Racecards
14:20 Aintree
Betway Top Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 2m 103y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £100,000 added
- Winner: £56,130
- 2nd: £21,110
- 3rd: £10,550
- 4th: £5,270
- Form 3-11341
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer I Jardine
- Jockey Ross Chapman
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out where untidy, challenged 2 out, upsides winner between last 2, no impression flat but kept on, lost 2nd towards finish
- Form 3P1-120
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
in rear, pushed along in last after 4th, modest 10th 2 out, stayed on from between last 2, closing on 4th towards finish but well held by front trio
- Form 2F4121
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Joshua Moore
held up in mid-division, closed 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, soon beaten, well behind when pulled up before last
- Form 1-15211
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 149
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, challenged 3 out, soon ridden, unable to go with front pair from 2 out, lost 4th when weakening last
- Form 32-2212
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey Mark Walsh
led until after 1st, tracked leader, led narrowly after 4 out, headed after 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 11-2320
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer K Woollacott
- Jockey R Johnson
held up in touch in mid-division, closed from 5th, challenged 3 out, soon led, pressed between last 2, found more and starting to pull away last, edged left and driven flat, stayed on well
- Form 7-1222U
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey Danny Cook
mid-division, shuffled back through field when not much room on bend before 3 out, plugged on from 2 out, no impression
- Form 2-21100
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey D N Russell
held up in touch in mid-division, headway to track leaders 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon one pace and inclined to edge left, took modest 4th from last
- Form 36-11P3
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey N D Fehily
led after 1st, mistake 4th, headed narrowly after 4 out, still every chance 3 out, weakened next
- Form 2
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
took keen hold, held up in rear, shaken up before 3 out, soon beaten
- Form 1-1145F
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey H Cobden
held up towards rear on outside, took keen hold, ridden and beaten before 3 out
- Form 1-34216
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey R M Power
mid-division, pushed along and closed when unsighted and jumped right 3 out, stayed on flat, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner
- Form 3-1142
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey N de Boinville
tracked leaders, hit 5th, not fluent next, ridden and weakening when hampered on bend before 3 out, pulled up before 3 out
- Form 13420
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer H Whittington
- Jockey S Bowen
NonRunner
- Form 12112P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer P Atkinson
- Jockey Henry Brooke
NonRunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Global Citizen is likely to be a short-priced favourite having won a Grade 2 at Kempton in February by nine lengths. But the second that day, SCARLET DRAGON, could represent more value. A 100-plus performer over middle-distances on the Flat, Alan King’s novice was making his hurdling debut at Kempton and was rather caught on his heels when the winner made his move. With that experience under his belt, he has the potential to considerably close the gap between the pair today. Impact Factor has some solid form in Ireland and was only caught close home in a Grade 2 at Naas on his latest start - it will be a surprise if Jessica Harrington’s six-year-old is not in the firing-line. Vision Des Flos’ stable won this last year but he drops back to 2m after a good run behind Samcro in the Ballymore at Cheltenham. No four-year-old has won this in 10 years but Fred Winter runner-up Style De Garde represents the yard that’s won this five times since 2010. Irish Roe and Lalor are better than they showed in the Betfair Hurdle but are possibly not up to this level.
Formwatch
Bedrock 4-9fav (12-1) Tracked leaders on inside, led going well 3 out, clear next, very easily, won at Musselburgh 2m 3f (4) gs in Mar beating Jesse Jude (11-1) by 8l, 5 ran.
Coolanly (IRE) 100-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, hit 6th, lost place 3 out, behind and weakened from next, 12th of 14, dist behind Samcro (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Mar.
Distingo (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Tracked leading pair, 2nd 3 out, led last, came clear run-in, won at Kempton 2m (4) gs in Mar beating Lord Duveen (11-0) by 3 3/4l, 8 ran.
Global Citizen (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Led to 2nd, tracked leader, led again next, made rest, drew clear approaching 2 out, shaken up between last 2, driven out, stayed on well, impressive, won at Kempton 2m (1) gd in Feb beating Scarlet Dragon (11-2) by 9l, 10 ran.
Impact Factor (IRE) 5-2jfav (11-4) Led and quickly clear, reduced advantage 3 out, ridden after 2 out, joined at last, kept on under pressure run-in, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Hardline (11-7) at Naas 2m (1) sft in Feb.
Lalor (GER) 14-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, weakened soon after, 13th of 24, dist behind Kalashnikov (11-5) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) sft in Feb.
Midnight Shadow 1-4fav (11-6) Tracked leader, carried out after 3rd on paddock bend, unseated rider, at Haydock 2m (3) sft in Mar.
Mind's Eye (IRE) 66-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, outpaced before 2 out, never near leaders, weakened approaching last, 10th of 14, 35 1/4l behind Samcro (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Mar.
Ornua (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Led before 1st, joined and disputed entering entering straight, ridden and headed before last, 3rd from last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 7 1/4l behind Campeador (11-12) at Punchestown 2m Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Scarlet Dragon 13-2 (11-2) Raced keenly, held up behind, blundered 3rd, headway before 2 out, went 2nd between last 2, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 9l behind Global Citizen (11-2) at Kempton 2m (1) gd in Feb.
Slate House (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway after 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, ridden and one pace between last 2, well held when fell last, at Cheltenham 2m (1) hvy in Mar.
Vision Des Flos (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, challenged when not much room on inside after 3 out, led approaching next, headed turning in, one pace before last, ridden and stayed on to dispute beaten 3rd flat, no extra towards finish, 6th of 14, 9 3/4l behind Samcro (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Mar.
Style De Garde (FR) 12-1 (11-8) Mid-division, not much room 2nd, headway before 3 out, 3rd last, stayed on, went 2nd final 75 yards, unable to challenge winner, 2nd of 22, 3l behind Veneer Of Charm (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Simply The Betts (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Held up, always towards rear, struggling after 4th, tailed off, 10th of 19, 34 1/4l behind Summerville Boy (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m (1) hvy in Mar.
Irish Roe (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Towards rear, blundered 2nd, tailed off 3 out, and pulled up soon after, at Newbury 2m hcp (1) sft in Feb.