AINTREE

4:55 CITROEN C5 MERSEY NOVICES' HURDLE GRADE 2 (CLASS 1) (4yo+) 2m4f

ELUSIVE DREAM 11-8 ~ On a form line through Refinement, Elusive Dream has around a length to find with Whiteoak but the Nicholls trained gelding has the advantage of being fresher having missed Cheltenham. Also important is the fact that he ran much better than the finishing positions suggest in the National Spirit. He got involved in a battle with My Way De Solzen and tired at the finish as a result, the stiff finish wouldn’t have helped either. He is definitely a speedy type who really needs good ground and a where possible a flat track so Aintree looks tailor made for him.

GROUP CAPTAIN 11-8 ~ 5th in the Ballymore Properties Novice’ Hurdle but was never travelling and had to be given reminders soon after the start. So he did well to stay on into 5th in the circumstances. The application of first time blinkers might liven the horse up and help him travel better but he did have a hard race in the dead ground at Cheltenham. It might have taken its toll but more worrying is if he travels like he did at Cheltenham then he won’t have the pace to live with the main contenders. He has something to prove at present after his Cheltenham run.

LIGHTNING STRIKE 11-8 ~ Ran an excellent race to finish 6th in the Ballymore Properties Novice’ Hurdle only 2 lengths behind Group Captain. However he did look very one paced and may be outpaced by some speedier rivals at a track that suits the speedier types.

RAZOR ROYALE 11-5 ~ Travels well in his races but doesn’t find anything so this speed track may suit better than Cheltenham but he won’t be able to get away with finding nothing in this company.

FRANCHOEK 11-1 ~ Favourite for the Triumph Hurdle but was well held by Elusive Dreams stable companion Celestial Halo. So the Ditcheat gang will know where they stand with the 4yo. However he had a hard race when trying to close down Celestial Halo at Cheltenham and he has had a long season so there is a chance that effort may have taken the edge off him. He is only a 4yo and this is his first run against the elders in a race where a 4yo hasn’t won since 1995, despite having several fancied runners including 3 favourites. However he has proven his class during the season in juvenile hurdles and has been running as if a step up in trip should be within the horse’ capabilities.

WHITEOAK 11-1 ~ The Donald McCain filly has form with the excellent Tazbar but her best performance came when winning the inaugural David Nicholson Mares race at this years Cheltenham festival. That form links her in well with Elusive Dream but the impression is that the gelding will be fresher and is value to have beaten Refinement at Fontwell. Today’s conditions should also bring around improvement in the Nicholls horse but whereas that also applies to Whiteoak she is more adaptable. She is still respected though has her win at Cheltenham is arguably the best piece of form on offer.

KEALSHORE LAD 11-0 ~ Decent bumper horses frequently fail to live up to expectations over hurdles and the Howard Johnson trained 5yo has only shown any decent form when winning a weak novice hurdle. Needs to improve massively on all known form to figure,

LAREDO SOUND 11-0 ~ Career best effort came when getting thumped by Group Captain at Exeter in a Listed Novice’ Hurdle. He bounced back in a weaker race at Lingfield but he was far from convincing that he is up to winning a race such as this.

CONCLUSION

The shortlish includes Elusive Dream, Franchoek and Whiteoak.

Franchoek hasn’t run over the trip, is running against his elders for the first time, comes intot the race after a hard race and a long season and starts a short price favourite. That gives his opponents plenty of value in finding an alternative.
Whiteoak is an obvious chance but despite her excellent run last time out she did have a hard race. That may not have left a mark and if so she has a great chance but even on that form it gives a good chance to Elusive Dream.
He ran a fine race in the National Spirit and his stamina just failed him. He won’t have to worry about that at Aintree and conditions look tailor made for the Nicholls animal. He should have no problem giving weight to the 4yo and the mare and without a energy sapling run at Cheltenham he comes into the race as fresh as a daisy.

1pt WIN – ELUSIVE DREAM @ 9/2

RESULT

ELUSIVE DREAM 1st = +4.5pts