Racecards
16:40 Aintree
Betfred Bundles Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £11,000 added
- Winner: £6,963
- 2nd: £2,057
- 3rd: £1,028
- 4th: £515
- Form 31215-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer M Keighley
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up in touch, headway into 4th when fell 6th
- Form 23211-U
- Age 6
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey D C Costello
led, blundered and headed 5 out, ridden and every chance between last 2, kept on same pace, no impression with leading pair flat
- Form 242510-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer S Gollings
- Jockey K Mercer
held up mainly in 4th, hampered 6th, mistake next, lost place 5 out, weakened next, tailed off
- Form 00-7623
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
pressed leader, led 5 out, ridden and hard pressed between last 2, kept on under pressure flat, just held on
- Form 1223-F2
- Age 5
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
disputed 2nd until settled in 3rd after 3rd, challenged going well between horses 2 out, upsides last, soon ridden, stayed on and every chance flat, just held
- Form 20643-4
- Age 5
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer Miss R Curtis
- Jockey T J O'Brien
held up in touch, went 4th 5 out, soon outpaced, no chance with leading trio from next, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
HAVINGOTASCOOBYDO had already won between the flags and over hurdles before lining up for a novice chase at Ffos Las 13 days ago. Even so, his jumping was still very impressive and though tiring in the closing stages he still won by 10 lengths. Martin Keighey's charge will be hard to beat here if tackling these obstacles with similar zest. The Cockney Mackem can improve on his close-up second at Perth but Flinty Bay needs to settle better than he did at Carlisle and Edgardo Sol wasn't very convincing on his UK debut at Newton Abbot. Brunswick Gold and Scoter Fontaine may be better with today's run under their belt.
Formwatch
Havingotascoobydo (IRE) 7-4fav (11-3) Held up in rear, headway to track clear leader 5 out, closed before next, led 3 out, clear when screwed 2 out, stayed on well, won at Ffos Las 2m nov chs (4) gd beating Mark Twain (10-7) by 10l, 6 ran.
Flinty Bay (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Held up towards rear, badly hampered and unseated rider 7th, in a race won by Time For Spring (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd, 8 ran.
Brunswick Gold (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Rear of mid-division, ridden after 3 out, soon struggling, tailed off, 12th of 17, well behind Skint (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4f Novice Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (4-7yo) (1) gd in Mar.
Edgardo Sol (FR) 5-4fav (11-5) Led and clear approaching first when took long look and jumped slow, did the same at 3rd, steadied after and soon headed, tracked winner, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Callisto Moon (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m Novice Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) gd.
The Cockney Mackem (IRE) 2-1fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, challenged after 8th, led 4 out, jumped left 3 out, mistake next, driven flat, headed last strides, 2nd of 6, nk behind Quite The Man (11-12) at Perth 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Sep.
Scoter Fontaine (FR) 5-2fav (11-2) Not always fluent, tracked leader, led 3rd, joined 2 out, headed last, stayed on same pace, 4th of 13, 4l behind King Brex (11-3) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in May.