AINTREE – FRIDAY

1:45 G3 Hurdle

Kobrouk (Nico de Boinville)

He’s been jumping fences in France and makes his British hurdles debut off a mark of 143 but he’s been off for absolutely yonks and I just need to get a run into him. He has looked pretty versatile trip-wise and stays well so a fast pace will suit, although I would be concerned about the ground and we’ll know much more about him after this.

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2:20 G1 Top Novice Hurdle

Precious Cargo (Nico de Boinville)

He arrived from Lucinda Russell’s last year and has done everything right since joining us at Seven Barrows. He stepped up massively on his debut for us when winning in good style at Sandown carrying a big weight and seems to be improving with every run. I know it’s an overused cliché but whatever he does over hurdles is a bonus as he’s a big strong person who will make a great chaser as he’s bred to stay. He’s come out of Sandown in great form and deserves to take his chance at this level, although for a big horse, I do have slight reservations about whether this track will really play to his strengths, but he is an extremely exciting prospect.

2:50 G1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase

Mr Whipped (Nico de Boinville)

He’s had a couple of minor issues which have kept him off the track since winning in good style at Haydock in December but he’s been ready to go for a while and we’ve had this race in mind for quite some time. Hopefully the cheek pieces will help and the step back up to three miles will definitely be in his favour too. His jumping has been great and while we have Topofthegame to beat, this horse is very talented and has grown a lot over the past year too and I’m really looking forward to getting him out and seeing what he’s made of. I quite fancy him to go very close to be honest.

3:25 G1 Melling Chase

Top Notch (Daryl Jacob)

We all adore dear old Top Notch and while he’s not quite an Altior he is everyones favourite in the yard as he just gets on with the job and never runs a bad race. There are only seven runners but it looks a very competitive race so we’ll be over the moon if he can run into a place.

4:05 G3 Topham Chase

Janika (Daryl Jacob)

He’s paid the price for three very good efforts in defeat since joining us and has gone up 17lbs which gives him top weight in this and is perhaps slightly unfair. I’ve always had this race in the back of my mind for him, however, as I think he’ll reallly appreciate a test like this and his jumping is very good. I’ve never won a Grand National but have somehow managed to train the winner of the Topham about five times so I’m hoping this lad can add to our good record. Obviously you can never be overly confident in a race of this nature but he’s in great form and if he can get some luck I’m quite hopeful of a bold show.

OO Seven (Nico de Boinville)

He loves good ground and was fourth in this race two years ago from a 1lb higher mark but hated the ground last year so was pulled up. We put the blinkers on first time at Cheltenham and he absolutely flew round there and if they have the same effect here I think he has a fantastic chance as he has plenty of experience which counts for a lot in a race over these fences.

Divine Spear (James Bowen)

Things haven’t got at all well for him recently and he races from 1lb out of the Handicap but he strikes me as the sort of horse whi might enjoy a challenge like this and he is very effective on good ground. On the back of his last two runs I’m not saying by any stretch of the imagination that he’s ‘win’ material but he’s been in good form at home and can sneak into a place if getting some luck.

Kilcrea Vale (Jerry McGrath)

He’s finished third and fourth on his only two runs over these fences and is a few pounds lower this year as well, albeit racing from out of the handicap. I think this is his best trip as he’s not quite looked to be getting three miles so he’ll be happier dropping back down here. The ground will suit and I think he has great chance under his featherweight 10st!

4:40 G1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle

Champ (Barry Geraghty)

We’re stepping him up to three miles which I don’t think will be a problem, as long as he settles, which may be the problem! I thought he ran a great race at Cheltenham in the Ballymore and he has come out of that in good shape. With a name like him he’s always going to be placed on a pedestal but we’ve liked him from day one and I’m very hopeful of a big run. He’ll probably go Novice chasing next year.

Downtown Getaway (Nico de Boinville)

He wasn’t impresssive at Ascot and we got balloted out of Cheltenham which was very frustrating but you never know, that may be a blessing in disguise as he arrives here fresher than some. He has to improve again but the step up to this distance will really help and it’ll be very interesting to see how he fares in this company.