Aintree Sefton Novices' Hurdle Betting Tips

Andy Holding 

Probably not the strongest Grade 1 ever seen and there are several who are also unproven at the trip, but that can’t be said for CRYSTAL GLORY (best price 17-2), who arguably brings one of the most solid pieces into the race courtesy of his fine effort at Haydock last time out.

A dual winner at a fairly low level earlier on this season, Nicky Richards’ gelding was a short-priced favourite to complete the hat trick at Newcastle back in January, but the race didn’t quite pan out as planned and he ended up being an unlucky runner-up to the positively ridden Rafferty’s Return.

Pitched into Graded company for the first time at the Merseyside venue a month later, the son of Fame And Glory looked as though the patient tactics employed were about to strike it rich as he loomed up to the more prominently ridden Hillcrest, but he didn’t quite have the necessary qualities to go past his main market rival and he had to settle for a honourable second.

That said, the time figure of the race was exceptionally and, with the pair well clear of the rest, he clearly ran to a very high standard. Saved specifically for today’s contest since, avoiding both Cheltenham and Ayr, the policy to keep him fresh should reap maximum rewards and he looks booked to run a huge race for the North.

Architect Tips

I quite like GENTLEMAN AT ARMS (best price 14-1) for this Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle, who’s improving by the run over hurdles and arrives here on the back of a straightforward task which will have teed him up beautifully for this event now going up in distance. The five-year-old has been finishing his races strongly to suggest he’d appreciate a step up in trip and he probably would have beaten Stag Horn if ridden closer to the pace in a Grade 2 at Warwick. He made relentless progress down the home straight to get within two lengths of the winner which looked unlikely on the home turn and matched that form when narrowly denied in a listed event next time. Stuart Edmunds has a really nice horse on his hands and, with this track likely to suit, he could be the each-way value with four places generally available as he bids to supplement his qualities in Grade 1 company.

This isn’t the strongest of Grade 1 events and the other one I quite like is the Dan Skelton-trained DUKE OF BRONTË (best price 18-1), who is pitched into the deep end on just his third hurdle start. A smart flat performer, who was rated as high as 104, he stepped up on his hurdles debut when returning an easy winner at Doncaster. He needs to step up on that form to figure, while he’s unproven at the trip, but he’s the least exposed runner in the field and connections wouldn’t be risking him at such an early stage of his career without good reason so he’s worth an each-way interest to find out whether he’s good enough or not in such a winnable Grade 1 with four places widely available.