Racecards
17:30 Aintree
John Smith's HBLB Mares' Only Standard Open NH Flat Race
- 17 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
Gay Gladys
25- Form 21
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer D R C Elsworth
- Jockey R Walford
prominent, lost place under pressure over 6f out, ridden and some headway over 2f out, no impression
- Form 1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer R T Phillips
- Jockey R Johnson
prominent, driven 6f out, soon lost place
- Form 12
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey T Scudamore
led until headed 3f out, one pace final 2f
- Form 1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up, steady headway on inside from 5f out, weakened 3f out
- Form 531
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer Miss S E Forster
- Jockey Mr C Storey
held up towards rear, ridden 6f out, never on terms
- Form 211
- Age 4
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey A Dobbin
mid-division, headway on inside over 5f out, edged right and one pace final 2f
Giovanna
35- Form 211
- Age 4
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer R T Phillips
- Jockey W Marston
held up, headway on outside halfway, kept on same pace final 3f
- Form 6
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey J P McNamara
towards rear, behind final 6f, tailed off final 3f
- Form 4
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Noel T Chance
- Jockey B J Crowley
held up, headway 6f out, weakened 3f out
- Form 12
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
mid-division, steady headway going well from 6f out, led on bit well over 1f out, driven and kept on well final furlong, held on well
- Form 225
- Age 4
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer K G Reveley
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
always prominent, led 3f out, soon ridden, headed well over 1f out, kept on final 2f, closing near finish
- Form 2
- Age 4
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer H Morrison
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up towards rear, headway on outside halfway, ridden over 4f out, soon weakened
- Age 4
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer P J Jones
- Jockey L P Aspell
prominent, not much room over 4f out, soon behind
- Age 4
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey T Doyle
held up towards rear, ridden 6f out, some headway on inside over 3f out, no impression
- Form 4
- Age 4
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey Mr W P Kavanagh
chased leaders until lost place 6f out, weakened quickly, tailed off final 3f
- Form 33
- Age 4
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer Mrs S C Bradburne
- Jockey M Bradburne
tracked leader until lost place 7f out, weakened over 5f out
In depth
Verdict
The vote here goes to Funny Times ahead of Giovanna, Lady Accord, Grenfell and Gay Gladys. Funny Times added to her burgeoning reputation by scoring at Listed level at Sandown last time, and has to rate high on the list of possible winners of this race as that is solid form. Giovanna has done little wrong in three starts to date and rates as fairly useful in this sphere, so has to be seriously considered, while much as she was cheaply acquired, the Willie Mullins-trained Lady Accord, scored well on her debut and warrants serious respect also. Heltornic has seven lengths to find based on Sandown form with the selection, and Richard Phillips, who saddles Giovanna, adds further intrigue to the race by also running Grenfell, who Richard Johnson rides, and she comes here after beating Gay Gladys - who also runs here and has won since - on her debut. The bottom line is that they can both be fancied. Of the others, Hiho Silver Lining showed promise on her Exeter debut and, well-bred, she should improve for that experience, while Supreme Ocean, who is also likeably bred, is another to have shaped with debut promise. Watch the betting with regard to the newcomers but, overall, we are happy enough to side with Funny Times.
Formwatch
Gay Gladys 4-1 Held up rear, ridden 6f out, headway 5f out, stayed on to lead over 1f out, readily, won at Warwick 2m mrs nhf (H) gs in Mar beating What A Vintage by 7l, 18 ran.
Grenfell (IRE) 11-2 Held up in rear, headway halfway, tracked leaders 6f out, led 2f out, held on well under pressure, won at Kempton 2m mdn nhf (H) gs in Mar beating Gay Gladys by 1/2l, 16 ran.
Heltornic (IRE) 5-1 Led, ridden 3f out, headed over 2f out, soon hung left and no extra, 2nd of 18, 7l behind Funny Times at Sandown 2m mrs lst nhf (A) gs in Mar.
Lady Accord (IRE) 6-1 Held up in touch, progress on outer 4f out, close 4th over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on well, won at Thurles 2m mrs nhf hvy in Mar beating Lady Kate Ellen by 2l, 14 ran.
Treasured Memories 20-1 Took keen hold, with leaders, ridden over 2f out, led inside final furlong, driven out, won at Ayr 2m nhf (H) gs in Jan beating Notaproblem by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Funny Times 7-1 Close up, tracked leader over 3f out, led over 2f out, drew well clear over 1f out, easily, won at Sandown 2m mrs lst nhf (A) gs in Mar beating Heltornic by 7l, 18 ran.
Giovanna 6-4fav Held up and keen, headway halfway, led on bit over 2f out, soon quickened clear, readily, won at Ludlow 2m nhf (H) gd in Mar beating Ceoperk by 6l, 18 ran.
Martovic (IRE) 11-4fav Tracked leaders, lost place halfway, never dangerous, 6th of 10, 30l behind Arctic Moss at Sedgefield 2m 1f mrs nhf (H) sft in Jan.
Supreme Ocean (IRE) 10-3 Held up in rear, headway over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 13, 6l behind Classic Quart at Huntingdon 2m mrs nhf (H) gs in Feb.
Senorita Rumbalita 9-4 Took keen hold in touch, driven to lead over 1f out, edged right just inside final furlong, headed final strides, 2nd of 13, hd behind Openide at Cheltenham 1m 4f nhf lst (A) gd in Jan.
Accordello (IRE) 6-4fav Held up mid-division, driven over 5f out, outpaced final 2f, 5th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Cracboumwiz at Huntingdon 2m nhf (H) gd in Mar.
Hiho Silver Lining 2-1fav Held up towards rear, headway 5f out, every chance when badly hampered 2f out, kept on final furlong, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Wishin And Hopin at Exeter 1m 5f 4yo nhf (H) sft in Jan.
Lady Bling Bling Midnight Legend filly out of winning hurdler Slipmatic.
Langdon Lane Overbury filly out of winning chaser Snowdon Lily.
Magical Legend 100-1 In touch, headway 5f out, ridden 3f out, hung badly left final furlong, 4th of 18, 11l behind Noland at Wincanton 2m nhf (H) gs in Mar.
New's Full (FR) Useful filly, half-sister to a French 2m4f claiming chase winner.
Powerlove (FR) 9-4 Tracked leader, ridden over 3f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Arctic Moss at Musselburgh 2m mrs nhf (H) gf in Feb.