Aintree - Fri 10 Apr 2026
The winner of this contest 12 months ago, Wellington Arch has to be respected following his recent Uttoxeter success. That said, this is tougher and another 5lb rise demands more from him. With that in mind, preference is for HOT FUSS, who only found one too good in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham last month and the unexposed five-year-old can defy a 2lb rise to go a place better here. It is interesting that Emid'io Pepe makes his debut for Dan Skelton in a race of this nature and any market support for him would have to be noted. Others to consider are Indeevar Bleu, Jazzy Matty and Joyeuse.
Regent's Stroll is bound to be popular given that connections won this last year with a similar type. However, the seven-year-old could be vulnerable and preference is for SALVER, who put in a career best when third in the Brown Advisory last month. That is the strongest piece of recent form on offer and the son of Motivator merits the utmost respect. Wendigo would not have been too far behind the selection at Cheltenham but for a fall at the last, while Gold Dancer is the pick of the remainder having finished a place ahead of Regent's Stroll in the Jack Richards last time.
A case can be made that SOBER GLORY was unlucky not to win the Supreme last month, given that he made a mistake at the last and was hampered on the run in. As a result, the six-year-old is very hard to oppose in this company on the back of that top-class performance. A couple of places behind the selection that day was Baron Noir, and he could prove to be the main threat. Sinnatra was not disgraced when fifth in the County off a mark of 133 but that suggests that he will need to improve to beat the aforementioned pair.
The absence of Jonbon, who won the last two renewals, has made HEART WOOD's task that much easier. Henry De Bromhead's charge beat the former in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in comprehensive fashion, leaving the strong impression there was still more to come from the eight-year-old this season. Grey Dawning is fitted with cheekpieces after fading out of contention in the closing stages of last month's Gold Cup. He could bounce back over this shorter trip and is preferred to stablemate L'eau Du Sud, while Gidleigh Park can be given a shout on his excellent second in the Manifesto over C&D last year.
Gentleman De Mee won the corresponding race last year when beating the runner-up Lisnamult Lad less than a length. Willie Mullins' charge will likely launch another bold bid and makes more appeal than stable companion Ile Atlantique. Madara could also have a say in proceedings off the back of justifying favouritism at Cheltenham last month with WILL THE WISE back in second. However, that was the latter's first start since December and, reopposing on more favourable terms, Gavin Cromwell's improving seven-year-old is taken to turn the tables. This quicker ground should suit Boombawn, while we may not have seen the best of the progressive chasers Coming Up Easy and Prairie Wolf just yet.
Jamie Snowden lifted this prize 12 months ago and could do so once more courtesy of JOHNNY'S JURY, who propelled himself to the forefront of the staying novice division by landing the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at last month's Festival. His jumping has been a real asset so far and with more to come over this sort of trip, he is worth keeping onside. Things conspired against No Drama This End in the Turners' but it would be unwise to dismiss him, as it would with Dalston Lad, who steps up in grade having romped home in a Grade 2 at Haydock. Mondoui'boy weakened into fourth behind the selection last time but might be seen to greater effect on this flatter track, while Zeus Power heads the challenge for the away side.
SHERMINATOR has been foot perfect over hurdles either side of a Cheltenham mishap, bolting up at Exeter most recently, and is the pick in this concluding contest. Harry Fry's gelding is progressing at a rate of knots and a subsequent 7lb rise does not look insurmountable, especially given his ability to handle all sorts of ground. Dan Skelton won this last year so Bangor winner Harry Lowes merits respect with that in mind, as does Irish challenger Captain Ryan Matt. Fred Winter fourth Pourquoi Pas Papa looks to have a chance in receipt of the juvenile allowance and don't rule out Static at a big price, given that he was tenacious in completing a double at Bangor last time out.
Olly Murphy holds a strong hand here with Indeevar Bleu heading the betting following an easy win here last time. He's been kept fresh for this since but he didn't beat much that day and the form hasn't worked out so a 9lb rise may be enough to stop him. Stablemate Sir Galahad looks more interesting at the bottom of the weights despite his absence. He finished strongly from a poor position in a Grade 2 over 2m last time hinting that he was in need of this step up in trip and he is potentially very well treated returning to handicaps. JOYEUSE is the class angle in the race though and looks the answer. She has arguably been a bit unlucky on her last couple of starts in the Warfield and County but can make amends if ridden slightly more positively in the first time cheekpieces. She does have her stamina to prove but she has been finishing her races well and she looks ready to strike off this mark. Others to note are last year's winner Wellington Arch who carries a stone more this time and former Grade 2 winner Jet To Vegas. He has been struggling this term but the handicapper has relented and he's forgiven his latest outing where he went too fast.
SALVER sets the standard on his placed effort in the Brown Advisory last time. Though he may ideally want easier ground than this he proved he handled a quick surface at Cheltenham where he fared best of those coming from off the pace in a race dominated from the front. The long straight here can see him power ahead of Miami Magic who will appreciate the quick conditions. He relished the step up to 3m when a ready winner last time and he brings in some top level course form over hurdles so can confirm placings with Regent's Stroll from their Cheltenham meeting earlier in the year. Gold Dancer cleaned up in favourable conditions last summer at Grade 3 level in Ireland and bounced back to form with a game runner up effort in a Cheltenham handicap last time. His bold jumping will stand him in good stead here and the Drinmore runner up will be a big danger if getting into a rhythm in front.
SOBER GLORY is a strong selection here. He posted an excellent time when winning at Newbury and travelled longest on the bridle when placing in the Supreme last time. He may well have won but for a late error that day but can make amends here confirming form with Baron Noir who did best of those coming from a long way off the pace at Cheltenham. If ridden more positively he can get closer to the selection while La Conquiere will likely pick up the pieces and the final place on the podium. She was unsuited by the way the race developed in a Grade 2 last time but the selection should make this a decent test and the long straight will suit her run style.
HEART WOOD can follow up on his emphatic Ryanair success. That was a career best on favourable good ground and although this comes quickly enough he has had a light campaign so he should be up to it while his main rivals also have quick turnarounds. Dan Skelton attacks this double handed with a pair who go the opposite way in distance. Dual Grade 1 winner Grey Dawning ran a huge race in the Gold Cup until his stamina gave way and looks a big player back down in trip in first time cheekpieces as the choice of Harry Skelton. However L'Eau Du Sud also produced a big effort in the Champion Chase faring best of those who raced close to a suicidal pace. His bold jumping will help him at this venue and if his stamina holds up he should be on the premises. Multiple 2m Grade 1 winner Solness is another who has his stamina to prove but he will be dangerous if allowed an easy time up front while Gidleigh Park's top level novice form here has been franked emphatically. He can't be dismissed either but he is tricky to predict often running lifeless races as he did in the Clarence House last time.
The first two home from last year return in Gentleman De Mee and Lisnamult Lad with the drying conditions again in their favour. However they will also suit EXCELLO who was a long way behind them that day but did travel well for a long way until a race ending error when coming to challenge. He races from out of the weights here but he has been brought along with this in mind all season which included a placed effort in the Grand Sefton over C&D. He ran well for a long way in the Kim Muir last time until his stamina gave way and that should put him spot on for this. 2023 winner Bill Baxter also looks a player off a 3lb higher mark than when successful. He chased home an unexposed rival who franked the form at Cheltenham last time and the slight drop in trip should help the 2025 Punchestown winner. Another who could challenge at a decent price is O'Moore Park who ran well behind Madara and Will The Wise in the Plate at Cheltenham. He did well to finish as close as he did that day after numerous jumping errors and is fancied to reverse the form on these revised terms with the longer trip a big positive.
A few of these who contested the Albert Bartlett re-oppose. Johnny's Jury came out on top that day where he relished the step up in trip and the fact that the leaders got racing early. After being outpaced he powered up the hill to victory and he should be suited by this long straight. His previous form has been franked so he is greatly respected but MONDOUI'BOY may be able to reverse form under a slightly more reserved ride. He travelled strongly at Cheltenham and only tired after the last faring much the best of those forcing a strong pace. He possibly kicked on a bit too soon that day as those around him folded and he should be capable of better if able to take a lead for longer. His bumper form reads extremely strongly and he holds Catchintsavo on their recent meeting. Zeus Power has been rapdily progressing in this sphere and will be a big player if his stamina holds up over this longer trip. He also caught the eye at Cheltenham flying home in the Turners having conceded first run after meeting trouble at a key stage. No Drama This End went off favourite for that contest but had no chance after being hampered at the start enduring a torrid trip. The Challow winner has shaped like a stayer and if forgiven that latest run he also rates a threat.
Both The Mighty Celt and POURQUOI PAS PAPA caught the eye in the Fred Winter last time flying home from poor positions having met trouble. Both look well treated on their best French form and should be capable of better for their new yards. They could fight out the finish here with narrow preference for the Paul Nicholls gelding who has more experience on a quicker surface and has shaped like a strong stayer at the trip. That could be vital in this contest where inexperienced jockeys can often get racing early setting it up for a closer. Wandering Ego has been highly tried in novices and went off favourite to beat the future Supreme winner earlier in the season. He brings in plenty of experience and looks well treated back in a handicap following a cosy victory last time. The race could set up for Harry Lowes who is proven over further and benefitted from the leaders getting racing early when a 2m winner last time. He should have more to offer for his top connections and looks a big danger along with Sherminator who is unbeaten when completing over hurdles.
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