Aintree Hurdle - Manifesto Novice Chase

4.50 Aintree

Pinsent Masons Manifesto Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1)  (5YO plus)

Winner £50,643

Advice: 1 pt win Western Warhorse (10/3 general)

Dodging Bullets: Developed into at least as good a chaser as he was a hurdler, impressive winner twice in December before goo second to classy Module (Champion Chase third) before Arkle fourth behind Western Warhorse; This trip and track should suit enough but must overturn that form today.

Fox Appeal: Bypassed Cheltenham unlike the others and does have some form claims, Grade 2 winner at Ascot (2m3f) in December and creditable third in two races at the same level since; Not sure form is as strong as what others are bringing to the table but respected at the least here.

Oscar Wisky: Top class hurdler whose best days came at this meeting, a dual winner of the Aintree Hurdle in 11 and 12’ and has run well in four renewals; Latecomer to chasing but has had a prolific season, winning three times after being beaten by JLT Chase winner Taquin Du Seuil (turned around that form over same C&D later); Departed at first in JLT latest but if putting in a clear round at favourite C&D, will take the beating today.

Uixandre: Came into the JLT off the back of a severe disappointment (bidding for a hat-trick in a handicap) but made a well contested early lead, jumped like a stage, and took a tremendous amount of pulling back when a close second in the JLT; If repeating that same form again, will be hard to pull back and a major player.

Western Warhorse: Has shown plenty of quirks over hurdles along with ablity and looked like he could be a decent chaser when making all to take 2m3f Doncaster novice; Then lined up in Arkle where he defied odds of 33/1 with excellent jumping and total resoluteness having been slightly outpaced to claw back Champagne Fever in shows of the post there; If putting in the same effort today then has to be right there at business end.

VERDICT: A small field but extremely high quality race. This is probably the race for Oscar Whisky, over his favourite C&D, and while he’s possibly not the same chaser as hurdler, his form throughought the season was franked by Taquin Du Seuil in the JLT and he should take the beating. However if one can trust WESTERN WARHORSE then his Arkle win was obviously one of huge potential and he’s likely to be at least as comfortable at this trip, probably what he needs around this course. Uixzandre and Dodging Bullets should go close.