Racecards
13:25 Aintree
Crabbie's Grand National 2016 On Sale Maiden Hurdle (Class 4)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good (Watered)
- Surface: Turf
- £8,000 added
- Winner: £5,198
- 2nd: £1,526
- 3rd: £763
- 4th: £382
American (FR)
330- Form 1-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer H Fry
- Jockey N D Fehily
tracked leading pair, went 2nd at 6th, led narrowly 2 out, headed last, ridden and no extra in clear 3rd flat
- Form 1642-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer Danielle McCormick
- Jockey Adrian Lane
with leader, led 2nd, headed 2 out, soon one pace, no chance with front trio from last
- Form 15-5
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Miss R Curtis
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up off the pace in 4th, lost place before 6th, struggling 4 out, tailed off when hit 2 out
- Form 32-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
held up towards rear, headway into 4th before 6th, close up 3 out, challenged next, led narrowly last, ridden and headed flat, no extra final 100 yards
- Form 33
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 110
held up in rear, hampered 7th, struggling 4 out, tailed off
Perform (IRE)
225- Form 5-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up behind, steady headway before 3 out, upsides last, ridden to lead narrowly flat, kept on, going away final 100 yards
Swizzler (IRE)
175- Form 021-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey W T Kennedy
led, headed 2nd, tracked leader to 6th, 3rd when fell next
Verdict
Knockgraffon and winning pointers American and Swizzler all make their hurdling debuts but face no easy task with the remaining quartet having all shown signs of promise. It may be worth giving GOING FOR BROKE another chance as he looked ill at ease around Newton Abbot on his reappearance. This more galloping track will suit, as will the extra quarter-mile. Perform is well bred and shaped nicely at Uttoxeter in the spring - he has more scope than either Echo Springs or Medieval Bishop.
Formwatch
American (FR) 2-1 (11-9) Alw pr, rdn to close 3out, ev ch last, badly hmprd close home (finished second but awarded race), won at Rockfield 3m mdn sft in Nov beating Always On The Run (11-9) by nk, 7 ran.
Echo Springs 9-2fav (11-2) Mid-division, driven and headway 4 out, chased leaders next, left in 2nd before 2 out, kept on well under pressure, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Imagine The Chat (11-2) at Bangor 3m mdn (5) gd in Apr.
Going For Broke (IRE) 2-1fav (10-12) Held up, pushed along and effort to chase leaders after 3 out, no impression, well beaten 2 out, 5th of 9, 14 1/4l behind Simon Squirrel (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 2f (4) gs in Oct.
Knockgraffon (IRE) 8-11fav (11-4) Held up in touch, closed 8f out, challenged over 4f out until over 3f out, no chance with winner final 2f, 2nd of 5, 19l behind Kayf Adventure (10-11) at Warwick 2m (6) hvy in Mar.
Medieval Bishop (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway approaching 7th, ridden and weakened before 3 out, 3rd of 6, 20l behind Royal Sea (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn (5) gd in Oct.
Perform (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Held up in touch towards rear on outside, not fluent 6th, hit running rail and faltered briefly before next, closed well before 3 out, every chance when blundered 2 out, 3rd and beaten last, weakened flat, 5th of 7, 18 3/4l behind Doctor Phoenix (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (4) sft in Mar.
Swizzler (IRE) 2-1 (12-2) Mid div, 4th frm 6th, 2nd 6out, chall brfly 5out, ld 2out, 4l adv in command when mstk last, easily, won at Curraheen 3m mdn gs in May beating Moderation (12-2) by 8l, 11 ran.