AINTREE – FRIDAY

1:45 G3 Handicap Hurdle

Monte Cristo (Daryl Jacob)

He ran a very good race at Cheltenham and it was just a shame a horse fell in front of him at the last because that seem to knock the stuffing out of him and I think he would’ve finished third or fourth without that happening. He’s a strong traveller with a lot of ability and has been in good form at home so goes there with a decent chance.

Mister Coffey (Nico de Boinville)

He definitely comes into this race quite nicely off the back of a very good effort in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last time and is settling down much better which means we are able to ride a proper race on him. He wants two and a half miles and I think he’ll run very well.

2:20 G1 Top Novices’ Hurdle

Dusart (Nico De Boinville)

I am very keen to step him up in trip but I just thought the two and a half looked very competitive for him at this stage of his career so we’re opting for the minimum trip but I must admit I am still a little bit nervous keeping him at two miles because he will be better over further. His winning debut was very impressive in a race that has worked out very well and we all got very excited afterwards, but unfortunately he had a terrible accident in the yard not long after which required a stay at the equine hospital and we didn’t think we were going to get him back quite so soon but he’s done very well to come back from that so quickly when it could’ve easily gone the other way and we wouldn’t have seen him until next season. Speaking of next season, whatever he does here will be a bonus because I think he will be a star next year anyway.

2:50 G1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase

Chantry House (Nico De Boinville)

We are going up in trip which is definitely the right thing to do because he didn’t really travel that well at Cheltenham and Nico was always having to coax him along because he was off the bridle most of the way after Shan Blue went off about a zillion miles an hour. We’ve always thought a great deal of him and while Envoi Allen was undoubtedly unlucky in falling at Cheltenham we were hoping we weren’t going to be that far behind him anyway. This is no gimme and he needs to continue improving but I think that’s entirely possible and he goes there with a favourites chance.

4:05 G3 Topham Chase

Caribean Boy (Daryl Jacob)

The most important thing with this horse is that he has to break well; if he doesn’t he ends up playing catch up the whole way so Daryl will be on the ball as soon as the flag goes up and try and bowl along. I think this is a fantastic race for him because the trip is ideal, he jumps very well and I think he has a serious chance.

Morning Vicar (James Bowen)

I ran him for a bit of fun over 3m1f in the Kim Muir when he blatantly didn’t stay because he travelled for all the world like the winner but stopped very quickly so the drop down in distance is a big plus and he schooled lovely over the Grand National style fences. He is a lovely horse with a great attitude and hopefully he can put up a decent show and finish in the money on ground that is ideal.

Precious Cargo (Nico De Boinville)

He’s a big brute of a horse, a proper old-fashioned looking chaser, who is very talented but things haven’t gone quite right for him because the biggest problem is his wind and he does struggle with his breathing. But if he can breath and hang on to it for long enough he’ll love jumping these fences, and on his day he’s got a lot of talent so it wouldn’t entirely surprise me to see him run well at decent odds.

Lust For Glory (Sam Waley-Cohen)

She still a novice so it will be some effort she can win but she is very, very tough and we all know this is a race the Waley-Cohen’s like to win. It is a big ask but she jumps well, this is her trip and ground and there is no reason to suggest why she can’t go well off a nice low weight.

Shishkin
Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Chase (G1)

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4:40 G1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle

Gallyhill (Nico De Boinville)

The plan was always to skip Cheltenham because he wasn’t quite ready for something like that and this is where we wanted to come. The step up to three miles is a big plus because he looked like he was crying out for the extra distance at Ascot last time and his work has been very good. It’s a particularly good race and while I’m not a betting man I certainly wouldn’t be putting you off having a pound win on him at 10/1.

Bothwell Bridge (James Bowen)

He will probably want the ground a little softer but at least this is three miles, which is what he wants, and he is a very nice horse for the future but I do think chasing is very much the name of his game.