Aintree 2011 - Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle

2.30 Aintree

Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1)  (4YO only)

Winner £56,520

Pick: Zarkandar (win)

Grandouet: Taken time to get used to UK racing but progressing fast now; Gave stablemate A Media Luz 17lb and an easy beating at Newbury in December, and impressed many when making short work of modest opposition at Ascot; Travelled better than anything turning for home in Triumph and will be better suited to a flatter track.

Houblon Des Obeaux: Had looked exposed based on French efforts but was a fine second in Final Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow, arguably best juvenile hurdle run this season; Managed to just get better of Third Intention thanks to fact that runner up pulling too hard and soft ground; Well behind that rival in Triumph on better ground and probably same story here.

Kumbeshwar: Put up a cracking debut hurdling performance to win at Sandown, given that he made up 12 lengths on useful long-time leader from three out, having made mistakes on the way round; Ran belters on all starts since, including when getting pipped by What A Charm in Fred Winter off topweight; Not without chance but hard to see him troubling Triumph horses.

Launchpad: Lot to like about his step – by – step improvement, taking conditions hurdle with ease last time out; That said lot more needed, and  may make useful horse but not fancied for today’s assignment.

Local Hero: Has done everything asked of him in great style on both starts, dotting up at Catterick before giving weight and a beating to Franklino at Doncaster (easily); Gained biggest success yet when gamely beating Third Intention to win Grade 2 on trials day here despite sloppy jumping but that stopped him when well beaten fourth at Chepstow when jumping out to the right; Ran OK in Triumph but unlikely to reverse form here.

Maoi Chinn Tire: Sprang the shock of the season when running away with listed hurdle at 200/1 at beginning of season; Failed to really confirm that form when running at Cheltenham & Kempton, and this again likely to prove too tough.

Oriental Cat: Really quite a capable horse, having won twice and gained a rating of 91 for John Gosden; Seems like a useful type for jumping but lack of experience is too big an ask here.

Palalawi: Has won four out of six at a lower level, making short work of two confidence boosters after being well dispatched by Empire Levant at Doncaster; Struggled when upped in class and although better now, still given swerve.

Third Intention: Showed impressive attitude for a debutant when landing a good juvenile hurdle at Newbury, beating a subsequent second and winner; Built on that in defeat at Cheltenham, pulling hard early on and only just getting caught by Local Hero, and same story again when getting caught by Houblon Des Oebaux; Well beaten by Grandouet and Zarkandar in Triumph but this track is perfect for him, so he may well be closer than form suggests.

Zarkandar: Half-brother to unbeaten Arc winner Zarkava; Showed plenty of talent when finishing first, second and third on only three flat starts in France but made immensely promising debut when jumping well and coming right away with Moltof, and even better form when outclassing Triumph Hurdle rivals, coming right away with slick jump at the last; Should be too good if in same form after foot abscess this week.

VERDICT: The flatter track may well mean that Grandouet and Third Intention get much closer to ZARKANDAR than they did in the Triumph, but the winner that day should be too good again if a foot abscess hasn’t bothered him too much.