donnell
- Jockey C F Swan
held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, effort when hampered next, left 3rd and hampered 2 out, no impression
- Form 155420
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer M O'Connor
- Jockey C O'Dwyer
in touch, pushed along 6th, ridden and weakened next
- Form 411221
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
held up in midfield, headway and in touch 5th, left in lead 3 out, headed before next, one paced approaching last
- Form F34041
- Age 4
- Weight 10-2
held up in rear, headway 7th, pushed along after 4 out, effort next, close 3rd when fell 2 out
In depth
Verdict
Coolnagorna will be attempting to gain compensation for being thrown out at Cheltenham, but with the ground continuing to dry out, conditions for him will be far from ideal. One time Champion Hurdle hope Puntal has plenty to prove now and there appears no obvious reason why he should beat Coolnagorna, having finished well behind him at the festival. In fact the latter's stablemate Sh Boom looks to have as good a chance as any. A progressive individual he has every chance of reversing the form with Coolnagorna on these terms and unlike his stablemate, will not mind the ground. Crystal D'Ainay impressed when a wide margin winner at Uttoxeter last month and if handling this faster ground, isn't without hope, while others to consider include Friend's Amigo and Best Mates brother Inca Trail, who has plenty to live up to.