Aintree Hurdle Preview

The Grade One Aintree Hurdle provides the main supporting role for the Grand National on Saturday April 14 and this year’s renewal looks a real belter despite the small and select field which has been entered.

Played out over a distance of two-miles-and-four-furlongs, the race is often contested by Champion Hurdle horses and Rock On Ruby will indeed bid to follow up on his romping success at the Cheltenham Festival.

Paul Nicholls’ charge was largely unfancied before the race at Prestbury Park but he demonstrated a fine cruising speed and powerful finishing kick to see off Binocular and red hot favourite Hurricane Fly among others.

Rock On Ruby appeared to finish the race a fresh horse and the way he stayed suggested that the extended trip around Liverpool should be no problem.

But with the Cheltenham hill seemingly playing into to the seven-year-olds hands, Rock On Ruby may struggle to do as much damage on a flat track.

Cheltenham’s stiff finish undoubtedly proved a bridge too far for amazing dual purpose horse Overturn who came a gallant second in the Champion Hurdle after leading for the majority of the race.

Donald McCain’s horse jumped beautifully throughout and may be the one to dominate here with conditions likely to suit.

Overturn already has top class form in the book having won the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle and his proven fitness makes him a solid bet at 8/1 as opposed to Rock On Ruby who holds favouritism at 9/4.

Rock On Ruby also has history against him as horses seldom manage to complete a high profile Cheltenham/Aintree double – with Istabraq being the last to do so in 1999.

Another horse warranting major respect is Oscar Whisky, who failed to land a blow in the World Hurdle over three miles.

It was plain to see that Nicky Henderson’s star failed to see out the trip in a strongly ridden contest and the drop back to two and a half miles should see the seven-year-old back to his best.

After winning the race last year, Oscar Whisky must rate as a main danger and has a serious chance of becoming the first horse to win back to back renewals since Al Eile in 2008.

Betfair Hurdle winner Zarkandar caught the eye when a staying on fifth in the Champion and the five-year-old could also make the frame if the extra distance has a positive impact.

Nevertheless, last year’s Triumph Hurdle victor was a fair way behind the others and may not be top class as once anticipated.

Thousand Stars from the Willie Mullins yard is a very good horse in his own right and the grey is joined by Oscars Well to complete a double-pronged attack from across the Irish Sea.

The latter, trained by Jessica Harrington, has threatened to win a big race on more than one occasion but it will be extremely difficult to for him to reverse the form with a number of these so soon after the Festival.

Credible handicap performer Get Me Out Of Here completes the line-up but Jonjo O’Neill’s representative will surely have to find a lot of improvement to figure and he had a hard race carrying a big weight in the Coral Cup.

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28/03/2012     © Frixo 2024