Aintree
1.45pm
Kobrouk
He missed last season with leg trouble and this is his first start since May 2017, so he has clearly had his troubles in recent times. But he had some very smart form in France, winning five times and finishing runner-up in a couple of Grade 1s, so hopefully he can be competitive here off a hurdles mark of 143. Obviously, we are feeling our way with him after his lengthy break and we don’t know what level he still has once he gets to the track, but he has ability, all right.
2.20pm
Precious Cargo
He is still a work in progress, he is massive and very much a chaser in the making, but he has deserved his place at the top table here after impressive wins at Kempton and Sandown this year. Clearly, it’s a big step up Grade 1 company but his form is not that far detached from the best of these, although Itchy Feet is probably the one we all have to beat.
2.50pm
Mr Whipped
We may not have Santini in here – he is finished for the season, I believe – but I wouldn’t be in a rush to underestimate Mr Whipped. We haven’t seen him since he won at Haydock in December, as I think he picked up an injury afterwards, but we have been very happy with him at home recently, and the step back up to 3m will suit him. He clearly has a lot to find with Topofthegame – that RSA form looks exceptionally strong – but this is a good horse, and one with plenty of improvement in him. And hopefully the first-time cheek pieces will help him, too; he has worked and schooled well in them.
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4.05pm
O O Seven
Although he was eventually beaten a long way in the Ultima, I was thrilled with his run there. He was up there for a long way on ground that was probably on the soft side for him – and probably over a 3m1f trip that stretched him, too – and he has been eased another 1lb for it. I thought he took well to the first-time blinkers there. He didn’t fire in this contest last season, but it was heavy ground there and he finished fourth in 2017 when he loved it, and I can see him running a big race, especially if the ground dries out. He is certainly weighted to go well.
4.40pm
Downtown Getaway
We have always thought a lot of him since he joined us after winning his sole bumper in Ireland, and we were a little bit disappointed when he was beaten at Newbury first time up, though to be fair the winner is a decent horse and we also made a bad mistake there. He showed a good attitude to win narrowly at Ascot last time and his run-style, and pedigree, suggests the step up to 3m will really suit him. He doesn’t have the form of some of these, but of course he is very lightly-raced and we believe there is a lot more to come from him.
5.15pm
The Cob
He needs to progress a fair bit to get competitive here but he has shaped well in testing ground in his two starts – I rode him when he was just touched at Ffos Las on his debut – so any more rain, or watering, will suit.
