Aintree - Fri 15 May 2026
Runner-up at Warwick in March, ROAD TO WEMBLEY confirmed the promise of that hurdling debut when scoring at Southwell. The son of Postponed landed the odds with the minimum of fuss and a 7lb penalty may not be enough to halt his good progress. Maskarvel's second at Huntingdon looks better in hindsight as the winner has gone in again since, while Into Battle beat a subsequent winner when runner-up at Kempton and is another to consider.
Masked Dance won this in 2024 and went close again in last year's renewal. However, she looks high enough in the weights at present and MERMAIDS CAVE makes more appeal. James Owen's mare resumed winning ways with a resounding success at Huntingdon last week and she's 2lb well-in, despite her penalty. Magical Maggie drops back in distance with a shout and is preferred to the returning My Chiquita.
GENOIS has hit a rich vein of form. He's won two of his last four starts and, given he finished full of running when second in a higher grade chase at Haydock last time, the 10-year-old looks worth sticking with. Coastguard Station is only 2lb higher than for last autumn's victory at Market Rasen and showed signs of a resurgence at Hereford recently. Newcastle scorer Parisencore makes more appeal than the other recent winners My Noble Lord and Breizh River.
SMOKERINGINTHEDARK won well over an extended 2m4f at Newcastle before posting another solid effort when second over an additional half-mile at Haydock. Those efforts demonstrated zest and versatility and another bold showing seems likely while his yard remains in good form. Brewin'upastorm, Fingal's Hill and Break Point form a strong body of opposition and warrant betting checks. However, the class-dropping Static should be suited by stepping back up in trip and could be the biggest danger.
CALIMYSTIC has been profitable to follow in his completed starts and is an attractive proposition after successive wins over fences at Newbury and Sandown. A 6lb rise for the latter effort pushes the Nicky Henderson-trained seven-year-old into uncharted territory, but the top-weight could be progressive enough to take another step forward. Aboutdamntime and My Bobby Dazzler are noteworthy, although Regarde has some decent form in this discipline and may be the most potent threat.
JAMADA was a ready winner at Fakenham last month and looks primed for another step forward. A mark of 109 is a realistic starting point for handicaps and the mount of Sean Bowen looks a solid option. The versatile Spartan Times was a surprise winner at Uttoxeter, but went about the task well enough to suggest he can hold his own once again. Land Of Punt, who tries a first-time visor, and A Good Yomp are others with each-way claims.
Guet Apens failed to justify favouritism when filling the runner-up spot at Kelso last month, but this represents just his second outing in handicap company and he has to be respected. CAELAN only found one too good on his return from a break at Ffos Las and competes off just a 1lb higher rating. With Sean Bowen back in the plate, he looks the one to side with. Of the remainder, Inappropriate makes the most appeal.
Point winner CALL ME KEN made the perfect start under Rules when victorious at Exeter and is likely to have lots of improvement in him. Now representing Jake Coulson, the five-year-old appears to have been found a good opportunity to defy his penalty and remain unbeaten. College Road bolted up between the flags last month and needs to be taken seriously on his first bumper start, while Carrillo is another to keep an eye on.
Useful Flat stayer ROAD TO WEMBLEY outclassed his rivals last time and should be able to defy a penalty. His debut runner up effort has been franked emphatically and the quick surface will be in his favour. Fellow dual purpose performer Into Battle left his debut form behind when runner up last time finishing a place ahead of a next time out winner. He looks the main danger ahead of Maskarvel whose debut form has been franked at Graded level. He was ridden a bit too aggressively when runner up last time.
ATLANTIC CITY shed her maiden tag on her handicap debut and is expected to defy a 5lb rise. She remains well treated on her best Irish form and is open to further improvement for her new yard. I C U In My Dreams went too fast on her recent handicap debut but looks on a fair mark judged on her previous maiden win. She can chase the selection home ahead of last time out winner Mermaids Cave who remains on a workable mark but faces much stiffer competition.
SOUTHOFTHEBORDER registered a deserved first victory on his penultimate start and held his form in defeat when runner up last time. He was only beaten by a neck by a rival who followed up next time so he looks well treated off a 3lb higher mark and is chosen ahead of last time out winner Parisencore. The Nicky Richards gelding remains well treated on his form prior to a lay off so is heavily respected along with Coastguard Station who returned to form when runner up last time. That rival's run style requires a good pace to run at though.
Veteran BREWIN'UPASTORM brings in some good course form. He was placed at the top level here as a novice and ran well on a couple of occasions here earlier in the season on the return from a long lay off. He proved he retains his ability in Graded contests on his last couple of starts and now looks well treated back in a handicap dropping in class. He is a strong selection here ahead of the consistent Fingal's Hill and Luttrell Lad who is just 1lb above his last winning mark with the drop in distance a big positive.
CALIMYSTIC is a strong selection here. He has impressed with his jumping in making it 2-2 over fences with his debut victory franked a Cheltenham by a stablemate. He had plenty in hand last time so a 6lb rise looks lenient and he is chosen to defeat veteran My Bobby Dazzler who has returned to form of late but remains thrown in on his best efforts. The consistent Jacks Parrot can fill the places though his finishing efforts aren't always the strongest.
JAMADA had plenty in hand when winning a modest maiden last time and now looks well treated stepping into handicap company. The Irish bumper winner has proven himself versatile ground wise and can defy top weight at the expense of dual purpose performer Promethean who left his previous hurdle form behind on his final qualifying run. His Flat form suggests he could be better than this mark so he is feared along with the similarly unexposed Land Of Punt. That rival may ideally want a bit further in time but the long straight should suit and the form of his placed effort on his handicap debut has been franked emphatically.
GUET APENS was highly tried on the Flat in France and looks thrown in on his winning form there. He had plenty in hand when shedding his maiden tag over hurdles and travelled powerfully on his handicap debut looking the winner until he was outstayed late over 2 1/2m. The winner that day followed up in the Scottish Champion hurdle so racing off just 3lb higher he should be tough to beat dropped back in distance. Another dual purpose performer Inappropriate is feared most having returned to form last time when runner up to a rival who has followed up. Consistent top weight Caelan is also respected having only been beaten by a progressive stablemate last time.
The only one to have shown any form under rules is Call Me Ken who made a winning debut in this discipline. That looks decent form and he is respected under a penalty but he may struggle to beat WISE MAIDEN based on collateral form. She proved progressive in points and her form has been franked under rules so she is chosen ahead of Island Jetaway who should be suited by conditions on her rules debut.
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