Aintree 2014 - Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle

2.00 Aintree

Injured Jockeys Fund 50th Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1) (4yo)

Winner: £56,270

Advice: 1 pt win, 3 pts place Actival (5/1 Paddy Power, 5/6 Bet365)

Acitival: Beat two rivals to close finish in Stasbourg bumper before promising, albeit well beaten third in Newbury hurdle to Calipto and then running out a ready and impressive winner of Adonis Hurdle at Kempton; Fair to say that he has improved since, and missed festival to be kept fresh for this and has to be rated a big player here.

Agreeement: Nowhere behind Actival in the Adonis but well fancied and mostly in control of his second hurdles start at Stratford; Likely to come on once again for that and well open to aiming at a decent prize here, but huge leap needed this soon to be taking a hand.

Baradari: Beaten long way behind Calipto on debut but another who has since improved a lot, winning well with softer ground next time out and then second in decent Huntingdon race before late headway into Fifth in Fred Winter; Maybe might be given less to do this time but relished the stamina that day and stiffer track probably the one for him.

Broughton: 92 rated on flat, good start to hurdling when he went down narrowly to Fox Norton at Doncaster (gave weight) and then an impressive winner at Musselbrugh (albeit getting 5lbs from runner up); Never got going in Triumph but this track sure to suit more and still of interest.

Calipto: Smooth winner on debut against Actival (that form since boosted by his main market rival) and then once again at Newbury; Favourite for Triumph and making his challenge but irons snapped, killing his chances; Fourth beaten only eight and a half lengths that day and must have a major chance here if all stays intact.

Clarcam: On the go a long time but improved with each run; Plenty of creditable form to his name and was going well when falling in the Fred Winter but well beaten behind Guitar Pete and Borughton (now 5lbs better off) the last twice and that might be his limit.

Commissioned: Maiden over hurdles but how plenty in two starts to get excited about, fourth on Cheltenham debut and then second, albeit well beaten, behind Actival in Adonis juvenile hurdle when last seen; Needs to find a lot quickly be can see him getting involved.

Dispour: Winner of Maisons-Laffite handicap in the summer who toughed out Bangor and Museelborugh wins but limitations exposed in December’s Doncaster Grade 2 and first time blinkers must work the oracle today for him to get involved.

Fox Norton: Disappointed on second of two starts in France following impressive debut but his form since moving to UK is as good as any here; In two runs, gave a huge amount of weight to Royal Irish Hussar on debut and then edged out Broughton in similar conditions.

Guitar Pete: Improver for experience throughought the season, conclusive winner of Tiger Roll in Leopardstown C&D (beat Clarcam convincingly) the time before); Well behind Tiger Roll in the Triumph, but still ran a fine race and can do so again here if long season not caught up with him.

Handiwork: Tons of improvement needed on his ninth in the Fred Winter carrying same weight as winner who also goes here.

Hawk High: Defied his odds to land Fred Winter at Festival following a poor run on heavy ground the time before; Won’t have a surface quite as quick here and this so much tougher for him to deal with, but respected nevertheless.

Rhamnus:  Plenty of ability on the flat but others were better on level and huge first test hurdling.

Violet Dancer: Impressive winner the first twice but since beaten a long way against Le Rocher in the Finale Hurdle and then tenth in the Fred Winter; Plenty to be finding.

Aurore D’ Estruval: Was one of the first two clear for a fine Haydock runner up effort that followed up easy on British debut at Wetherby (2m, heavy); Must now adjust to much better ground and a much better race, but still unexposed air of improvement to come.

VERDICT: Solid rain has seen the ground absorb a bit of cut for what is a quality filled first day. Calipto is a very worthy favourite to make amends for a terribly unlucky Triumph Hurdle effort and he can reserve form with Guitar Pete but there’s a feel that his debut victim ACTIVAL has improved since and bypassing Cheltenham for this event could pay it’s dividends for Harry Fry’s promising charge, who was so impressive in the Adonis juvenile hurdle when last seen, dismissing Commissioned with ease. Close attention should be paid to Fox Norton, a Grade 2 winner when last seen, while Hawk High’s Fred Winter win doesn’t look to be the strongest recent renewal and he has improvement to make yet again.