Racecards
16:55 Aintree
Citroen C4 Picasso Mersey Novices' Hurdle (grade 2) (Class 1)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £55,000 added
- Form 4-42F11
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey A Dobbin
held up, headway on inside after 5th, disputed 2nd 3 out, ridden and switched left before 2 out, 3rd and beaten when not fluent last
- Form 2-11122
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey P J Brennan
always prominent, not fluent 7th, led approaching 3 out, ridden before 2 out, strongly pressed when left in control last, stayed on well
Carlitos
20- Form 123601
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey T Scudamore
held up in touch, pushed along and lost place after 5th, no danger after
- Form 312
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer E McNamara
- Jockey D N Russell
held up towards rear, headway on inside after 8th, ridden and chasing leaders 3 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 63
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey M Bradburne
held up, blundered 2nd, struggling and behind when mistake 8th
Jass
71- Form 13-1232
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer K G Reveley
- Jockey P Kinsella
held up, behind and struggling when mistake 8th
- Form 25F
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey J M Maguire
led, not fluent 5th, ridden headed and weakened approaching 3 out, well behind when mistake 2 out, tailed off
- Form 1122
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
chased leader until mistake 6th, ridden after 8th, struggling when mistake 3 out
My Petra
27- Form 11140
- Age 4
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
took keen hold in mid-division, headway 4th, ridden and weakened after 3 out
In depth
Verdict
Liberate's second in the Triumph gives him outstanding claims in this smaller field and he is taken to get his head back in front at the main expense of Nicky Richards' Bedlam Boy, Tidal Bay and Wins Now. The selection has now been beaten on his last two runs but neither has been through lack of effort and Philip Hobbs four-year-old could prove hard to beat today. This flat track should prove right up his alley as he has run well around Kempton before, and with the step up in trip thought to be no problem, he should go close. My Petra gets weight from the whole field and certainly should not be discarded lightly on ground that she handles well. Bedlam Boy steps up in class after two convincing victories, however those came on softer ground and he may be outpaced on today's quicker ground when the race hots up. Carlitos has his ground today and could be a joker in the pack, whilst Howard Johnson's Tidal Bay is very consistent but is yet to race on ground this fast. Leave him out of calculations at your peril, however for the winner we will return to Liberate to make the most of his weight-for-age allowance and get his head back in front.
Formwatch
Bedlam Boy (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders and keen, led 3 out, clear approaching last, stayed on well, won at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb beating Storymaker (10-0) by 8l, 7 ran.
Tidal Bay (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Took keen hold, held up, steady headway 3 out, chased leading pair after 2 out, went 2nd soon after last, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Wichita Lineman (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Carlitos 25-1 (11-5) Led, headed approaching 2 out, weakened rapidly, 6th of 11, 32l behind Wichita Lineman (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Larkwing (IRE) 7-4fav (11-6) Chased leaders, closed 6 out, mistake next, challenged and disputed lead straight, headed and kept on same pace from last, 2nd of 17, 3/4l behind Holly Tree (11-2) at Limerick 2m 4f nov hdl gs.
Wins Now 5-4fav (11-12) Mid division, progress into 4th 4 out, disputed lead next, soon ridden, led before last, kept on well run-in, won at Cork 2m 2f hdl sft in Jan beating Franklins Trail (11-12) by 2l, 10 ran.
Khachaturian (IRE) 0th of 41, 0.0000 behind Alqaab at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Liberate Held up mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, no impression on winner when bumped last, 0th of 41, 0.0000 behind Alqaab at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
My Petra Held up towards rear, never in contention, 0th of 41, 0.0000 behind Alqaab at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.