Racecards
13:45 Aintree
Cordon Bleu Handicap Hurdle (Class A)
- 19 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good
Never (FR)
23- Form 000-150
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
held up, ridden and headway 3f out, hampered last, kept on one pace
Non So (FR)
23- Form P-51124
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
mid-division, never neaerer
- Form 101430
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey D Elsworth
chased leaders, mistake 4th, weakened 6th
- Form 111-120
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 11116P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 2-06F42
- Age 5
- Weight 10-11
behind, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and one paced from 2 out
- Form 002000
- Age 7
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
led, ridden and headed after 2 out, weakened flat
- Form 214413
- Age 8
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey James Davies
in touch, ridden 5th, stayed on one pace from 3 out
Hawadeth
23- Form 25320B
- Age 8
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer V R A Dartnall
- Jockey J Culloty
behind, some headway approaching 3 out, never dangerous
Risky Reef
65- Form 14-321
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer Andrew Lee
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
mid-division, headway appraocing 3 out, led last, drvien out
- Form 31251
- Age 6
- Weight 10-6
- Trainer R Lee
- Jockey A O'keeffe
mid-division, ridden 6th, soon weakened
- Form 11-2210
- Age 5
- Weight 10-2
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
mid-division, ridden 5th, soon weakened
Take Flite
34- Form 324102
- Age 6
- Weight 10-1
- Trainer Anthony Mullins
- Jockey C F Swan
behind, mistake 5th, headway approaching 3 out, 5th and staying on one pace when fell last
Edmo Heights
19- Form P21115
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey D O'Meara
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on one paced
In depth
Verdict
This looks a difficult start to Grand National day with 20 runners set to face the starter over the extended two-mile trip. Having not been seen since notching a four-timer of victories in the autumn, Grave Doubts returns to action looking for a fifth successive win but, off his new mark, faces no easy task. Non So would have claims if able to reproduce his best but Nicky Henderson¿s horse are running below par at present and he is one to leave out of calculations. By contrast, Martin Pipe has his string in superb form at present so the likes of Polar Red, Dream With Me, Idaho d'Ox and Maragum all have to be given serious consideration. Rigmarole has run well in some big handicaps this season and should be ideally suited by both track and ground. He is entitled to go close but for the selection we side with Francois Doumen's Never. The Sir Peter O'Sullevan-owned gelding looked the likely winner of the County Hurdle at Cheltenham last month until his stamina ran out coming up the hill. He should be better suited by this flatter track and has to be respected, especially on ground that should suit.