Grade One Sefton Novices' Hurdle Aintree Guide 2023

Ben Pauling’s eight-year-old Twig heads to Aintree following four runs over hurdles after four runs over fences. He has won two of his four runs over the smaller obstacles so far, at Kempton and Newbury but struggled a bit up in class in Grade Two River Don Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster in January to finish sixth.

Lots more on his plate here and one of the outsiders that can be dismissed.

Fergal O’Brien sends seven-year-old Marble Sands here after finishing fifth in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival last month, which was a decent effort considering his 150/1 price in the market, ahead of the likes of favourite Hermes Allen.

Had gone into the festival having won at Huntingdon, Leicester and Hereford but at a lesser level than this. Makes the step up in trip here an extra five furlongs from his last run but the longer trip needs to extract some improvement if he is to claim victory here.

135-rated hurdler Hurricane Bay travels here in good form, finishing in the top three on every start over hurdles in his career so far. Two wins have come from five runs so far, winning at Doncaster twice in class fours as well as finishing third in grade two at the same course in January, behind Stay Away Fay and Maximilian.

More to prove in this company but cannot be completely ruled out, might be worth a small each-way bet at around 40’s.

Lightly raced Howlingmadmurdock makes his fourth start over hurdles for Tom Lacey here after showing promise on his first three starts over obstacles. Wins at Plumpton and Sandown have been sandwiched by a second-place finish at Catterick. However, all runs have come at class four level.

Makes a significant step up in class and also trip here, unsure if he will stay and this is tougher than what he has faced previously.

2023 Martin Pipe winner Iroko is deployed at Aintree for the first time following that career-best success at the Cheltenham festival last month, where he edged out No Ordinary Joe to claim victory. Comes here unbeaten in his last three, winning at Wetherby twice before heading to the festival last time out.

Needs to continue improvement again here if he is to win for the fourth time in a row but it is not out of reach for the five-year-old, although in a stronger race.

Seven-year-old 133-rated hurdler who arrives here having finished third of ten in 2m 4f Grade Two Classic Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham back in January, finishing behind Pembroke and Rock My Way. Had finished fourth of four at Newcastle prior to that run after two wins at Cheltenham in October last year.

Much more to find on that form despite decent run in that Cheltenham grade two and others make more appeal here.

50/1 outsider Moka De Vassy arrives here on the back of falling in the Pertemps Handicap at the Cheltenham festival last month, with just the second hurdle defeating him. Hasn’t tasted success in his career yet but has run well in good company on more than one occasion, including second to Pied Piper at Cheltenham in January last year.

Difficult ask for the five-year-old on the back of that run last month.

Seven-year-old gelding who hasn’t finished outside of the top three over hurdles yet, winning at Carlisle, Bangor-on-Dee and Doncaster, where he narrowly beat market favourite here Stay Away Fay by a length.

Was also third in Sandown grade two in December last year so arrives here bang in form for what is probably his toughest test yet. Champion jockey Brian Hughes takes the reigns on the 139-rated hurdler who may be capable of more yet.

Jonjo O’Neill sends the unbeaten Saint Davy to the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle after winning sole bumper at Carlisle by four lengths to Blue Ridge Hill before landing class four Chepstow maiden in December over 2m 3f. He edged out Hymac by a nose to claim victory there and is now sent into graded company for the first time by O’Neill.

Can improve further but hard to say how he will fare in this company for the first time.

Progressive six-year-old who has looked ahead of his handicap mark in recent times, winning four races in a row at Ludlow, Southwell, Exeter and Newbury most recently. Won three class fours off a mark of 104 and 108 before going up 15 lbs at Newbury, but still winning when upped in class.

Tougher test here but every chance he takes it into his stride and continues to show more.

Dan Skelton sends the talented Grey Dawning to the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle after a promising start to life over hurdles after winning both bumper starts at Wetherby. Finished second in novice hurdle here last November before stepping up on each of the next three occasions to win at Exeter, Kempton and most recently to win Warwick grade two, five lengths ahead of Ginny’s Destiny.

Further improvement should be on the way up in trip and he should go close here. Interesting runner at around 10/1 in the market. One to watch.

Paul Nicholls sends the 2023 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle winner Stay Away Fay here for the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle. He was priced at 18/1 for the Albert Bartlett but stayed on well to edge out 150/1 shot Affordable Fury by a length to claim career-best victory. That run came after the six-year-old finishing second in Doncaster grade two novice prior to the festival after winning on hurdling debut in Newbury novice.

Up 12 lbs after winning the Albert Bartlett and he will be a leading player if that win wasn’t a huge upset as the odds suggested.

Nigel Twiston-Davies deploys Weveallbeencaught for this contest after he finished well behind Stay Away Fay in the 2m 7f Albert Bartlett last month at the Cheltenham festival back in 7th. Landed Cheltenham maiden in January but has failed to build on that success since, finishing last of eight in DRF grade one before that Cheltenham festival run.

Looks set for another struggle in this race after the last two outings and he can be dismissed.

Lucinda Russell won this two years ago with Ahoy Senor and she now sends the progressive Apple Away this time. The six-year-old has ran well over hurdles recently, landing back-to-back successes at Ayr and then Doncaster last month, beating 1/1fav She’s A Saint by just under five lengths.

The 131-rated hurdler needs to find more to win, this but she looks like the type to continue improving but this is her toughest test yet.

Absolute Notions heads for Aintree after three runs over hurdles following sole bumper win at Punchestown last April, winning one of three outings over obstacles so far for Gordon Elliott. That win came over 2m 3f in Punchestown maiden before third behind Three Card Brag and Inthepocket in Grade Two Navan Novice Hurdle over 2m 3f.

Stepped up again last time out to finish second to Barry Connell’s Good Land in grade one at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown in February and he could continue that improvement and go one better here stepping up in trip.

Gordon Elliott sends six-year-old Search For Glory to Aintree after pulling up after two out in the Albert Bartlett last month at the Cheltenham festival over 2m 7f. Steps up to the 3m trip here, having finished third in Clonmel grade three over this trip but is yet to taste success over hurdles for Elliott.

Another tougher test for the gelding here and makes very little appeal if punters are looking to back a higher odds runner each-way.