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14:35 Aintree

Matalan Anniversary 4-y-o Novices' Hurdle (grade 1) (Class 1)

  • 13 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 110y
  • Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
  • Surface: Turf
  • £130,000 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 4m 2.80s
  • Off Time: 14:36:04
  • 13 Ran
1
Silk - Royal Blue, White stars, Royal Blue sleeves, White spots
200/1
  • Form 2
  • Age 4
  • Weight 11-0

prominent, raced keenly, not fluent 3rd, chased leader from next, not fluent and led 5th, headed after next, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last

2
Silk - Orange, Olive Green stars, Orange sleeves
100/1
  • Form 552
  • Age 4
  • Weight 11-0
  • Official Rating 130

always in rear, well behind after 6th, tailed off

3
Silk - Black, Grey epaulets, halved sleeves

First Avenue

10 p D
22/1
  • Form 21
  • Age 4
  • Weight 11-0
  • Official Rating 120

mid-division, ridden and dropped rear 6th, soon well behind, tailed off when mistake 3 out

4
Silk - Royal Blue, Emerald Green epaulets and armlets
5/2
  • Form 421
  • Age 4
  • Weight 11-0
  • Official Rating 137

held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon shaken up, no impression, weakened approaching 2 out

5
Silk - Orange and Royal Blue quartered, Orange sleeves, Royal Blue diamonds on cap
25/1
  • Form 351
  • Age 4
  • Weight 11-0

not fluent, pressed leader until approaching 2nd, remained prominent, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out

6
Silk - Light blue, orange stars on sleeves, light blue cap, orange star
50/1
  • Form 1
  • Age 4
  • Weight 11-0

mid-division, not always fluent, dropped rear after 5th, well behind after next, tailed off

7
Silk - WHITE, yellow sash, emerald green sleeves, white cap, yellow star

Sainglend

106
50/1
  • Form 223
  • Age 4
  • Weight 11-0
  • Official Rating 127

held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, hit next, headway after 6th, soon in touch, weakened 3 out

8
Silk - Black and Beige (halved), chevrons on sleeves, Beige cap
28/1
  • Form 12110
  • Age 4
  • Weight 11-0
  • Official Rating 140

led, mistake and headed 5th, weakened quickly after 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, dismounted

9
Silk - Black, Red stars, Emerald Green sleeves and cap

Ski Sunday

22 D
12/1
  • Form 3F3112
  • Age 4
  • Weight 11-0
  • Official Rating 142

in touch, raced keenly, not fluent 6th, led soon after, blundered and headed 2 out, no impression last

10
Silk - NAVY BLUE, GREEN sash, CERISE cap
5/2
  • Form 1114
  • Age 4
  • Weight 11-0
  • Official Rating 147

held up towards rear, headway 6th, chased leading pair approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out

11
Silk - Yellow, Royal Blue seams, Grey sleeves, Royal Blue seams, Royal Blue cap
50/1
  • Form 3
  • Age 4
  • Weight 11-0

held up towards rear, headway after 6th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 4th when not fluent 2 out

12
Silk - Red, Pink epaulets
100/1
  • Age 4
  • Weight 11-0

mid-division, raced keenly, not fluent 4th, mistake next, soon dropped rear, well behind after next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out

13
Silk - Royal Blue, White hoops, Maroon sleeves and cap

Walkon (FR)

20 BFD
2/1
  • Form 12112
  • Age 4
  • Weight 11-0
  • Official Rating 152

tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, went 2nd soon after, challenging when not fluent 3 out, led 2 out, in command last, driven clear

Previous results

In depth

Verdict

STARLUCK can claim the scalp of Triumph Hurdle runner-up Walkon with the progressive Ski Sunday certainly not one to rule out. It is not too original a view, but the feeling is that this track will see Starluck in a more positive light. To be fair he ran a stormer at Cheltenham but was just found out by the hill and on a quick flat track with good ground there may not be any horses here who can match his finishing turn of foot. Walkon was a gallant second (finished six lengths in-front of Starluck) and he deserves his place at the head of the betting. An interesting contender is Ski Sunday who doesn't have that much to find on official ratings. He was second to Silk Affair in the Fred Winter which was a good effort and he deserves this step up in class. Silk Drum disappointed at Cheltenham in the Triumph but his trainer loves sending winners out at this meeting, however Hebridean may be more of a threat. A classy horse on the flat for Aidan O'Brien, this Paul Nicholls inmate has been aimed at this meeting as opposed to Cheltenham and he comes here a fresh horse who will love the track and the ground. A terrific treat in store and it is the relatively fresh Starluck who looks one of the best bets on Day One.

Formwatch

Apartman (CZE) 12-1 (10-7) Led, mistake 3 out, blundered and headed next, soon ridden, one pace and no impression when mistake last, 2nd of 11, 7l behind Sir Tantallus Hawk (11-8) at Newcastle 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.

Dinarius 33-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching 6th, chased winner 2 out, challenged last, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Silk Hall (11-4) at Stratford 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gs in Mar.

First Avenue 13-8 (10-7) Held up in mid-division, headway going well after 3 out, challenged 2 out, led last, edged right soon after, straightened and kept on well run-in, won at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar beating Cossack Prince (10-7) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.

Hebridean (IRE) 6-4fav (10-12) Took keen hold, held up in rear, smooth headway on bit to track leaders approaching 2 out, led 2 out, in command before last and ridden clear flat, won at Kempton 2m 4yo nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Feb beating Saticon (11-5) by 5l, 7 ran.

Kyrie Eleison (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, 2nd 4 out, ridden to lead before 2 out, clear when mistake last, kept on well, all out close home, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4yo nov hdl G2 sft in Feb beating Chevalier Country (11-0) by 3/4l, 7 ran.

Livvy Inn (USA) 28-1 (10-2) Mid-division, chased leaders approaching 2 out, smooth headway on bit to lead flat, ridden and soon clear, eased near finish, won at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Fortysecond Street (11-9) by 13l, 16 ran.

Sainglend 6-1 (10-12) In touch, challenging 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 3rd of 13, 15l behind Zaynar (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.

Silk Drum (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, weakened after 3 out, 13th of 18, 40l behind Zaynar (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar.

Ski Sunday 20-1 (11-1) Pulled hard, held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, switched right and bumped after last, ran on to take 2nd final 100 yards, not troubled winner, 2nd of 22, 3l behind Silk Affair (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m Grade 3 nov hcp hdl (4yo) (1) gs in Mar.

Starluck (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, challenging on bit after 2 out, edged left flat, weakened towards finish, 4th of 18, 7l behind Zaynar (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar.

Thumbs Up 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders and keen, led approaching 4th, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 11, 10l behind Ski Sunday (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) sft in Feb.

Tri Nations (UAE) 12-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, headway under pressure over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, not pace to reach leaders, 6th of 15, 8l behind Dar Es Salaam (8-9) at Newbury 1m 2f hcap (4) gd in Sep (flat).

Walkon (FR) 4-1fav (11-0) In touch, not fluent 5th, pushed along approaching 2 out briefly, ridden to chase winner last, every chance flat, not quicken towards finish, 2nd of 18, 3/4l behind Zaynar (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar.