3.05 Aintree
John Smith's Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1) (4YO plus)
Winner £112,540
Advice: 1 pt each/way Zarkandar (6/1 general), 1 pt win
Grandouet (9/2 general)
Countrywide Flame: Stayed best of all to win the Triumph
Hurdle last year at Cheltenham and only just denied from following up here afterwards;
Not looked back since, impressive winner of Fighting Fifth and then unsuited by
test of speed that Christmas Hurdle and 2m conditions hurdle at Doncaster
became; Third in Champion Hurdle and 2m4f really ought to suit around this
track, so one of many main players.
Grandouet: Always been top class but niggling problems
prevented him from showing that ability (only had 5 runs post juvenile season);
That said, impressive on first run for a year when only fitness beat him in International
Hurdle (tied up late on giving 4lbs to Zarkandar) and absolutely cantering when coming down 4
out in Champion Hurdle (too early to say if he’d have been involved in finish
but all signs say he’d have been hard to beat) and while some question his stamina
for this trip, track should suit perfectly and much to recommend him. 
Oscar Whisky: Beaten long before stamina was an issue in
World Hurdle latest but flopped in that race last season before bouncing back
here and near unbeatable over this distance, as shown by his seven wins over
2m4f and also his wins in the last two renewals of this weight; Disconcerting
for some that he hasn’t gotten Barry Geraghty on-board but McCoy substitutes
and plenty to recommend.
Prospect Wells: Very good on the flat and has been as good,
if not better, over hurdles with solid efforts both here and at Cheltenham
Festival; Grade 2 win came by long margin latest but a step behind these based
on previous effort when second to Zarkandar getting a stone in weight at
beginning of season.
Raya Star: 17 lengths behind Zarkandar latest and also 8 lengths
behind Oscar Whisky Can’t hope to win on that form. 
Saphir River: No chance at this level. 
The New One: Only beaten in last year’s Champion Bumper last
season, and ready winner over My Tent Or Yours at this festival last year
afterwards, and been one of he most impressive novice hurdlers this season, destroying
opposition in Neptune Hurdle to the tune of 5 lengths; Speaks a lot of him that
he’s chucked in at deep end here and could still frighteningly have more to
offer, but Neptune panned out in his favour
ideally (very slowly run race) and this a vastly different task;
Respected.
Thousand Stars: Had a fine run at top level since winning
County Hurdle in 2010, never far away no matter what company he tackled; Second
in the last two renewals of this (Oscar Whiskey beat him both times) and while
if at that form he would have a big chance, but this a deeper renewal and
latest effort so, so disappointing. 
Zarkandar: High class at his best but never got to show it
last season when dogged by sickness (only fifth in Champion Hurdle, then fell
here); Unbeaten in three runs this season, including when dogged winner of
International Hurdle getting 4lbs from Grandouet (heavy) but disappointing at
Cheltenham (behind Countrywide Flame) when one paced fourth in Champion Hurdle;
Needs to improve on that but this step up in trip should suit him down to the
ground, Ruby Walsh back on and blinkers may well help him with his finishing effort.
VERDICT: One of the races of the season, let alone the
meeting. The New One’s Cheltenham romp was one of serious potential and he did
look championship class that day, but he beat future chasers in a slowly run
race and beating the very best in a strongly run race is a very different task;
He’s got a strong chance but whether he should be favorite is debatable given
that he’s got improvement to make still on that Cheltenham performance. As with
many previous renewals of this, the answer may lie within this year’s Champion
Hurdle, with ZARKANDAR given a chance to atone for a disappointing Champion
Hurdle effort over a trip that he’s been crying out for, with blinkers and the return
of Ruby Walsh additional positives. It might also be worth backing GRANDOUET,
who may be 0-4 in meetings with Zarkandar but is weighted to turn around the
tables from their previous meeting and should stay 2m4f no problem on this
track; Countrywide Flame will be on the premises as well. The 1-2 for the last
two years, Oscar Whisky and Thousand Stars, deserve obvious respect despite
this being a steeper race than the one the both of them dominated for the last
two years.
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