Aintree 2014 - Top Novices' Hurdle

2.00 Aintree

International Festival For Business 2014 Top Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)
Winner £34,170 

Advice: 1 pt win Sergeant Reckless (5/1 general)

Amore Alato: Improved steadily through the season, going all the way at Wincanton and Kempton (ahead of Sergeant Reckless) before solid placed efforts at Cheltenham and when second in the Dovecote latest; Can go well once again here.

Art of Payroll: Didn’t cut much ice in pair of graded contests earlier in the season but desperately unlucky not to win Leopardstown handicap hurdle in February and then made amends in style of graded performer latest when winning competitive contest on the bridle

Baltimore Rock: Made it 3-5 over hurdles when taking major Sandown handicap, and then balloted out of County Hurdle when going for bonus; Only raced on softer than good but still can’t be ruled out of things today and should go well.

Gentleman Jon: Only second run over hurdles when landing Wincanton contest; Obviously can improve further upon that today but bare form needs a lot of improving on.

Irish Cavalier: Won in game manner when taking hurdles record to 4-3, enjoying the better ground after not being able to handle heavy surface the time before; Can’t fail to admire attitude but many questions over form upped in grade.

Josses Hill: Looked a fine prospect when landing bumper and maiden hurdle (particularly strong at the end of both races) before coming clear with stablemate in Tolworth latest; Then second in the Supreme, unable to live with Vatour but best of the rest when running with huge problem and should take the beating here.

King of the Picts: Creditable runs the last four times in graded races, 2^nd to The Tullow Tank when the only one to really handle quite testing ground and the third in the Deloitte; Something to find here.

Mijhaar: One of many from yard with impressive flat form who was deeply impressive on hurdling debut before running away with himself in heavy ground at Huntingdon, weakening and most likely beaten when falling at the last; Clearly better than that but facing stiff upping in class here.

Sergeant Reckless: Well thought of at bumper horse and showed what he could do when flooring Supreme favourite at Kempton; Behind Almaore Alato over Christmas but a smooth winner at Kempton in wamrup for Supreme and made most ground of anything up the hill to snatch fourth late; Possible that he didn’t handle the track that day but should be kept in much closer order and not much to find with Josses Hill

The Game Changer: Better than in Naas listed event than Grade 1 over Christmas and in Boylesports.com Hurdle, but both those runs suggested graded company beyond him at this moment in time.

VERDICT: Three of the last four running’s of this have been won by Nicky Henderson runners who went to the Supreme beforehand, so Josses Hill should go very well here, but SERGEANT RECKLESS was not far behind and has considerably more ground to make up that day. Things will play our differently around this track but he’s not short of speed and kept in loser order, he can cause a minor shock today. Art of Payroll and Almore Alato, who has beaten the selection earlier in the season, should go well while Baltimore Rock can’t be discounted.