Black Op on a mission to give George another Grade 1

Betway Mersey Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m4f | 4yo+ | ITV/RUK

Is it Black Op's turn at last?

The Tom George-trained Black Ops has been second on his last two starts, to Santini at Cheltenham in January and then the formidable Samcro there at the festival last month.

Both starts represented a new career best on RPRs, though, and he now gets a more realistic chance in Grade 1 company in a race that admittedly has a sparkling roll of honour. Finian's Oscar, Yorkhill, Nichols Canyon, Simonsig and Peddlers Cross have all won the race in the last ten years.

George said: "He was the only to put it up to Samcro last time. He seems to have come out of Cheltenham well physically. He looks well, his weight is right and we're happy with him."

The Roger Brookhouse-Tom George-Noel Fehily axis has already been seen to devastating effect in Grade 1 novice hurdles this spring after Summerville Boy's success in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and it would be quite something for the same connections to land a second big pot so soon after.

Cheltenham absentee On The Blind Side aiming to shine

A point-to-point and three hurdle races, the last two at Grade 2 level: On The Blind Side has won them all and trainer Nicky Henderson is itching to test him out against the best.

On The Blind Side: one of the most exciting novice hurdlers around before injury struckCredit: Alan Crowhurst

He said: "It will be nice to have him back. He looked a good horse earlier in the season but we've had one or two issues and had to miss Cheltenham, but as we've seen that's not necessarily a bad thing here. The soft ground is a bit of a concern."

On The Blind Side won here on his hurdling debut and has since taken the Hyde Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham and Winter Novices' Hurdle at Sandown, the latter impressively.

The doubt is over the form of that, which has taken a few knocks since with only third-placed Red River achieving form worthy of the grade.

Henderson's novice hurdlers this season have not yet shown themselves a vintage crop by the yard's unmatched standards (at least in Britain), but the best of them might be yet to reveal his all.

What they say

Fergal O'Brien, trainer of Aye Aye Charlie
He ran really well at Cheltenham and is as tough as nails. He has already run well against On The Blind Side at Aintree this season.

Colin Tizzard, trainer of Lostintranslation
At the start of the week I thought he was our best chance of the meeting. He finished seventh at Cheltenham, staying on over two miles, and now he's over two and a half miles. He'll be perfect.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Momella
She brings nice handicap form into the race from Cheltenham and I’ve deliberately kept her away from the worst of the winter ground. She gets 7lb from the others which is helpful. She’s a good mare.

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