Racecards
14:30 Aintree
Betfred Hurdle (Class 2)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £30,000 added
- Winner: £18,768
- 2nd: £5,544
- 3rd: £2,772
- 4th: £1,386
Purple Bay (IRE)
316- Form 2/21712-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 161
- Trainer J P Ferguson
- Jockey B S Hughes
held up, went 3rd before 6th, shaken up before 2 out, soon beaten, hung left and weakened before mistake last, lost 3rd flat
- Form 615/8P0-
- Age 10
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey N de Boinville
made all, ridden after 2 out, not fluent last, pressed briefly flat, stayed on well
- Form 5U-172P
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 154
- Trainer J P Ferguson
- Jockey Tom Cannon
started slowly, held up, left 3rd when hampered 4th, dropped to last before 6th, well beaten from 4 out, went 3rd flat
Royal Boy (FR)
665- Form 123311/
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer Miss R Curtis
- Jockey Paul Townend
took keen hold, tracked winner until fell 4th
- Form 111111/
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 158
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
took keen hold, tracked leading pair before 2nd, left 2nd 4th, loomed up to challenge flat, ridden final 125 yards, no impression
In depth
Verdict
Commissioned is the only one of these to have had a recent run but he was pulled up in a handicap at Market Rasen in September when last seen and has no form over this longer trip. Stablemate Purple Bay looks a better bet though he, too, is stepping up to 2m4f for the first time. He did, however, finish second to Faugheen in the 2014 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, though also has a penalty to carry in this. Royal Boy looked a very smart performer two years ago and won the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle at the start of 2014. He could be interesting if fully wound up but Nicky Henderson brings back top-class chasers Bobs Worth and SIMONSIG for this. The former will surely find this too sharp but the latter will handle ground and trip and is probably the one to beat if anywhere near his best.
Formwatch
Purple Bay (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, went 2nd 2out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Faugheen (11-7) at Kempton 2m (1) gs in Dec.
Bobs Worth (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, weakening when hit 19th, tailed off, 11th of 20, dist behind Just A Par (10-3) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Commissioned (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, not fluent 2nd, ridden and lost place after next, soon in rear, behind when pulled up before 2 out, at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Sep.
Royal Boy (FR) 9-1 (11-7) Tracked leader until 4th, handy 3rd, raced wide on back straight, led before 2 out, joined 2 out, narrowly headed last, hard driven run in, stayed on gamely to regain lead final 50 yards, won at Kempton 2m (1) sft in Jan beating Josses Hill (11-7) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Simonsig 8-15fav (11-7) Raced keenly, tracked leading pair, blundered 9th, went 2nd 4 out, led going well after next, 2 lengths clear last, ridden flat, kept on, won at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar beating Baily Green (11-7) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.