Racecards
17:00 Aintree
John Smith's Handicap Hurdle (conditionals/amateurs) (Class 2)
- 21 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £40,000 added
- Form 560-405
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer Mrs L J Mongan
- Jockey Harry Skelton
prominent, led approaching 5th, headed 3 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 4P-6217
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey A Glassonbury
held up, ridden after 6th, always in rear, tailed off
- Form U13125
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Charlie Huxley
held up, pushed along before 3 out, never dangerous
- Form 4-14102
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey R P McLernon
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, mistake 2nd, struggling 3 out, no chance when hampered last
- Form 224214
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer Mrs A M Thorpe
- Jockey Mr P J Tolman
held up, headway approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out
- Form 5-34160
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey C I Gillies
prominent, pushed along after 5th, ridden before 3 out, ran on under pressure flat, led near finish
- Form 70512U
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer R C Guest
- Jockey M O'connell
mid-division, stayed on from last, never troubled leaders
- Form 0/1461-2
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
mid-division, ridden after 6th, soon lost place, tailed off
- Form 3-72300
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey R J Killoran
refused to race, took no part
- Form 113211
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
tracked leaders, raced keenly, challenged going well from 3 out, no extra flat
- Form 1-11409
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer J M Jefferson
- Jockey J Halliday
tracked leader, led 3rd to 4th, led 3 out, wandered flat, headed near finish
- Form 2F492F
- Age 9
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer W Coltherd
- Jockey Harry Haynes
led, jumped left 1st, mistake and headed 3rd, led 4th to 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 402813
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey Mr P Toole
held up towards rear, hit 4th, headway approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out
- Form 102113
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Flint
held up towards rear, effort when jumped left 2 out, soon weakened
- Form 331541
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 125
held up in rear, headway after 6th, tracking leaders going well before 3 out, hanging left before last, stayed on flat
- Form B83100
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey J Kington
held up, always towards rear
- Form 121042
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey J W Farrelly
held up towards rear, headway 6th, weakened 2 out
- Form 2-22211
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Felix de Giles
raced keenly, in touch, mistake 2nd, lost place approaching 6th, never in contention after
- Form 22-2931
- Age 5
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey Mr G Hawkins
held up, headway 6th, ridden from 3 out, stayed on same pace last
- Form 2/141-PP
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey B Wharfe
prominent, pulled hard, hit 3rd, lost place and mistake 6th, behind when fell last
- Form F403F4
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Paul Benson
in touch, hit 6th, weakened after 3 out
- Form 223-21
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey James Reveley
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
OLDRIK's progression may not have finished just yet and preference is for Phillip Hobbs' runner ahead of Fairyland, Seven Is My Number and Qozak. The moderate pace worked against the selection when he finished third last time out but he looks sure to get the strong tempo he needs today. Although his mark has climbed to 125, he has a good jockey aboard and he looks sure to run well. Stablemate Hot Diamond was a good winner last time and is another for the shortlist, along with Awesome George who goes well for Charlie Huxley and also recent winners Fushe Jo and Joe Jo Star. Fairyland is a progressive individual whose form looks solid and her latest win was emphatic, whilst Seven Is My Number was given a lot to do last time out when beaten at Sandown and must be of interest if given a more positive ride by his excellent young jockey who gets the leg-up today. Qozak comes here chasing a hat-trick and this ex-French bumper horse knows how to win. He enters handicaps off a mark of 127 after a comprehensive odds-on win last time and must be of interest, but in one of the hardest races of the week it is Oldrik who is nominated.
Formwatch
Alsadaa (USA) 50-1 (11-6) Chased leader 4th, ridden before 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 19, 15l behind Dave's Dream (10-13) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gd in Mar.
I Have Dreamed (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Towards rear, ridden and some headway approaching 2 out, 7th and no chance when blundered last, 7th of 19, 23l behind Dave's Dream (10-13) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gd in Mar.
Awesome George 5-2fav (11-7) Hit 1st, chased leaders, effort under pressure approaching 2 out, weakened soon after, 5th of 9, 11l behind Ronaldo Des Mottes (10-12) at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (3) sft in Feb.
Stradbrook (IRE) 66-1 (10-1) Held up behind, headway when hit 2 out, soon ridden, ran on well, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 27, 11l behind American Trilogy (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Nortonthorpe Lad (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, blundered 2 out, ridden and headway soon after, finished strongly from last, 4th of 27, 15l behind American Trilogy (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Culcabock (IRE) 50-1 (10-6) Led until 2nd, chased leaders, weakened after 2 out, 17th of 27, 37l behind American Trilogy (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
European Dream (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) In mid-division when mistake and unseated rider 3rd, in a race won by Dave's Dream (10-13) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gd in Mar, 19 ran.
Seven Is My Number (IRE) 7-2fav (10-3) Held up in rear, badly hampered on inside on bend well before 2 out, headway soon after, stayed on well approaching 2 out, went 2nd before last, never any chance to reach winner, 2nd of 19, 7l behind Dave's Dream (10-13) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gd in Mar.
Doubly Guest 100-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, blundered 6th, weakened next, last of 27, well behind Ninetieth Minute (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Qozak (FR) 1-4fav (11-9) Chased leader, led 5th, went clear after 3f out, shaken up approaching last, comfortably, won at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Feb beating Postmaster (11-10) by 7l, 13 ran.
Issaquah (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 7th, well there 2 out, weakened before last, 9th of 21, 25l behind Quevega (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) gs in Mar.
Tartan Snow 5-4fav (11-0) Chased leaders, blundered 9th, jumped left from 3 out, 2 lengths down in 3rd when fell last, in a race won by La Pantera Rosa (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 5f beg chase (4) hvy in Mar, 7 ran.
Red Admiral (USA) 15-2 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway into 4th and ridden 2 out, no impression on leaders when left 3rd last, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Secret Tune (11-6) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Oldrik (GER) 11-2 (10-13) Held up in rear, headway on inside 3 out, every chance approaching last, no extra flat, 3rd of 9, 3 1/2l behind I Have Dreamed (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Feb.
Joe Jo Star 4-5fav (11-8) Held up towards rear, smooth headway to track leaders 4 out, led soon after 2 out, soon clear and in command, won at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Mar beating Bedizen (11-8) by 8l, 7 ran.
Gloucester 80-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden to lead briefly approaching last, weakened flat, 10th of 27, 23l behind American Trilogy (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Mutual Friend (USA) 6-1 (10-12) Held up in last pair, travelling well behind leaders appproaching 2 out, ridden and hung left soon after, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Secret Tune (10-8) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Feb.
Fairyland (GER) 1-4fav (11-2) Chased clear leader until approaching 2nd, closed and 2nd again after 4th, mistake next, challenged 3 out, led after 2 out, drew clear flat, easily, won at Ludlow 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Markila (11-5) by 5l, 5 ran.
Hot Diamond 8-11fav (11-1) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, led approaching last, ran on well flat, won at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar beating Mount Helicon (10-7) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Kempley Green (IRE) 28-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, some headway approaching 3 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Princess Flame (10-10) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Dec, 13 ran.
Mohayer (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, driven and no extra from last, 4th of 9, 13l behind Spanish Conquest (9-9) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Fushe Jo 9-1 (10-12) Mid-division, smooth headway on bit from 3 out, led last, pushed clear, comfortably, won at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Limbo King (10-12) by 3l, 18 ran.