Plenty of positives for Edmunds' Now McGinty

1.45 Aintree
Gaskells Handicap Hurdle| 3m | G3 | RUK

Punting pointers

No horse surely comes into this ultra-competitive handicap in better shape than Now McGinty, winner of his last two starts at Warwick by an aggregate of 27 lengths.

The handicapper has endeavoured to stop him from completing a hat-trick by raising the seven-year-old’s mark 15lb since his latest success, but he might just be improving fast enough to overcome it.

Trainer Stuart Edmunds said: “The ground, track and trip will suit. He’s in good heart and I couldn’t be happier with him.”

Tom O’Brien, on board for both of those Warwick wins, will be hoping to maintain his unbeaten partnership with the gelding.

Headgear tried on talented Fixe Le Kap

Fixe Le Kap: tried in cheekpieces for the first timeCredit: Edward Whitaker

If first-time cheekpieces work the oracle, it’s a fair bet that Fixe Le Kap will be involved in the finish as his handicap mark has slid to an attractive 138.

A smart juvenile – he was sent off 1-4 favourite for the Victor Ludorum Hurdle when beaten three-quarters of a length by Frodon in February 2016 – Fixe Le Kap has not really progressed in the manner connections would have hoped since.

However, the fitting of headgear, allied to a wind op this winter, renders it possible he will recapture his best form on testing ground which suits.

His trainer Nicky Henderson said: “We’ve put a set of cheekpieces on him over three miles to see how he gets on.”

Debece returns to favourite track

Debece, last seen when finishing third at this meeting last year behind The Worlds End in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle, returns for the Tim Vaughan stable.

The seven-year-old clearly acts well at Aintree – he finished third in a Class 2 handicap on his only other visit – and could put up a bold show if fitness doesn’t prove an issue in the soft ground.

“He had a few niggly problems earlier in the season,” Vaughan said. “He looks in good form now, and everything has gone well. He is taking on race-fit rivals, but I hope he can run a decent race.”

What they say

Phil Middleton, trainer of Golan Fortune
I think he’d be nearly favourite if he hadn’t have run at Haydock last time. His previous Sandown second to Topofthegame looks very good form. Jamie Moore said he couldn’t get his feet out of the ground at Haydock on the heavy ground there. I gave him a week off, and now he’s climbing up the wall again so I’ve got to run him.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Shannon Bridge, No Hassle Hoff and Sir Mangan
Shannon Bridge ran a moderate race last time in Grade 2 company at Haydock. You can certainly make a case for him on his previous second at Doncaster. No Hassle Hoff ran well in this race last year. This track suits, and the rain has come in time for him. He’s a player. Sir Mangan ran really well at Fakenham last week. If he puts his best foot forward he’s got place claims too.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Connetable
Soft ground will help him. He is a little bit in and out. Just a few weeks before Cheltenham he went to Chepstow and never went at all, finishing last, but it he runs like he did at Cheltenham he has got a chance.

Nick Gifford, trainer of The Mighty Don
I’m sad to hear that it’s been raining up there. The one thing he hasn’t had this season is three miles on good ground. He’ll prefer the flat track at Aintree to the undulations of Cheltenham, and hopefully can pick up some prize-money.

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