Racecards
21:05 Aintree
Rewards4Racing Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £8,000 added
- Winner: £5,198
- 2nd: £1,526
- 3rd: £763
- 4th: £382
- Form 3404-12
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
led until after 2nd, led and jumped right 3rd, headed before 5th, not fluent 7th, led after 4 out, headed last, no extra flat
Smith's Bay
39- Form 15/65-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
took keen hold, held up, went 3rd from the 3rd, went 2nd approaching 3 out, led last, headed flat, soon beaten
Arakhan
804- Form 5314/
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer R A Fahey
- Jockey B S Hughes
chased leaders, last 3rd, behind 7th, headway 3 out, switched right after 2 out, led flat, soon clear
- Form 3
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
chased leader, led after 2nd, headed and bumped next, led before 5th, headed after 4 out, weakened before 2 out
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Golden Taipan should handle the step up in trip but his two runs at Warwick came on good going. He is rated 6lb higher than SMITH’S BAY but Alan King’s gelding has a progressive profile and his bumper victory came on soft going. Another bumper winner, Arakhan, hasn’t run in more than two years and makes his hurdling debut while Hediddodinthe’s third at Musselburgh was the first time he’d placed on Turf.
Formwatch
Golden Taipan (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, led 2nd, ridden and headed after 2 out, kept on but no chance with impressive winner before last, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Longhouse Sale (11-4) at Warwick 2m (4) gd in May.
Smith's Bay 15-8 (11-0) Chased leader until after 4th, went 2nd again 3 out, soon ridden, closed after 2 out, led flat, soon clear, won at Warwick 2m 3f (4) gd in May beating Ferrobin (11-6) by 8l, 7 ran.
Arakhan 4-1 (11-4) Tracked leader until 8f out, soon pushed along and outpaced, plugged on again final 2f, went 4th post, 4th of 8, 7 3/4l behind Gunfleet (11-3) at Stratford 2m (5) gd in Apr.
Hediddodinthe (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Towards rear, headway before 2 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 7, 4 1/4l behind Akarita Lights (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 5f mdn (5) gd in May.