Aintree 2014 - Mersey Novices' Hurdle 2014

1.30 Aintree

Pertemps Network Mersey Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)
Winner £42,202

Advice: 2 pts win Wilde Blue Yonder (9/2 general)

Dell’ Arca: Has had a fine season since coming to UK, winning Greatwood Hurdle and making amends in some fashion when then second in Betfair Hurdle; Fifth in competitive Coral Cup no disgrace and this track what he wants at the distance; Not rules out if backing up.

Kayf Moss: Unbeaten in three since the blinkers came on, including when showing dine attitude after making all when winning National Sprit Hurdle; possible that 1444 rating undestimates him but all of his three wins have come on heavy ground and will be hard to lead all the way today.

Kilcooley: Three from three this season at Market Rasen, his hardpulling tendency not an issue when landing two of those three novice hurdles; Don’t expect trip to be a problem and other front runners here so possible that he could settle better today, but upped significantly in class.

Lac Fontana: Progressive since not making grade in Triumph last year, winning maiden and handicap hurdle in smooth style before then coming with late charge to land Triumph at Cheltenham Festival; Been looking as if this trip on radar for a long time and sure to go well here.

Monkey Kingdom: Only bumper win now looks a decent result and two for two over hurdles, making all at Chepstow and Bangor both times; Encouraging that he looked a lot better on faster surface at Bangor although getting plenty of weight

No No Romeo: Clear bumper winner at Southwell although well beaten the next time and this a demanding hurdling debut for him.

Oscar Hoof: Prolific bumper winner who has done the same over hurdles, second on Listed debut before then winning easily at Doncaster and then Kempton under penalty; No impossible that he’s still better than that and can be in the shakeup today.

Sea Lord: Won six on the spin last year but last three runs the ones you’d want to judge for this sort of test; Strong at the finish in Perth handicap when following up Market Rasen Listed event and same when running out a ready winner of Kempton novice event, but thrashed by The Liquidator at Cheltenham in November; Laid out for this presumably although stamina potential issue. 

Splash of Ginge: Ready winner here in December and held his form through the season but notable that, despite Betfair Hurdle win, he’s faded badly the last times he’s tried further than 2 miles (held up to get the trip once); Needs far more than he does here.

Un Ace: Midfield when never really fancied at this meeting in bumper last year; Destroyed opposition in Doncaster maiden hurdle and while he was well beaten in Supreme, never closer than at the finish there and not that far behind Wilde Blue Yonder; Can get closer still here.

Volnay De Thaix: Impressive winner of Kempton and Newbury races before well-beaten second at Ascot to Irving; Impressive handicap win at Newbury bodes well for more improvement and this step up in trip probably the least he wants now so taken seriously.

Wilde Blue Yonder: Another to run in bumper here last year; Far better hurdler, winning maiden at Newbury before falling when set to go very close at same course and then Ascot; Clear round in the Supreme though when he flew for fifth late (held up out of his ground) and this longer trip gives him excellent chance.

VERDICT: A fiercely contested event with a host of possible winners. WILDE BLUE YONDER makes the most appeal of those, with this new trip sure to improve him and the Supreme novices’ form already looking strong. Kept closer to the pace today, he should go close. Un Ace can go close for the same reasons while Lac Fontana’s Country Hurdle win gives him a big chance.