Racecards
15:50 Aintree
European Breeders Fund 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier) (Class D)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good to Soft
- Form 1/404-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey L Cooper
tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on, no chance with winner
- Form 116-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
held up, headway approaching 4 out, led 2 out, ridden approaching last, clear flat, eased towards finish
Cardington
29- Form 543
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey D Elsworth
tracked leader, mistake 4th, lost place next
- Form 0-00
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey W A Worthington
held up in rear, weakened from 4 out
- Form 32104-0
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey J M Maguire
led, headed approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 2-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
held up, headway 4 out, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakening when hit last
- Form P42-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A Dobbin
was always behind, tailed off from 4 out
Percy Basil
27- Form 0-0
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey D R Dennis
was always behind, tailed off
Trabolgan (IRE)
256- Form 222-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
prominent, joined leaders and going well when fell 4 out
- Form 23
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
held up in touch, hampered after 4 out, soon ridden, weakened next
In depth
Verdict
The Festival Bumper at Cheltenham is often a reliable source for future winners over hurdles and it will be surprise if Trabolgan cannot confirm his superiority over Bold Bishop and Bourbon Manhattan. The selection kept on well up the Cheltenham hill to be beaten just half-a-length by Liberman in the Grade 1 contest and is an exciting recruit to the novice hurdling ranks. Bold Bishop was only one-and-a-half lengths adrift of the second that day and cannot be dismissed entirely on his hurdling debut but his overall bumper form does not match that of the selection. Bourbon Manhattan disappointed at Prestbury Park and has to be respected. Martin Pipe's Wyn Dixie appeals most of those to have run previously over hurdles, although Make Haste Slowly ran with credit on his debut a year ago and is unexposed. However, Trabolgan is potentially out of the top drawer and gets the vote.