Rory Delargy

AINTREE SATURDAY

1.45 GASKELLS HANDICAP HURDLE (GRADE 3) 3M 149Y

Two against the field here are Shannon Bridge and Knight Of Noir. The former comes here after failing to complete in a Grade 2 novice at Haydock in February, but that is easily forgiven and came quite soon after a huge effort to finish a close second to Enniscoffey Oscar in the River Don Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster. Given longer to get over his exertions, he can belatedly confirm the promise of his Town Moor effort and looks very fairly handicapped on that piece of form. Knight Of Noir also pulled up last time, but that was over fences at the Cheltenham Festival, and this gelding has never convinced with his courage over the bigger obstacles. A course and distance winner last May when the trio of next-time-out winners he trounced included Beer Goggles, he defied a mark of 140 in style at Worcester, and would have been the main selection on better ground. His big weight on testing ground begs questions but he’s a huge price given his form and may be worth chancing at the best morning odds.

2.25 BETWAY MERSEY NOVICES’ HURDLE (GRADE 1) 2M 4F

Euxton Lane appears to have plenty to find on early season form, but Oliver Sherwood’s strapping gelding has always looked the type to make a big splash in time, and he will certainly not be overlooked in the paddock. It has taken time for the penny to drop with the son of Getaway, but he took a big step forward when second at Southwell in February, finding only Global Citizen too strong and that form took a huge boost when the winner romped home at Kempton in the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton. Euxton Lane has done his bit for the form by outclassing his rivals at Fontwell and Newbury on his last two starts and is absolutely thriving at present. He’s got work to do on official ratings but is worth following now he’s on such a sharp upward curve.

Black Op sets a high standard after finishing second in the Ballymore at Cheltenham, but his yard’s form is woeful at present and he was well beaten when favourite for the Grade 2 bumper here a year ago. On The Blind Side is therefore the likeliest winner by default and he’d looked a top-notch prospect when winning at Cheltenham and Sandown in the winter. He missed Cheltenham with a setback but would have been much shorter in the betting for the Ballymore than Black Op had he turned up, and I can see him becoming a gamble here. I very much respect his chance but am more tempted by the each-way value on offer with the selection.

3.00 DOOM BAR MAGHULL NOVICES’ CHASE (GRADE 1) 1M 7F 176Y

He did remarkably well in the circumstances given the crazy tactics employed in the Arkle at Cheltenham and Petit Mouchoir has been given a free pass to Grade 1 glory here with Footpad missing Aintree. His earlier efforts over fences read extremely well in the context of this race, but the fact he hung in as long as he did having helped set a furious pace in the Arkle demonstrates how good Henry de Bromhead’s charge really is and this should be a procession if he is in anything like the same form.

3.40 BETWAY HANDICAP CHASE (GRADE 3) 3M 210Y

It may be worth chancing Very First Time here despite a poor run in the Kim Muir under wholly unsuitable tactics. Tim Easterby’s novice had made all to score at Hexham and Newcastle before Christmas, and a hold-up ride in the one slowly-run chase at the entire Festival was very unlikely to show him to advantage. He does lack experience for a race like this, but is a promising sort, and although beaten at short odds at Kelso in January, that run looks better in retrospect with the winner ACDC having won again at the track recently. Given he’s owned by Trevor Hemmings, it can be assumed that Aintree has always been on his agenda, and he is expected to go well if connections revert to positive tactics.

4.20 RYANAIR STAYERS HURDLE (LIVERPOOL) (GRADE 1) 3M 149Y

In contrast to Petit Mouchoir, Stayers’ Hurdle favourite Sam Spinner went too slow in front, and as a result was unable to fully utilise his stamina and it’s very unlikely that such a scenario will be repeated in this weaker event. He still ran very well at Cheltenham, and his earlier defeat of L’Ami Serge at Ascot looks better in retrospect with that rival beating Supasundae here on Thursday. Joe Colliver can be expected to make plenty of use of Sam Spinner here, and he ought to have no difficulty turning the tables with Wholestone, who finished third in the Stayers’, but is clearly inferior to the selection on the balance of form.

5:15 RANDOX HEALTH GRAND NATIONAL HANDICAP CHASE (GRADE 3) 4M 2F 74Y

Seeyouatmidnight is well-weighted for a horse of his class, and the right profile for the Grand National having been third in the Scottish version a couple of years ago. He’s preferred to Baie des Isles, with Final Nudge appealing most of those at big prices.

RECOMMENDED

SHANNON BRIDGE 1.45 Aintree – 0.5pts e/w @ 16/1 (general)

EUXTON LANE 2.25 Aintree – 1pt e/w @ 25/1 (Hills)

VERY FIRST TIME 3.40 Aintree – 0.5pts e/w @ 18/1 (general)

SEEYOUATMIDNIGHT 5.15 Aintree – 1pt e/w @ 16/1 (Bet365, Boylesports)

FINAL NUDGE 5.15 Aintree – 0.5pts e/w 50/1 (general)