Bravemansgame bids to add another Grade 1 on first try over three miles

4.40 Aintree
Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) | 3m½f | 4yo+ | ITV4/RTV

Going into Cheltenham there was no more exciting prospect in Britain than Bravemansgame, but the wide-margin Challow Hurdle winner was swatted aside with ease by Bob Olinger in the Ballymore and now steps up to three miles and half a furlong to bid for a second Grade 1.

Bravemansgame achieved a Racing Post Rating of 154 when winning the Challow at Newbury, but ran to only 151 when third in the Ballymore and that suggests we might not have seen him at his best. That is still the highest RPR on offer in this race, clear by 9lb.

Five winners in the last ten seasons ran at Cheltenham and Champ won this race after being placed in the Ballymore two years ago. However, the Albert Bartlett has been the source of the other four winners and six of these runners competed in that contest three weeks ago.

Oscar Elite (orange silks) and Streets Of Doyen (pale blue) chase home runaway winner Vanillier in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at CheltenhamCredit: Edward Whitaker

Oscar Elite fared best to take the runner-up spot, but there were 11 lengths between him and winner Vanillier, and Oscar Elite achieved an RPR of just 142. The four winners who came on to land this race all had a figure of at least 146 at Cheltenham, so he looks short of the standard.

The Shunter has been one of the stories of the season for Emmet Mullins, but Cape Gentleman has been another stable star for the trainer, who is 4-6 in Britain this season.

He recorded an RPR of 137 when winning at Kempton last time and needs to improve, but the step up a mile in trip might suit. He won the Irish Cesarewitch on the Flat and has scored over two and a half miles over hurdles. The extra distance might bring the progress required.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Peter Scudamore, assistant trainer of Ahoy Senor
It's throwing him in the deep end but we think a lot of him. I hope they put plenty of water on the ground and it's good to soft, in which case he'll take his chance. We've had some good staying hurdlers before and he looks right up there with them.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Gallyhill and Bothwell Bridge
I think they're two pretty decent horses. Gallyhill's done nothing wrong and was second at Ascot, he wants three miles, so this should suit him. The same applies to Bothwell Bridge, he might want soft ground, but they're two really nice chasers for next year.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Bravemansgame
He seems fine but he did have a hell of a hard race at Cheltenham. As long as he's got over that, I'd say this trip will suit and he'll go well. He's the only one of the team that we're running at Aintree who went to Cheltenham and had a hard race and, until they actually run, you never really know if they've got over it or not.

Olly Murphy, trainer of Champagnesuperover
He ran a cracker in the Albert Bartlett and I'm a little nervous to be running him back so quick. A flat track and three miles should suit him well.

Sandy Thomson, trainer of Doyen Breed
The race will be run to suit, they'll go a good gallop. He was unlucky to be collared late on at Kelso last time and he won't be ridden like that again.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Midnight River
The step up in trip will help him and I'm really looking forward to running him. He's fresh as we didn't go to Cheltenham with him and that enhances any horse's chances. I'm very happy with him.

Midnight River and Gallyhill (no 3) reoppose in the Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle at AintreeCredit: Edward Whitaker

Colin Tizzard, trainer of Oscar Elite
We're looking forward to running him; he ran an absolute blinder at Cheltenham. Three miles round Aintree will be right up his street. I'm expecting a big run from him.

Jeremy Scott, trainer of Sizeable Sam
I was running out of options for him. We're not competitive on official handicap ratings, but I think he's a little bit better than when we last saw him. We'll probably not make quite as much use of him on this occasion.

John McConnell, trainer of Streets Of Doyen
I think the flat track will suit him. He’s in great nick after Cheltenham and we’re hopeful he will be bang there.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Topofthecotswolds
He's been doing well all season, the ground and track should suit him.
Reporting by Scott Burton

Read more previews for day two at Aintree:

2.20 Aintree: exciting novice hurdler Dusart bidding to buck the trends for Nicky Henderson

2.50 Aintree: can Cheltenham star Chantry House back up Marsh form over longer trip?

3.25 Aintree: fit and fresh Politologue 'raring to go' after Cheltenham disappointment

4.05 Aintree: King hoping long-term planning can pay off with Senior Citizen in Topham

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