Racecards
13:45 Aintree
John Smith's Mersey Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £50,000 added
- Winner: £28,475
- 2nd: £10,685
- 3rd: £5,350
- 4th: £2,665
- Form 1-11
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey A P McCoy
tracked leaders, pushed along approaching 8th, soon lost place, weakened well before 3 out, pulled up before next
- Form 1212F0
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up in last, headway 8th, close 4th and going well enough when fell 3 out
- Form 214506
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer T Hogan
- Jockey Paul Townend
held up towards rear, headway 8th, ridden and no impression when slightly hampered 3 out, well held 4th when mistake next
- Form 2/4-851
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer J T R Dreaper
- Jockey A E Lynch
tracked leader until ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
- Form 02231U
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer P Griffin
- Jockey James Reveley
took keen hold, tracked leaders on outside, lost place approaching 8th, soon behind, tailed off
Molotof (FR)
29- Form 20-1110
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up towards rear, mistake 6th, ridden after 8th, no impression on leaders, weakened 3 out
- Form 41621
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey J Tizzard
tracked leaders on inside, took keen hold, mistake 5th, soon lost place, behind 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
- Form 1-11211
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 157
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway after next, went 2nd on bit before 3 out, challenging when left in lead 2 out, clear before last, impressive
- Form 1-11F1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey J M Maguire
led, jumped right 4th and 8th, joined when blundered and headed 2 out, soon no chance with winner
- Form 1134-12
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer L Wadham
- Jockey L P Aspell
mid-division, headway 6th, went 3rd approaching 3 out, hung left and stayed on same pace after next
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Neither Colour Squadron nor Molotof were at their best at Cheltenham and both have yet to prove they stay this far unlike SIMONSIG. Nicky Henderson's grey didn't appear to take much out of himself when lengthening clear of a useful field over 2m5f at The Festival and it will take a smart performance to lower his colours here. Super Duty could be the biggest danger as he's a three-times winner over this trip though the horse he beat at Ascot last time, Keys, is proving a big disappointment. Aland Islands is unbeaten in three runs under Rules to date but this is by far his most difficult task to date and he's likely to find at least a couple of these too strong while the mare Baby Shine also has a bit to find on the book.
Formwatch
Aland Islands (IRE) 5-2fav (11-9) Prominent, went 2nd 3 out, joined leader 2 out, soon led, stayed on well, won at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Amron Lad (10-13) by 7l, 10 ran.
Colour Squadron (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division, outpaced 2 out, chased leaders under pressure on inside before last, weakened flat, 13th of 19, 17l behind Cinders And Ashes (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Flycorn (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Always towards rear, no threat from 2 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 8, 9l behind Felix Yonger (11-5) at Naas 2m nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Feb.
Go All The Way (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Made virtually all, strongly pressed and joined between final 2, led again last and kept on best run-in, won at Navan 2m 4f mdn hdl sft in Mar beating Rear View (11-11) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Maggio (FR) 11-2 (11-4) Tracked leader, blundered and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Bellvano (11-4) at Kelso 2m 1f nov chs (2) gs in Feb, 4 ran.
Molotof (FR) 11-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden and lost place 2 out, soon weakened, 13th of 24, 29l behind Attaglance (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Conditional Handicap Hurdle (0-145) (4yo+) (2) gd in Mar.
Old Tricks (IRE) 4-6fav (11-1) Tracked leader, led before 2 out, readily clear when pushed along before last, ridden out, won at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Black Pond (10-7) by 6l, 11 ran.
Simonsig 2-1fav (11-7) Held up in touch in mid-division, closed after 4th, hit 6th, went 2nd 3 out, challenging when left in lead 2 out, clear before last, easily, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar beating Felix Yonger (11-7) by 7l, 17 ran.
Super Duty (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Made all, joined 2 out, ridden and strongly pressed last, found extra and stayed on gamely to assert final 100 yards, won at Ascot 2m 3f nov hdl (2) gs in Feb beating Keys (11-0) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Baby Shine (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) Prominent, badly hampered on inside when about to challenge before 2 out and lost momentum, ran on flat, just failed, 2nd of 14, ns behind It's A Gimme (11-10) at Southwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.