Grade One 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle Aintree Guide 2023

Stuart Edmunds’ four-year-old Chaos Control makes his fourth appearance over hurdles after winning three times on the flat throughout 2021/22. He made his hurdling debut over 2m at Kempton in December, finishing second before disappointing sixth of seven in class two hurdle race at Huntingdon in January (where Perseus Way won).

Claimed success at the third time of asking at Market Rasen in February, winning by 22 lengths before being sent here by Edmunds for his first graded outing. Probably too much to do here for him to win.

Trainer Milton Harris sends Scriptwriter here after the four-year-old finished sixth of eight in the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton at grade two level in February. That run followed a good run of form for the gelding over hurdles, finishing second in the Triumph Trial at Cheltenham to Comfort Zone after winning at Sedgefield and Cheltenham beforehand.

Didn’t jump well enough in the Adonis but that ran can be excused and he should be better here. Harris won this race last year with Knight Salute so he shouldn’t be dismissed.

Ben Brookhouse sends Sarsons Risk to Aintree after falling on his last hurdling outing in the 2m Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton in February. He raced keenly that day and led before falling three out after winning on hurdling debut for Brookhouse at Doncaster in February.

Useful winner on the flat for Ian Williams and he was given a run on the flat at Kempton last month by Brookhouse and he should still have the potential to improve as he’s lightly raced over obstacles. May be tough to win this with how little experience he has in this company but he shouldn’t be ruled out.

Joseph O’Brien’s sole runner in this is Nusret, who has won two of his four starts over hurdles at Punchestown and Kempton. Has ran well in defeat too, losing out to Gala Marceau and Lossiemouth at Leopardstown in December and to Common Practice and Blood Destiny at Fairyhouse in January. Beat Perseus Way last time out in Grade Two Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton before heading here for the 2m contest.

The trip will be fine for the four-year-old and Daryl Jacob is booked to ride the improving colt who should go close in this contest for O’Brien.

Gary Moore’s second runner in this is Perseus Way, who boasts two wins over hurdles at Leicester (C4) and Huntingdon (C2). Followed that Huntingdon success by finishing second in the Grade Two Adonis Juvenile Hurdle over two miles at Kempton in February before heading to the Cheltenham festival, running in the Fred Winter. He disappointed to finish tenth and drops two lbs here as a result.

Should be better here but others make more appeal on form.

Nicky Henderson sends one for this contest in the form of Pawapuri, the flat winner for William Haggas before making the move to Henderson’s yard. She made her debut for Henderson in the Grade Two Adonis Juvenile Hurdle over 2m at Kempton, finishing a respectable fourth behind a couple of runners here.

Has more to find here in grade one company and some more experienced runners but more improvement should be on the way and Henderson’s filly shouldn’t be dismissed, even if others are in good form. The likes of Zenta may make it harder for her to win.

Gary Moore sends a couple of runners to this contest and the first of those is Bo Zenith, who is 3/4 over hurdles since his winning debut at Auteuil in April last year. Was a disappointing third at 4/11fav on first start for Moore back in January at Sandown but has recorded back-to-back victories since, winning 1m 7f juvenile at Haydock before winning class three juvenile at Stratford last month.

The 133-rated hurdler should be able to progress more and should go well here.

Fergal O’Brien’s filly Greyval has begun well over hurdles for his yard, finishing second on debut to Nicky Henderson’s Arclight before landing Class One Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle over 2m at Doncaster in January, reversing the form with Arclight on that occasion. Went off as 2/7fav at Huntingdon last month, beating Golden Glance by two lengths to claim back-to-back victories.

Defied the weight penalty easily during that Huntingdon victory and she’s worth a go at this level, which is a step up from the company she’s raced in but she can take that in her stride.

Thomas Mullins sends Rightsotom to Aintree after his first two runs over hurdles for his yard, finishing second on debut at Fairyhouse to Zarak The Brave before finishing a decent sixth in the Triumph Hurdle won by Willie Mullins’ Lossiemouth at the Cheltenham festival last month.

Can improve again here after that promising run but this is another tough race.

Willie Mullins’ four-year-old Zenta looks the one to beat on form, having won her first two starts over hurdles at Auteuil before debuting for Mullins in Grade Three Juvenile at Fairyhouse in February, winning by three lengths to Hypotenus.

She finished behind Gala Marceau and Lossiemouth in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival last month, which was another run full of promise, finishing quite a way in front of the rest of the 14 other runners.

Very much the one to beat in this contest on the back of her early form over obstacles for Mullins. Mark Walsh is booked to ride.

Ben Pauling’s Jipcot makes his Aintree debut after just one run in the UK, finishing 11th in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival last month. He weakened quickly on that run but showed good form over hurdles in France over 2m 1f mainly before coming over to race in England.

Looks set for another struggle here in at the deep end in this sort of company.