AINTREE

4:20 LITTLEWOODS DIRECT IMAGINE APPEAL TOP NOVICES' HURDLE GRADE 2 (CLASS 1) (4yo+) 2m

CAPTAIN CEE BEE 11-8 ~ Winner of the Supreme Novice’ Hurdle and in doing so he recorded a faster time than Katchit in the Champion Hurdle. He did have a hard race though as Robert Thornton was hard at work some way out and he stayed on dourly to win. He has an obvious chance though in this weaker race.

PIGEON ISLAND 11-8 ~ Didn’t run his race in the Surpreme Novice’ Hurdle but proved at Kempton that he goes well at speed tracks so Aintree should suit him better. However he has had a long season so maybe seen to better effect when given a break.

SALFORD CITY 11-8 ~ A decent horse if allowed an easy lead round a tight track on fast ground. 2 out of 3 isn’t bad but he sulks if taken on for the lead and that is very likely today. Even if allowed and easy lead though he isn’t in the same class of Captain Cee Bee and co so he isn’t hard to pass over.

KHYBER KIM 11-5 ~ Great things were expected of Khyber Kim but his run at Cheltenham suggested that the horse isn’t as good as he threatened to be. He has plenty to find with Captain Cee Bee and he might prefer more cut in the ground. He isn’t without a chance though as this speed track will probably suit the ex-flat horse better than Cheltenham.

ALSADAA 11-3 ~ Well beaten by Pigeon Island in the Dovecote and he will need to show a lot more than he did at Kempton.

MARSAM 11-3 ~ Beaten in an average handicap last time out so has an almost impossible task in this company

BLUE BAJAN 11-0 ~ Aintree will suit him far more than Cheltenham did as he possesses plenty of speed having been placed in Group race on the flat over 10f. However the horse is let down by his jumping but if he finally puts it all together then he has a great chance.

FRANK CROW 11-0 ~ Well beaten in a Kelso Grade 2 Hurdle but that was a weak race for the grade and this is a lot tougher.

GLOUCESTER 11-0 ~ Like the local Rugby team he is useless.

GREENBRIDGE 11-0 ~ Progressive horse who has run away with two novice races but he deserves to be stepped up in class and he comes here as a fresh horse having not been to Cheltenham. He has the potential to be anything and unexposed 6yo should be able to prove his class today.

SIR ARTHUR 11-0 ~ Average flat horse and judging by his 2nd in a weak novice hurdle he isn’t going to be any better over jumps.

SONGE 10-13 ~ Exposed in the Triumph Hurdle and the form of that race took a hit yesterday with the Supreme Novice’ Hurdle 2nd Binocular thrashing Celestial Halo. He has to improve a lot to be competitive judging by that form.

LAZY DARREN 10-8 ~ Fair novice but this is a huge step up from the company he’s been keeping and he looks out of his depth.

PIERROT LUNAIRE 10-8 ~ Gave Binocular a lot to think about at Kempton but that rival was said to be unfit and has improved considerably on the bare form. It was still a good effort though and he can be expected to improve himself. He has the age allowance from his market rivals and he has to enter calculations.

CONCLUSION

Shortlist includes Captain Cee Bee, Pigeon Island, Khyber Kim, Blue Bajan, Greenbridge and Pierrot Lunaire.

Captain Cee Bee is the one they have to beat but he looked to have a particularly hard race at Cheltenham and the way he ran on after looking outpaced must be a concern if at this speed track. Khyber Kim could be better animal at Aintree given she is an ex-flat horse but she has ground to find with Blue Bajan who is also likely to be suited by the course. The latter was a high class animal on the flat and possesses a lot of speed but his jumping is a major concern. He does have a 8lbs pull though with the favourite and as Blythe Knight showed flat speed can make all the difference here at Aintree. Pigeon Island disappointed in the Supreme Novice’ Hurdle but his excellent effort at Kempton would put him in with a shout. However he has had a hard season and he ran flat at Cheltenham suggesting he’s had enough for now.

Greenbridge and Pierrot Lunaire are both fresh having by-passed Cheltenham and both come into the race with serious chances of beating the favourite. Greenbridge has a big step up in class but he has winning as if a very good horse so has to enter calculations. However slight preference is for Pierrot Lunaire whose excellent effort behind Binocular has been made to look very good by the Henderson trained gelding. Pierrot Lunaire has plenty of scope for further improvement himself though and the Nicholls horse receives all the allowance and plenty of weight from his nearest rivals.

2pt WIN – PIERROT LUNAIRE @ 5/1
1pt EACH WAY – BLUE BAJAN @ 10/1

RESULT

PIERROT LUNAIRE 1st = +10pts
BLUE BAJAN 2nd = +1.5pts