April 12 / 16.40 Aintree

16.40

Soft

Cavani Sartorial Menswear Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £56270
  • 3m 0f 149y
  • Class 1
  • 8 runners
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Cavani Sartorial Menswear Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 2-5113

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Second to top-notcher Ballyburn in a bumper; has raced prominently in all his hurdle races and ground it out to win the 2m6f Grade 1 at Leopardstown's Dublin Festival in February (soft); the fourth comprehensively reversed those placings in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham (3m, heavy) where he was also 7l adrift of runner-up The Jukebox Man; might be relying on the latter running below par for him to gain his revenge, but he's a big each-way player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

26th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

16:10 Sandown

Dancing City

10st 11lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: W P Mullins

Three-time Grade 1 winner as a novice hurdler, including twice last spring, and he began his chasing career in promising style with two wins this winter; there have since been significant reverses when well beaten at Cheltenham and falling at Aintree, both in Grade 1s over about 3m, but he'd previously suggested a strength in stamina which gives this test some appeal.

6/1

4

26th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

16:10 Sandown

Dancing City

10st 11lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: W P Mullins

Three-time Grade 1 winner as a novice hurdler, including twice last spring, and he began his chasing career in promising style with two wins this winter; there have since been significant reverses when well beaten at Cheltenham and falling at Aintree, both in Grade 1s over about 3m, but he'd previously suggested a strength in stamina which gives this test some appeal.

6/1

2

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

13:45 Aintree

Dancing City

11st 7lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Has finished behind Stellar Story at the last two Cheltenham Festivals but was hindered by being pestered up front in latest; otherwise a smart stayer who retains the potential to land a top prize over fences, having been a three-time Grade 1 winner as a novice hurdler, including on this card 12 months ago; remains of major interest.

3/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 1-1132

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
Still looked a work in progress when a close third in the Grade 1 Challow (2m4f, soft; hung under pressure) and he duly left that form behind in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham (3m, heavy), making pretty much all under a bold ride only to fluff the final flight and be collared on the line; he was essentially unlucky and a repeat performance would see him hard to beat on this flatter track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

11

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

The Jukebox Man

11st 10lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Cruelly caught in the final strides in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle here (3m, heavy) in March 2024; 2-2 in novice chases last season (including Grade 1) and, after missing last year's Festival due to injury, he made it 2-2 this term and 4-4 over fences when winning the King George (3m, good) in December, narrowly in a breathtaking four-way finish (Gaelic Warrior third, Jango Baie fourth); the way he rallied to edge back in front at Kempton provides optimism regarding today's stiffer test and he's a key player.

7/2

16/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 1-1212 C BF

Last run: 57 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Quite impressive in justifying favouritism in a 2m4f soft-ground handicap here on Boxing Day but came up short when again market leader for a Grade 2 mares' race at Sandown and that form has been let down since by the two she divided; a mare won this last year but this 6yo will need to raise her game markedly for the step up to 3m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

11th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 1

13:15 Ffos Las

Cherie DAm

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Useful mare who completed the full jumps set with her commanding performance in Listed novice event at Warwick (2m4f, good to soft; second chase attempt) last month, adding to her point, bumper and hurdle wins; acts on soft; major contender even with 5lb penalty back against males.

9/4

9

11th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 1

13:15 Ffos Las

Cherie DAm

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

prominent

9/4

1st

1

12th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:55 Warwick

Cherie DAm

11st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Ran well in defeat in Graded novice hurdles on final two starts last season (2m4f/3m, soft) and reappeared with respectable third of three against males on chase debut at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft) in October; the return to a left-handed track could suit and she's one to consider.

13/2

Form: 11 D

Last run: 118 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Recruited for £200,000 after winning his Irish point; did what was expected of him when long odds-on at Plumpton (2m4f, good to soft) and, for one so inexperienced, it was a notable effort to win a Cheltenham 3m Grade 2 in December (soft) when a muddling pace did him no favours; does nothing in a hurry but that should be no drawback here; absent since December and his yard has been through the wringer since early March, but he's packed with potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 5

15:27 Ludlow

Shanagh Bob

12st 6lb

J: Mr Nick Oliver

T: Henry Oliver

C&D match last May (good, RPR 128) gave him his only chase win to date; habit of jumping right too great to ignore since, including when twice second in points lately, so a return to a clockwise track is timely.

14/1

9th

3

27th Jul 2025

Good

3m 2f 13y

Class 2

15:07 Uttoxeter

Shanagh Bob

11st 4lb

J: David Noonan

T: Henry Oliver

Didn't reach the heights he once promised for Nicky Henderson but still fetched £43,000 at the sales and made a reasonable debut for this yard at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good; first-time cheekpieces) when behind Art Of Diplomacy; clearly needs to find something on that run.

12/1

1

13th Jun 2025

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

18:45 Newton Abbot

Shanagh Bob

11st 10lb

J: David Noonan

T: Henry Oliver

Arguably didn't fulfil his potential for Nicky Henderson, having won a Grade 2 novice hurdle in 2023, and was sold for £43,000 after winning two-runner chase at Ludlow (3m, good) last month; remains on a workable mark for this stable debut, though, and might be aided by the new tongue-tie.

3/1

Form: 31 D

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner and clearly useful to have won a Listed race for mares at Doncaster (3m, soft) on just her second run over hurdles, staying on best when it mattered; however, that form looks fairly insignificant when compared to what some of today's rivals have achieved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 83y

Class 3

14:43 Cartmel

Pinot Rouge

11st 12lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Susan Corbett

Below par since last June's Hexham win off 2lb higher (3m, good to soft) until reviving, up to a point, with last month's Ayr Class 2 fourth; has to show that a sharp track is what's wanted, though.

8/1

4th

4

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 2

14:55 Ayr

Pinot Rouge

10st 10lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Susan Corbett

Bang there when falling seven out in the Hexham Marathon over fences last month (4m, soft); she's 1lb below her last winning hurdle mark but Hexham seems to bring out the best in her and this inconsistent mare was pulled up in this race 12 months ago; it might be best to look elsewhere.

20/1

2

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 7f 199y

Class 4

15:41 Hexham

Pinot Rouge

12st 0lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Susan Corbett

She has an unconvincing, 0-5 record over fences and also something to prove regarding her current form, having been tailed off back over hurdles four weeks ago; however, she likes Hexham and won in good style over hurdles here last June; 6lb lower today and might not be a forlorn hope.

16/1

Form: 122 BF

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Won just one of his four Irish points and he's 1-3 over hurdles, having scored first time out at Sandown (2m, soft) but then twice held under his penalty in 2m4f novices at Newbury; could/should improve for 3m but unlikely to cut the mustard at this level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

30th Nov 2024

Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 1

14:25 Newbury

Ballybentragh

10st 13lb

J: Mr David Maxwell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Successful over a testing 2m on rules debut then twice finished second over 2m4f here, prior to facing a stiff task in 3m Grade 1; possibly not crying out for this marked drop back in trip.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: 2117

Last run: 91 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
Stamina appeared his forte when going away at the finish in a 2m4f Grade 3 at Navan in November (soft to heavy) and he failed to give his true running when last to complete behind Readin Tommy Wrong in the Grade 1 Lawlor's Of Naas in January (soft); a test of this nature could be right up his street and he's by no means ruled out for same yard that won the Albert Bartlett with a surprise package.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

18th

6

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Croke Park

11st 4lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Won two Grade 1 novice chases in December 2024 (2m4f/3m, yielding/good to yielding); he hasn't kicked on this term and was well beaten in a handicap at Leopardstown (2m5f, soft) in February, but getting back on better ground may help and he can go well if tapping back into last season's promise.

20/1

13th

1

1st Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 107y

14:45 Leopardstown

Croke Park

11st 12lb

J: Josh Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

Dual hurdle winner turned into a top-class novice chaser last season, winning two Grade 1s including over 3m at this track; was also a fine runner-up in a Grade 1 over C&D at this meeting last year; hasn't been at that level in four starts since, but drops in grade with a 5lb claimer aboard, so has to be respected.

16/1

Form: -11222 CD

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Had one attempt at chasing last season; confined to hurdles this campaign and he's been hard to knock for consistency or progress, last time out at Cheltenham going agonisingly close in the Pertemps Final (3m, soft); questionable whether he can bridge the gap to Grade 1 level but it won't be through a lack of effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 4

13:48 Carlisle

Kyntara

12st 2lb

J: Mr Darren Andrews

T: Mel Rowley

Useful staying handicap hurdler in his prime; fair run at Cheltenham on first two starts this season but not been at his best on last three starts.

12/1

5th

4

8th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 3

16:13 Warwick

Kyntara

11st 4lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Mel Rowley

Big improver during the 2023-24 season but chasing didn't go well last campaign; this one started well back over hurdles but he's been back in the doldrums in his last two races.

10/1

2

7th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 57y

Class 3

13:35 Newbury

Kyntara

11st 11lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Mel Rowley

Highly progressive staying hurdler in the 2023-24 campaign, including on heavy ground, and chasing didn't work out for him last season; ran pretty well over hurdles on first two starts this term but needs to bounce back from a poor show at Haydock three weeks ago; player if he does.

13/2

Non-runners

Readin Tommy Wrong

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £13.20
Straight Forecast £13.52
Tricast £56.90
Trifecta £51.50

Selections

LAMBOURN:

Shanagh Bob

POSTDATA:

The Jukebox Man

TOPSPEED:

Kyntara

SPOTLIGHT:

Croke Park

RP RATINGS:

Readin Tommy Wrong

Telegraph:

Shanagh Bob

The Sun:

Shanagh Bob

Daily Record:

Shanagh Bob

WEST COUNTRY:

The Jukebox Man

The Guardian:

The Jukebox Man

Daily Mirror:

The Jukebox Man

D Express:

Croke Park

The Times:

Readin Tommy Wrong

Daily Mail:

Kyntara

The Star:

Kyntara