Aintree Hurdle 2012

2.50 Aintree

John Smith's Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £90,032

Advice: 2 pts win Zarkandar (5/2 general) & 1 pt Simonsig, Sprinter Sacre, Zarkandar treble (6.08 Hills)

Oscar Whisky: Winner of this last year to round off an amazing campaign and just as good this season, winning twice at Cheltenham before coming only fifth in the World Hurdle, having looked like a major threat to Big Bucks coming around the home turn only to fade into fifth; That down to stamina and should take some catching here in a bold bid to defend his crown.

Rock On Ruby: Second in the Neptune last year and hasn’t stopped improving since, firstly bolting up in Newbury listed handicap before Christmas Hurdle second and then impressive Champion Hurdle win at Cheltenham, kicking off the home bend and sealing the race there and then; No stamina doubts here and will take all the beating if avoiding the slump in form that accompanied him between Cheltenham and Aintree last year, although he is a better horse this time round with a week longer to recover.

Saphir River: Game fourth in the 2m4f handicap hurdle yesterday but has tons to find here and passed over.

Third Intention: Won his first start at this trip with ease at Fontwell, but that not a strong contest all round and since been held at Cheltenham in Coral Cup; This is a massive step up in class for him and needs more.

Thousand Stars: Revelation over past two seasons, filling the frame in plenty of Grade 1’s last season (best effort when only failing to catch Oscar Whiskey in last year’s renewal) and finally got a Grade 1 of his very own when winning the French Champion Hurdle; Not been quite as good this season but still performed to a very high level and World Hurdle fourth a creditable effort; Interesting to see if he’s ridden more aggressively this year given how fast he was closing on Thousand Stars at the end of last year’s renewal and holds a major chance based purely on that form.

Zarkandar: Best juvenile of strong crop last year, winning Adonis and Triumph Hurdles, before only class dragged him through when below par at this meeting last year; Sterling effort to win Totesport Trophy on his seasonal debut off slow pace but that effort took something out of hjm (coughing afterwards) and not at best in Champion Hurdle, where he finished faster than anything to make fifth; Step upto 2m4f sure to suit on that evidence and needs serious respecting.

VERDICT: A cracking renewal with 4 Grade 1 winners, all of whom have a realistic chance. ZARKANDAR has 6 & ½ lengths to make up on Rock On Ruby but he may not have been at his peak form that day with the yard under a cloud (something backed up by the performances of the yard’s runners that week and their improvement this week), and with the step up in trip sure to help, he can reverse that form and take his third Grade 1 event. Last year’s winner Oscar Whisky deserves significant respect returning to his best trip after failing to say 3 miles in the World Hurdle, with Thousand Stars also looking as if he’d have proven more potent over 2m4f that day.