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12:25 Aintree

European Breeders Fund 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier) (Class D)

  • 12 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 110y
  • Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 4m 11.40s
  • 12 Ran
1
Silk - Orange, Dark Blue chevrons, Orange sleeves, Orange cap Dark Blue diamond

Argento

24
6/1
  • Form 323112
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-8

tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, ridden 2 out, headed and hit last, one-paced

2
Silk - EMERALD GREEN and YELLOW (quartered), WHITE sleeves and cap
  • Form 23/50-3
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-12

led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened

3
Silk - ROYAL BLUE, EMERALD GREEN sleeves, WHITE cap, EMERALD GREEN spots
  • Form 20-6
  • Age 4
  • Weight 10-12

mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, every chance approaching last, no extra flat

4
Silk - Emerald Green, Pink epaulets, sleeves and cap
7/1
  • Form 15-F
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-12

chased leaders, in 4th and one-paced when blundered badly last

5
Silk - Light Blue, Dark Blue sash, hooped sleeves, quartered cap
  • Age 4
  • Weight 10-12

always behind

6
Silk - White, Dark Blue and Light Green striped sleeves, Light Green cap
  • Form 25-
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-12

held up mid-division, headway 4 out, hit next, soon weakened

7
Silk - Black and White stripes, diamonds on sleeves, Emerald Green and Red quartered cap
  • Form 430-350
  • Age 4
  • Weight 10-12

held up, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened

8
Silk - BEIGE, BROWN hooped sleeves, ORANGE cap
  • Form 65-54
  • Age 5
  • Weight 10-12

held up, headway after 4 out, ridden and slightly hampered 2 out, led last, driven out

9
Silk - Light Blue, Dark Blue chevron hoops on body and sleeves, Light Blue cap, White spots
13/2
  • Form 1/400-P
  • Age 5
  • Weight 10-12

prominent and radced keen, weakened when mistake 3 out, pulled up before next

10
Silk - Purple, Yellow spots on sleeves, Purple cap, Yellow diamond
100/1
  • Form 0-
  • Age 5
  • Weight 10-12

mid-division and raced keen, behind approaching 3 out, pulled up before next

11
Silk - Dark Blue, Orange star, armlets and cap
  • Form 035-00
  • Age 4
  • Weight 10-12

in touch, ridden and weakened when hit 3 out

12
Silk - Pale blue, cherry spots, blue cap
100/1
  • Form 0-46304
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-7

mid-division, driven along approaching 5th, behind from approaching 3 out

In depth

Verdict

An interesting contest with a number of unexposed types in opposition including Intersky Native. The Nicky Richards-trained gelding has been absent since running below expectations in a bumper at Perth in April but had previously shown a fair level of form when runner-up at Bangor last December and looks sure to go well on his hurdling bow. Encore Cadoudal will be sharper for his recent return and is respected but Fair Prospect and Real Shady both disappointed on their reappearance and now have something to prove so the TEAMtalk pick is Argento. The son of Weldnaas has taken well to timber with back to back wins at Hexham and Sedgefield last month and was far from disgraced when narrowly denied a hat-trick at the latter course on his most recent outing. The five-year-old has proven experience and sets a useful standard so should be hard to beat despite a double penalty.