Racecards
17:30 Aintree
John Smith's Handicap Hurdle (listed) (Class 1)
- 22 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £50,000 added
Acambo (GER)
61- Form 350-11P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
held up, ridden and headway 4 out, one pace from next
- Form 2-12F40
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer James Joseph Mangan
- Jockey D N Russell
held up, ridden and weakened after 4 out
- Form 235211
- Age 9
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer Dr R D P Newland
- Jockey S P Jones
mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon outpaced
Self Defense
61- Form 06-1560
- Age 10
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey R Thornton
held up, ridden and weakened from 4 out
- Form 09206-9
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
chased leaders, ridden and lost place from 6th
- Form 3-11238
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey D Elsworth
held up mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 4-0313P
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
in rear, struggling from 5th, tailed off
- Form 341671
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey T J O'Brien
led, headed after 2nd, remained close up, led 4 out, ridden after 2 out, 7 lengths clear when fell last
- Form 2421F1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Mr Sam Waley-Cohen
held up in touch, chased leader approaching 3 out, seven lengths down in 2nd when left in lead last, no extra when headed towards finish
- Form 31-9421
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer K G Reveley
- Jockey R McGrath
always behind, struggling after 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
Gods Token
27- Form 6119-20
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey L Treadwell
held up in touch and keen, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on well from last, just failed
- Form 110/1-32
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
in touch, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
- Form 59-6323
- Age 5
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer E McNamara
- Jockey A P McCoy
mid-division, headway after 4 out, weakened approaching next
- Form 2U-8509
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey N D Fehily
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on to lead towards finish, just held on
Roll Along (IRE)
104- Form 1/11-113
- Age 7
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer C Llewellyn
- Jockey Paul Moloney
held up, weakened from 7th, tailed off
- Form 944253
- Age 6
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 120
held up in rear, pushed along halfway, headway 4 out, no impression
- Form 7124-PP
- Age 5
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer T P Tate
- Jockey J M Maguire
chased leaders, weakened 4 out
- Form 11101/1
- Age 9
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer L Lungo
- Jockey B P Harding
held up in touch and keen, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, one pace from next
- Form 623312
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey G Lee
led after 2nd, headed 4 out, ridden approaching next, kept on
- Form F31136
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Gerard Tumelty
chased leaders, weakened after 4 out
- Form 1-33360
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Harry Skelton
chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 0387
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer K F O'Brien
- Jockey G T Hutchinson
held up behind, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
In depth
Verdict
An open affair to end the day with and the tentative vote goes to Shatabdi, although a lengthy shortlist includes Burntoakboy, Acambo and Kicks For Free. Nicky Henderson's five-year-old has to prove that he handles the quicker ground conditions however if he does he could be a force to reckon with as he has won two of his last three starts in effortless fashion (fell on the other occasion). The stable are in consistently decent form and with this flat track expected to suit, he must have solid claims in an open contest. Acambo was pulled-up when last seen but that was on soft ground and with drying conditions very much in his favour, he must be a danger although the step up in trip is not sure to suit. Flying Falcon certainly has claims based on his good second last time out and looks the pick of the Venetia Williams-trained pair. Maharba Million must be of interest for the in-form Mr McCoy however the drying ground is a worry, whilst Laouen has won seven of his last ten and must rate a live danger off his feather-weight. Burntoakboy has won his last two, the latter a similar contest to this at Cheltenham. Always travelling well, he quickened up well up the hill to win in taking fashion and must have claims today, although a 12lb higher mark makes life tricky. Kicks For Free was beaten less than a length in last-year's bumper and progressive since, he must have solid claims on ground that he likes and with the step up in trip expected to suit. Into The Shadows and Roll Along are two others to consider, however for the winner we will return to Shatabdi to small stakes.
Formwatch
Acambo (GER) 11-2 (11-12) Mid-division on inside, headway 5th, effort 3 out, weakened quickly. pulled up before last pulled up in race won by Heathcote (10-6) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb, 20 ran.
Burntoakboy Held up in touch, went prominent when not fluent 5th, led 3 out, kept on strongly from 2 out, 0th of 76, 0.0000 behind Absolut Power at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Kicks For Free (IRE) 4-6fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, chased winner soon after 3 out, ridden and no impression when lost 2nd 2 out, weakened, 3rd of 8, 26l behind De Soto (11-8) at Kempton 2m nov hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Shatabdi (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders, led 4th, in command and going well 2 out, soon clear, kept on strongly run-in, won at Kempton 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb beating Mendo (11-2) by 9l, 5 ran.
Into The Shadows 7-2 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, shaken up to lead approaching last, stayed on well, eased near finish, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec beating Totally Scottish (10-4) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Flying Falcon 0th of 76, 0.0000 behind Absolut Power at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Two Miles West (IRE) 0th of 76, 0.0000 behind Absolut Power at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Roll Along (IRE) 0th of 76, 0.0000 behind Absolut Power at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.