The Mersey Novices Hurdle is one of the highlights of the 2013 Aintree Grand National and it is the first race on the card on day 3 of the Festival as punters warm up for the National itself. The full race card will be available on race day and it will include all of the form and odds for each runner entered as well as all the connections and jockeys.
Race OverviewSIMONSIG was a star turn at Cheltenham and is extremely hard to oppose. It looks competitive behind him, with Colour Squadron of obvious interest as he brings good form from earlier in the season and some of his stablemates have already performed much better here than they did at Cheltenham. However, at likely longer odds Baby Shine looks a good deal better than her Southwell form and Go All The Way is of major each-way interest when it is remembered that he finished fourth in last year's Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.[Richard Austen]
Odds provided by Paddypower
| No. | Runner | Details | Rating | Odds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Aland Islands (IRE) A P McCoy T Vaughan | 6 yrs / 158 lbs 1-11 | ||
CommentAland Islands
Unbeaten; proven stamina; major potential
| Date | Race Conditions | Weight | Jockey | Race Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/03/12 | DON 19Gd Cl4 NvHd,3K | 163 lbs | Will Kennedy | 1/10 7l, Amron Lad[5/2F]10-13 |
| 28/02/12 | CAT 19Gd Cl4 NvHd,3K | 164 lbs | A P McCoy | NR/15 Star In Flight11-10 |
| 04/11/11 | HEX 20Sft Cl4 NvHd,3K | 152 lbs | Richard Johnson | 1/14 1 3/4l, Ebony River[10/11F]10-12 |
| 05/04/11 | EXE 17Gd 4-6yCl6 NHF,1K | 156 lbs | A P McCoy | 1/11 5l, Russie With Love[10/11F]10-2 |
| 2 |  | Colour Squadron (IRE) R Johnson P Hobbs | 6 yrs / 158 lbs 1212F0 |
CommentColour Squadron
Modest at Cheltenham but bred to be well suited by this new trip
| Date | Race Conditions | Weight | Jockey | Race Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13/03/12 | CHL 16Gd Cl1 NvG1Hd,57K | 161 lbs | Richard Johnson | 13/19 17l, Cinders And Ashes[14/1]11-7 |
| 17/02/12 | NBY 16GS Cl4 NvHd,3K | 162 lbs | Richard Johnson | F/9 Montbazon[2/1F]11-8 |
| 07/01/12 | SAN 16Sft Cl1 G1Hd,17K | 161 lbs | Richard Johnson | 2/5 Sht-hd, Captain Conan[11/8J]11-7 |
| 14/12/11 | NBY 16Sft Cl4 MdHd,3K | 154 lbs | Richard Johnson | 1/11 1l, Montbazon[7/4]11-0 |
| 25/11/11 | NBY 16GS Cl3 MdHd,4K | 154 lbs | Richard Johnson | 2/12 1/2l, It's A Gimme[5/2]11-0 |
| 3 |  | Flycorn (IRE) P Townend T Hogan | 6 yrs / 158 lbs 214506 |
CommentFlycorn
Worth this second crack at 2m4f but faces a very stiff task
| Date | Race Conditions | Weight | Jockey | Race Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26/02/12 | NAA 16Sft NvG2Hd,22K | 159 lbs | Barry Geraghty | 6/8 9l, Felix Yonger[25/1]11-5 |
| 15/02/12 | FAI 16Sft NvHd,7K | 166 lbs | Non-Runner | NR/4 Galileo's Choice11-12 |
| 28/01/12 | LEO 16Y HdHc,50K | 153 lbs | J L Cullen | 18/30 24 1/2l, Citizenship[33/1]10-3 |
| 08/01/12 | NAA 20Sft/Hy NvG2Hd,20K | 157 lbs | J L Cullen | 5/6 16 1/4l, Monksland[20/1]11-0 |
| 11/11/11 | CHL 16Gd Cl1 NvG2Hd,12K | 158 lbs | J L Cullen | 4/9 10l, Steps To Freedom[33/1]11-7 tongue str |
| 4 |  | Go All The Way (IRE) A E Lynch J Dreaper | 7 yrs / 158 lbs /4-851 |
CommentGo All The Way
Won second hurdles start and 4th in 2011 Champion Bumper
| Date | Race Conditions | Weight | Jockey | Race Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18/03/12 | NAV 20Sft MdHd,6K | 166 lbs | A E Lynch | 1/8 1 1/4l, Rear View[7/2]11-11 tongue str |
| 09/02/12 | THU 22Sft/Hy MdHd,7K | 158 lbs | A E Lynch | 5/13 18l, Mini Vic[7/4J]11-0 |
| 04/05/11 | PUN 16Gd 4-7yG1NHF,42K | 168 lbs | Mr Derek O'Connor | 8/15 28l, Lovethehigherlaw[11/1]12-0 |
| 16/03/11 | CHL 16Gd 4-6yCl1 G1NHF,31K | 159 lbs | Paddy Brennan | 4/24 14l, Cheltenian[16/1]11-5 |
| 22/04/10 | PUN 16Gd 4-7yNHF,7K | 154 lbs | Mr D Kiely | 2/23 1 1/4l, Bishopsfurze[20/1]12-0 |
| 5 |  | Maggio (FR) J Reveley P Griffin | 7 yrs / 158 lbs 02231U |
CommentMaggio
15 defeats in this sphere but has won a beginners chase
| Date | Race Conditions | Weight | Jockey | Race Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/03/12 | KEL 17Gd Cl4 NvCh,5K | 161 lbs | Sam Thomas | NR/3 Degas Art11-0 cheekpiece |
| 15/02/12 | KEL 17GS Cl2 NvCh,8K | 158 lbs | Brian Hughes | UR/4 Bellvano[11/2]11-4 |
| 20/12/11 | MUS 20GS Cl5 Ch,3K | 154 lbs | James Reveley | 1/6 9l, Vosges[5/2]10-8 |
| 13/11/11 | CHL 16GS Cl1 NvG2Ch,14K | 156 lbs | Brian Hughes | 3/7 44l, Al Ferof[40/1]11-2 |
| 03/11/11 | MUS 20Gd Cl4 NvCh,3K | 156 lbs | James Reveley | 2/6 1 1/4l, Ballycolin[7/2]11-2 |
| 6 |  | Molotof (FR) R Walsh N Henderson | 5 yrs / 158 lbs 0-1110 |
CommentMolotof
Well worth second crack at 2m4f after Chelt h'cap flop
| Date | Race Conditions | Weight | Jockey | Race Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16/03/12 | CHL 20Gd Cl2 CdHdHc,28K | 163 lbs | Charlie Wallis | 13/24 29l, Attaglance[11/1]11-3 tongue str |
| 16/12/11 | ASC 16Sft Cl1 NvG2Hd,17K | 161 lbs | Barry Geraghty | 1/7 1 1/4l, Peckhamecho[2/1]11-7 |
| 18/11/11 | HAY 16GS Cl1 NvLisHd,10K | 162 lbs | A P McCoy | 1/5 1 1/2l, Our Joe Mac[8/15F]11-0 |
| 05/11/11 | WCN 16GS 4-6yCl3 NvHd,4K | 152 lbs | Barry Geraghty | 1/14 3 1/4l, Balding Banker[8/13F]10-12 |
| 18/03/11 | CHL 17Gd 4yCl1 G1Hd,57K | 154 lbs | Andrew Tinkler | 14/23 23l, Zarkandar[16/1]11-0 |
| 7 |  | Old Tricks (IRE) J Tizzard C Tizzard | 5 yrs / 158 lbs 41621 |
CommentOld Tricks
The move back up in trip helps on pedigree; huge amount to find
| Date | Race Conditions | Weight | Jockey | Race Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/03/12 | WCN 16GS Cl4 MdHd,3K | 155 lbs | Joe Tizzard | 1/11 6l, Black Pond[4/6F]10-7 |
| 18/02/12 | WCN 16Sft Cl4 NvHd,3K | 149 lbs | Mr M Legg | 2/12 4 1/2l, Theatre Guide[20/1]11-2 |
| 20/01/12 | CHP 24Hy Cl4 MdHd,2K | 160 lbs | Joe Tizzard | 6/6 16l, Hawkes Point[9/2]11-6 |
| 26/12/11 | WCN 16Sft 4-6yCl6 NHF,1K | 149 lbs | Mr M Legg | 1/14 2 3/4l, Admiral Boom[14/1]10-9 |
| 28/11/11 | Ffo 16Sft 4-5yCl6 NHF,1K | 154 lbs | Joe Tizzard | 4/5 35l, Ashes House[4/1]11-0 |
| 8 |  | Simonsig B J Geraghty N Henderson | 6 yrs / 158 lbs -11211 |
CommentSimonsig
Hard to see him being beaten after runaway 2m5f Chelt win (good)
| Date | Race Conditions | Weight | Jockey | Race Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14/03/12 | CHL 21Gd Cl1 NvG1Hd,57K | 161 lbs | Barry Geraghty | 1/17 7l, Felix Yonger[2/1F]11-7 |
| 15/02/12 | KEL 18GS Cl2 Hd,10K | 156 lbs | Barry Geraghty | 1/6 2 1/4l, Knockara Beau[2/7F]11-2 |
| 02/12/11 | SAN 20GS Cl1 NvG2Hd,12K | 161 lbs | Barry Geraghty | 2/7 2 3/4l, Fingal Bay[7/2]11-7 |
| 18/11/11 | ASC 19Gd Cl3 NvHd,5K | 152 lbs | Barry Geraghty | 1/9 11l, Brass Tax[1/5F]10-12 |
| 25/04/11 | FAI 18Gd 4-6yNHF,26K | 161 lbs | Mr C Cully | 1/16 13l, Kandinski[11/4F]11-7 |
| 9 |  | Super Duty (IRE) J M Maguire D McCain | 6 yrs / 158 lbs 1-11F1 |
CommentSuper Duty
Stays on very stoutly at 2m4f; form gives him place hopes
| Date | Race Conditions | Weight | Jockey | Race Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18/02/12 | ASC 19GS Cl2 NvHd,10K | 162 lbs | Sam Thomas | 1/10 1 3/4l, Keys[7/1]11-0 |
| 02/01/12 | AYR 20Sft 4-7yCl4 NvHd,3K | 166 lbs | Jason Maguire | F/4 Nuts N Bolts[8/11F]11-8 |
| 18/11/11 | HAY 20GS 4-7yCl4 NvHd,4K | 159 lbs | Jason Maguire | 1/7 5l, Listen Boy[4/7F]10-12 |
| 30/10/11 | CRL 19Gd Cl4 NvHd,3K | 152 lbs | Timmy Murphy | 1/12 17l, Benefique[9/2]11-2 |
| 09/04/11 | BAN 17Gd 4-6yCl5 NHF,1K | 155 lbs | John Kington | 1/9 3/4l, Charlie Wingnut[14/1]10-9 |
| 10 |  | Baby Shine (IRE) L Aspell Mrs L Wadham | 6 yrs / 151 lbs 134-12 |
CommentBaby Shine
Very unlucky 2nd to It's A Gimme at Southwell (2m4f)
| Date | Race Conditions | Weight | Jockey | Race Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15/02/12 | STH 20GS Cl4 NvHd,3K | 157 lbs | Dominic Elsworth | 2/14 nse, It's A Gimme[3/1]11-10 |
| 24/01/12 | LEI 16Hy Cl4 NvHd,4K | 156 lbs | Leighton Aspell | 1/12 4l, Tempest River[9/4]11-8 |
| 08/04/11 | Ain 17Gd 4-6yCl1 LisNHF,17K | 158 lbs | Leighton Aspell | 4/18 11l, Tempest River[9/2F]11-0 |
| 12/03/11 | SAN 16Gd 4-7yCl1 LisNHF,9K | 158 lbs | Leighton Aspell | 3/20 3 1/2l, Swincombe Flame[9/2]11-4 |
| 10/02/11 | HUN 16GS 4-7yCl5 NHF,2K | 163 lbs | Leighton Aspell | 1/16 2 1/4l, Miss Milborne[3/1]11-2 |
