Premier Handicap Hurdle (1.20 Aintree Saturday)

[Ian_Davies]

Seeing as they won't lay me any sort of a bet, let alone guarantee me anything, I refuse to type the race title on a point of general F-ing principle.

That aside, this is another cracking contest and completes my trio of big Saturday Aintree Handicaps (Lord Euronymous has created a handy thread to mop up everything else on Merseyside), so that's the lot from me in the Big-Race thread creation department for this week.

Ante-Post betting: https://www.oddschecker.com/horse-r...nt/top-price-guarantee-handicap-hurdle/winner

 

[Ian_Davies]

One doesn't have a strong view on this yet, but Navajo Indy, up a MILE in trip after coming from Thatcham to finish third in the "Schweppes" is of potential interest, as is Hamsiyann IF it gets in.

The latter was runner up in a Chester Cup off OR87 (for which he was fairly put up to OR91), showed he can be a force over timber when winning at Cheltenham and no way does a 10lb hike to OR121 cripple his potential over a trip in this sphere.

He's got a big 3m handicap hurdle in him off his current mark, Musselburgh lapse notwithstanding.

Trouble is his mark is so low he keeps failing to make the cut in the kind of races (like this one) they clearly want to have a crack at.

 

[Robicheaux]

Ruth Jefferson amongst the winners lately. Could be interested in Sounds Russian if he's declared. May be on a good mark hurdling, after some good chasing efforts.

 

[Ian_Davies]

22 declared.

The progressive Irish raider Rushmount might be alright in this at 20/1 or bigger on the machine.

Betting: https://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing/2025-04-05-aintree/13:20/winner

 

[Robicheaux]

22 declared.

The progressive Irish raider Rushmount might be alright in this at 20/1 or bigger on the machine.

Betting: https://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing/2025-04-05-aintree/13:20/winner

With original fancy Sounds Russian gunning for unlikely grade 1 glory later in the afternoon . Nurse Susan, should strip a lot fitter after blowing off the cobwebs at Cheltenham.... 90 rated flat horse Darton may be a lively outsider.

 

[Ian_Davies]

90 rated flat horse Dartan may be a lively outsider.

THIS^, from m'learned online friend, is by no means a bad shout in my book.

Dartan will love the ground, stays well and three-figure odds on the machine are frankly huge.

 

[Desert Orchid]

The sponsors restrict me to pennies, wont let me bet ew and won't allow boosts or guarantees or anything else so I'm happy to bad mouth them at every opporchancity.

As for the race, I have a very strong main fancy (which I haven't backed yet) and two ew pops, also as yet unbacked. I'm waiting for the morning BOGs.

 

[Outsider]

Bo zenith took 14s. Steps right up in trip.

 

[Generous1991]

I'm going to take a punt that Bill Joyce is the one to step forward on (1) better ground and (2) up in trip.

 

[Desert Orchid]

There's a few non-runners now so I'm glad I waited. I got 13/2 Bill Joyce for the main bet, which might work out better than 4 R4s at last night's price. It's joint-top on my ratings and is a first-season novice so could be some way better still.

One of my other fancies is one of the non-runners which is also money saved.

My longshot is Shanagh Bob 33/1, 5 places.

Edit - my sickness insurance bet is also out (Nurse Susan) so I've switched to Barry Lyndon 16/1, 5 places. He's my other joint-top.

 

[Ian_Davies]

And the non runners are because of the ground which, as suspected, has absorbed all the irrigation like a sponge.

And I reckon it's even quicker on the Mildmay Chase Course.

 

[Desert Orchid]

My take on the race but I haven't edited the BO column from yesterday's prices (my bets in green):

Edit - nearly forgot about Dartan on last year's form on good ground so I've now added that at 100/1.

 

[Ian_Davies]

Check out Deep Cave's previous career best run (according to RPR) and the time of the race - very well done anyone who backed it (I didn't).