Coral Hurdle 2012

2.45 Aintree

Coral Hurdle (Registered As The Ascot Hurdle) (Grade 2) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £50,643

Advice: 8 pts win Oscar Whisky (4/5 Hills)

Get Me Out Of Here: Gained deserved reward for his succession of runner up efforts in strong races last year (including the Betfair Hurdle and Coral Cup) when running out a convincing winner of Grade 2 at Fairyhouse on final start of last season; Should go well following convincing return at Kempton when beating decent rival but 7lbs worse off with Oscar Whisky for their meeting at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and doesn’t make appeal to turn that form around.

Oscar Whisky: Established top class chaser for the past couple of seasons, winning Aintree Hurdle for the past two years and being unbeaten outside of the Cheltenham Festival over hurdles barring his fall at the last in this last year, when trying to give 8lbs to Overturn (was upsides); Class clear of these at his best.

Brampour: Held his head high when pitched in the highest of company after successive big handicap hurdle wins last year (third in International Hurdle last year) despite being outclassed on number of occasions; Shouldn’t be good enough based on his second to Get Me Out Of Here lastest despite being 4lbs better off.

Raya Star: Unbelievable progress from third in Gerry Field Hurdle at Newbury last season, winning Ladbroke/Scottish Champion Hurdle and coming third in Betfair Hurdle; Deserves rise into graded company based upon his win under topweight here in October, doing it well considering he was giving stone to runner up; Should go well but Oscar Whisky different class.

VERDICT: Aintree Hurdle winner OSCAR WHISKY should be a class above these on his best form, and it’s a testament to his ability that he’s only been beaten at the Cheltenham Festival when staying up over hurdles in his career. He can beat Raya Star, Get Me Out Of Here, and Brampour.