Aintree Saturday Preview - 06/11/21

The first runner of the afternoon for us comes in the Novices' Hurdle over 2m4f that over the years has been won by some talented horses.

Looking to follow in their footsteps Hillcrest fits the profile for Henry Daly, being a very smart bumper horse last term that should improve for the step over timber.

Last term the son of Stowaway was first seen in January finishing a good second behind a nice type for Nicky Henderson in a bumper at Doncaster and off the back of that got off the mark for the first time when landing an event at Wetherby.

Both of those runs showed plenty of promise and looks the one to beat.

Act Of God fits the profile of a strong travelling type sure to be well suited to Aintree.

Edward O'Grady's Irish raider has been kept up to his work throughout the summer and there should be no quarrels surrounding fitness heading into this race.

The son of Camelot is yet to prove his stamina capabilities over the three mile trip, however the manner of his victory at Bellewstown has signified potential for him to relish the longer distance given how he stayed on at the line; a manner of finish replicated at Listowel on his last hurdles start when not able to reach the long time leaders despite staying on markedly well.

He was given a run out on the flat last time out, proving the good level of form he is currently in, always doing enough to win by a half length margin at Gowran Park.

He looks set to run a big race here and may just make the trip across the Irish Sea well worth his connections time and efforts.

A very exciting selection of ours at Aintree on Saturday is the Ben Pauling trained Your Darling who makes his second start over fences in the Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.

The six yer old gelding was highly touted to be a superstar off the back of beating the promising Flinteur Sacre in a bumper at Newbury on his rules debut.

However, after that nothing went to plan, pulling up in a bumper at Warwick and then never really showing any of that promise over hurdles.

He seemed to turn things around in May when winning his first event over timber an then given a break returned for his chase debut last month at Huntingdon.

Stepped up to 2m4f over the bigger obstacles he took to them like a dream to beat a decent field comfortably.

He is up 8lb for that win but he looked to have bundles in hand that day and should go well again.

Senior Citizen was a highly progressive chaser last year, mainly running over the 2 1/2 mile trips and is our selection in the feature Grand Sefton Handicap Chase.

He performed admirably to finish fourth on his first time step up to graded company at Newbury for the Grade Three Greatwood Gold Cup and backed up that form with a third placed finish here at Aintree in the Topham Handicap Chase next time out.

Alan King has had this race targeted for Senior Citizen who returned from a five month break last time out to readily land a Class 2 handicap chase at Market Rasen, travelling noticeably strong before keeping on well at the finish in that affair.

He's entitled to have come on for that comeback run and appears to be in great order ahead of this step back up in grade.

The penultimate selection of the afternoon comes in the two mile Handicap Chase and Golden Whisky dropping in trip looks an attractive runner.

The Evan Williams trained runner is a largely consistent chaser and with the trainer winning this event in 2019, he normally targets it.

In the second half of last season the horse got his act together, winning a decent event at Ludlow over 2m4f and then backed that up at Fakenham and Sandown with two decent placed efforts in tricky conditions.

He is only 2lb higher than his latest second and dropping back to two miles he looks a player having form in a better race at the distance.

Another strong event on the Aintree card is the 2m4f Betway Hurdle and last year's winner Summerville Boy could be the value in the race off his current mark.

The nine year old has been a superstar for the Tom George yard landing the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival back in 2018 and since landing some other nice events over timber.

Last season the gelding retained his form at the start of the season, taking out this event at the start of the season on his first start and he runs off the same mark today.

Off the back of that run he was seen in difficult company three times more, finishing a good fourth behind Paisley Park, Thyme Hill and McFabulous in the Grade Two Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury.

He was also seen finishing a close fifth in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham in December and then in January ran below par in the Relkeel Hurdle.

The gelding seems to be best to back when he is fresh and getting weight off the market leaders makes him a big player.