Racecards
13:45 Aintree
Gaskells Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (Class 1)
- 22 Runners
- Distance: 3m 149y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £70,000 added
- Winner: £39,389
- 2nd: £14,840
- 3rd: £7,427
- 4th: £3,710
- Form 3-U5717
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 151
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Stan Sheppard
always towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, soon weakened
- Form 621141
- Age 11
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 150
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey B S Hughes
always towards rear
- Form 3-2BU42
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
mid-division, pushed along and headway before 3 out, no impression
- Form 4-12102
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer H Fry
- Jockey N D Fehily
with winner, led briefly after 1st, chased leaders, outpaced after 4 out, no impression after
- Form 411-135
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer Noel Williams
- Jockey L P Aspell
behind, blundered 1st, headway 9th, pushed along 3 out, weakened after 2 out
- Form 2-24110
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey T J O'Brien
held up mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon weakened
- Form 91-2P18
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey S Bowen
close up, outpaced before 3 out, weakened before last
- Form 461250
- Age 9
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Jamie Bargary
mid-division, pushed along and reminders after 8th, weakened before 3 out
- Form F-70P0P
- Age 10
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey Mr J J O'Neill
held up towards rear on outer, reminder before 5th, pulled up before 4 out
- Form 115054
- Age 11
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Kevin Dowling
behind, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, no impression
- Form 4F3720
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey H Cobden
held up rear division, pushed along before 3 out, never dangerous
- Form 3-22529
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up towards rear, mistake 7th, pushed along before 3 out, never dangerous
- Form U21117
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up behind, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, soon chased winner, kept on and no impression
- Form 2-17311
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer A J Honeyball
- Jockey David Noonan
made most, took keen hold, clear before 4 out, ran on strongly before last
- Form 1-3F119
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey Alan Johns
in touch, in 4th before 2 out, ridden before last, in 3rd place run-in, kept on
- Form 5-27P80
- Age 5
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer B Pauling
- Jockey Mr Alex Ferguson
held up in touch, mistake 1st, pushed along after 4 out, soon weakened
- Form F1-9117
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey W T Kennedy
chased leaders, chased winner before 3 out until before 2 out, weakened before last
- Form 7/1-1762
- Age 8
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer Miss R Curtis
- Jockey Jonathan Moore
behind, ridden 4 out, never a factor
- Form 15-0224
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer Dr R D P Newland
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
held up mid-division, ridden before 3 out, soon lost place
- Form 111600
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey R P McLernon
held up mid-division, pushed along before 3 out, soon lost place
- Form 690P11
- Age 8
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
chased leaders in 4th, ridden in 5th before last, soon weakened
- Form 2-F1322
- Age 5
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
held up in touch, headway before 9th, went 3rd before 3 out, chased winner before 2 out until last, no extra run-in
Verdict
No-one would begrudge the unlucky Barney Dwan a first victory of the campaign but his reward for another terrific run behind Presenting Percy in the Pertemps Final was a 5lb rise in the handicap. Fourth-placed The Tourard Man should get closer today and For Good Measure met traffic on the home turn in that race and ran better than his final position suggests - he may prove the best of three JP McManus-owned runners. Duke Street has been in good form lately and a first try over 3m is long overdue. He also goes on the short-list along with consistent novices No Hassle Hoff and Fountains Windfall but the mares Briery Queen and Rons Dream look up against it on these terms. Desert Cry has been enjoying an Indian summer over the winter months but it will be a surprise if he’s good enough to win again off this sort of mark. WHATAKNIGHT won a valuable staying handicap at Haydock around this time last year and looked to be on the way back when second at Doncaster a month ago, where he was only headed close home. Noel Fehily takes over the reins from a conditional today.
Formwatch
Zarkandar (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, closed 8th, not fluent 3 out, soon pushed along briefly, effort 2 out, weakened off home bend, 7th and well held when hit last, 7th of 12, 27 1/2l behind Nichols Canyon (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gd in Mar.
Desert Cry (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Held up in touch, chased leaders before 6 out, challenged from 3 out, led before last, kept on strongly, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Mar beating One For Harry (11-10) by 27l, 6 ran.
Barney Dwan (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Mid-division, not fluent 7th, headway 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, headed before last, kept on flat but no impression on winner, 2nd of 24, 3 3/4l behind Presenting Percy (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Mar.
Whataknight 13-2 (11-12) Led, mistake 1st, headed after 7th, led after 4 out, headed 3 out, led before last, headed flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Bryden Boy (10-13) at Doncaster 3m hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Briery Queen 33-1 (11-5) Mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, ridden before last, kept on to dispute 4th flat, not pace to trouble front trio, 5th of 17, 5 3/4l behind Apple's Jade (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) gs in Mar.
Golden Doyen (GER) 18-1 (11-8) Held up rear off mid-division, outpaced after 3 out, never able to get involved, 12th of 24, 23l behind Presenting Percy (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Mar.
Rons Dream 50-1 (11-5) Prominent, tracked winner after 4 out, driven and lost place after 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, no impression before last, 8th of 17, 16 1/2l behind Apple's Jade (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) gs in Mar.
Splash of Ginge 33-1 (11-6) Took keen hold, led until not fluent 5th, stayed handy, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened before last, 13th of 24, 23 1/4l behind Presenting Percy (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Mar.
Holywell (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, blundered 2nd, reminders after 5th, blundered and lost place 12th, pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
The Tourard Man (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Held up rear of mid-division, headway 3 out, chasing leaders 2 out, 4th before last, not pace to challenge, kept on same pace flat, 4th of 24, 10 1/4l behind Presenting Percy (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Mar.
Morello Royale (IRE) 100-1 (10-10) Always behind, 15th of 25, 23 1/2l behind Supasundae (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
For Good Measure (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, not much room and lost place after 2 out, staying on when mistake last, not able to get on terms and no further impression final 75 yards, 9th of 24, 15 1/4l behind Presenting Percy (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Mar.
No Comment 15-2 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway after 2 out, tracking leaders on stands side before last, no extra flat, 7th of 23, 12l behind Champagne Classic (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Fountains Windfall 3-10fav (11-12) Made all, kept on well from last, won at Plumpton 2m 5f (4) gs in Mar beating Solighoster (11-12) by 3l, 4 ran.
Dadsintrouble (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden before 2 out, 8th and fading when not fluent last, weakened, 9th of 23, 16 1/4l behind Champagne Classic (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Leoncavallo (IRE) 66-1 (10-10) In touch, driven and outpaced before 2 out, soon ridden and weakened, 17th of 25, 29l behind Supasundae (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Mr Mcgo (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Led until not fluent 5th, mistake normal 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, 35 1/4l behind Wholestone (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan.
Joe Farrell (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders after 3 out, went 2nd and every chance between last 2 until approaching the last, kept on run-n for clear 2nd, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Forthefunofit (11-6) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Duke Street (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) In touch, headway 4 out, led next, headed 2 out, weakened, 4th of 19, 4 1/4l behind Brio Conti (11-11) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Doesyourdogbite (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Pressed leader, not fluent and went right 1st, lost 2nd 2 out, weakened before last, 13th of 23, 26 1/2l behind Champagne Classic (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Forthefunofit (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Close up, went 3rd 6th, chased leader 3 out, led approaching next, ridden out, readily, won at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Abricot De L'oasis (12-4) by 10l, 6 ran.
No Hassle Hoff (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) In rear, headway before 5 out, chased winner from last, kept on and always held, 2nd of 7, 9l behind The Worlds End (11-7) at Haydock 2m 7f (1) gs in Feb.