Our expert brings you insider tips for the Gaskells Handicap Hurdle, the opening race on the final day of the Aintree Festival.
No-one would begrudge the unlucky Barney Dwan a first victory of the campaign but his reward for another terrific run behind Presenting Percy in the Pertemps Final was a 5lb rise in the handicap. Fourth-placed The Tourard Man should get closer today and For Good Measure met traffic on the home turn in that race and ran better than his final position suggests – he may prove the best of three JP McManus-owned runners.
Duke Street has been in good form lately and a first try over 3m is long overdue. He also goes on the short-list along with consistent novices No Hassle Hoff and Fountains Windfall but the mares Briery Queen and Rons Dream look up against it on these terms. Desert Cry has been enjoying an Indian summer over the winter months but it will be a surprise if he’s good enough to win again off this sort of mark.
WHATAKNIGHT won a valuable staying handicap at Haydock around this time last year and looked to be on the way back when second at Doncaster a month ago, where he was only headed close home. Noel Fehily takes over the reins from a conditional today.
