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14:25 Aintree

Betway Mersey Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1)

  • 12 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 4f
  • Going: Soft
  • Surface: Turf
  • £100,000 added
  • Winner: £56,130
  • 2nd: £21,110
  • 3rd: £10,550
  • 4th: £5,270
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 5m 3.70s
  • Off Time: 14:25:42
  • 12 Ran
1
Silk - Royal Blue, Pink star, armlets and cap
25/1
  • Form 4-3F437
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 134

held up in rear, headway on outside after 4 out, edged left after 2 out, still 7th last, went 4th and stayed on flat, unable to challenge

3
Silk - Black, White seams, checked sleeves, quartered cap
  • Form 10-1312
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 138

held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, not fluent 6th, well beaten after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out

4
Silk - Light Blue, Pink chevrons, Light Blue sleeves, Light Blue cap, Pink star
3/1
  • Form 19-4122
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 152

tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th, led before not fluent 3 out, hard pressed 2 out, hit last and headed, soon led again, headed 120 yards out, stayed on well to regain lead towards finish

5
Silk - White, light green epaulets
33/1
  • Form 532311
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 132

led, headed before mistake 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last

6
Silk - Light Blue, Purple star and star on cap
  • Form 3-1U31
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 137

held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, mistake 3rd, modest 9th and ridden before 3 out, soon left well behind

8
Silk - EMERALD GREEN and YELLOW (quartered), WHITE sleeves and cap
  • Form 357211
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 139

held up in rear, steady headway before 3 out, ridden before next, one pace and beaten when mistake last, weakened flat

9
Silk - Emerald Green, Dark Green sleeves, Dark Green and Emerald Green quartered cap
25/1
  • Form 2-21251
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 143

mid-division, hit 4th, ridden and struggling after 4 out, remote 10th before 3 out, soon well behind

10
Silk - Yellow, dark blue braces
  • Form 4-22167
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 144

held up towards rear, steady headway from 7th, ridden after 3 out, hit last and led, soon headed, edged right and led again 120 yards out, stayed on, headed towards finish

11
Silk - RED, WHITE sleeves, BLUE and WHITE striped cap
  • Form 1-111
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 153

tracked leader until 6th, pushed along before 3 out, one pace in 4th when not much room and switched right before mistake 2 out, weakened flat

12
Silk - ROYAL BLUE and WHITE (quartered), BLACK and WHITE striped sleeves and cap
50/1
  • Form 231121
  • Age 10
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 137

tracked leaders on inside, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out

13
Silk - Orange, dark blue star, orange sleeves, dark blue stars, dark blue cap
  • Form U11426
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 145

held up in touch, travelling strongly when blundered and lost momentum briefly 4 out, every chance 3 out, hung left and beaten going to last, stayed on same pace flat

14
Silk - Maroon, pink epaulets, sleeves and star on cap
10/1
  • Form 41-1121
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-11
  • Official Rating 142

held up in touch on outside, closed before 6th, edged left after 3 out, strong challenged 2 out until last, edged left and stayed on same pace flat

2
NR

Bedrock

1 t
50/1
  • Form 113413
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 137

NonRunner

7
NR
66/1
  • Form 11265P
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 139

NonRunner

Previous results

In depth

Verdict

Black Op ran a superb race behind Samcro in the Ballymore at Cheltenham and had also run well previously behind Santini at the same track. Well suited by soft going, it will be a surprise if he doesn’t reverse the form of his debut run behind Lostintranslation at Newbury. ON THE BLIND SIDE (NAP) missed Cheltenham but had looked a very smart performer in the making when running away with a Grade 2 at Sandown in December. He’d quickened away from Momella at Cheltenham earlier in a race that couldn’t have worked out any better and can maintain his unbeaten record. Western Ryder still has a bit to prove over this longer trip but he has smart form at 2m, including a sixth in the Supreme Novices’. There are some improvers among the others but they will have to step up again to trouble the principals.

Formwatch

Aye Aye Charlie 100-1 (11-7) Held up behind, ridden and outpaced on outside after 3 out, never theatened leaders, 7th of 14, 23 3/4l behind Samcro (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Mar.

Better Getalong (IRE) 9-4 (11-2) Tracked leaders, chased winner from last, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 4, 12l behind Cyrus Darius (11-8) at Kelso 2m 2f (2) hvy in Feb.

Black Op (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, driven before 2 out, rallied to chase winner between last 2, hit last, kept on in clear 2nd flat, always held, 2nd of 14, 2 3/4l behind Samcro (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Mar.

Brianstorm (IRE) 1-4fav (11-7) Raced keenly, made all, soon clear, reached for 1st, reduced lead 3rd, not fluent next, just over 1 length ahead when left well clear 3 out, not fluent next, dived last, unchallenged, won at Sandown 2m (4) sft in Mar beating Top Decision (11-1) by 16l, 4 ran.

Chosen Path (IRE) 4-6fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, tracked leader 7th, led 2 out, ridden and ran on, won at Kempton 2m 5f (4) sft in Mar beating Champagne Champ (11-7) by 5l, 8 ran.

Euxton Lane (IRE) 2-1 (11-7) Raced keenly, held up in touch, closer on inside 4th, tracked leaders going well 3 out, challenged in 2nd 2 out, led soon after and went clear, stayed on well, eased close home, won at Newbury 2m 5f (3) sft in Mar beating De Rasher Counter (11-7) by 3l, 7 ran.

Kildisart (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Pressed leader, led before last where not fluent, stayed on well to go clear run-in, won at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Mar beating Zubayr (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.

Lostintranslation (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, chased leaders when hampered next, ridden and outpaced between last 2, no impression after, 7th of 19, 8 1/4l behind Summerville Boy (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m (1) hvy in Mar.

On The Blind Side (IRE) 6-5fav (11-5) Close up, good headway to lead 2 out, soon clear, comfortable, impressive, won at Sandown 2m 4f (1) gs in Dec beating Springtown Lake (11-0) by 9l, 7 ran.

Silver Concorde 1-6fav (12-2) Tracked leader, led 8th, kept on strongly from last, won at Musselburgh 2m 3f (4) gs in Feb

Western Ryder (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Mid-division, outpaced when hampered and carried right 2 out, ridden and stayed on under pressure flat, not reach leaders, 6th of 19, 7 1/2l behind Summerville Boy (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m (1) hvy in Mar.

Momella (IRE) 7-2jfav (11-7) Mid-division, slightly hampered 6th, headway next, challenged going well after 2 out, led before last, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec beating River Arrow (10-10) by 1/2l, 13 ran.

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.

Count Meribel 2-1jfav (11-8) Led, pushed along after 3 out, narrowly headed when mistake 2 out, weakened between last 2, last of 5, 17 1/4l behind Point Of Principle (11-0) at Ascot 2m 3f (2) sft in Feb.