Grand National day at Aintree continues with more racing action, and the 1.55pm Mersey Novice Hurdle is one of the key races on the card. The latest updates focus on the leading contenders and the form that could shape the outcome.
One of the most useful clues may come from the earlier handicap involving Kaka’s Cousin, whose performance is expected to help assess the chance of Olly Murphy’s Scorpio Rising. Scorpio Rising won the Sandown handicap in which Kaka’s Cousin finished fourth, and the six-year-old arrives here after a strong run of four consecutive wins.
That sequence has been built in steadily stronger company, and the horse has been carefully brought along for this Grade One contest. The step up now gives Scorpio Rising the opportunity to test that progress at the highest level.
There is also plenty of interest in Gordon Elliott’s Ballyfad. Elliott is aiming for a five-timer in the race, although Ballyfad did not make a major impact in the similar race at Cheltenham.
Dan Skelton’s Bossman Jack is also in the picture and is disputing favouritism with Ballyfad. At Cheltenham, Bossman Jack finished sixth, four lengths behind the winner, but the run suggested there may have been more to come. He was also considered unlucky not to finish closer, which adds to the intrigue around his chance at Aintree.
With form lines connecting earlier festival races and recent handicap performances, the Mersey Novice Hurdle has developed into one of the more closely watched contests on the Grand National day programme. The race brings together a number of in-form horses, and the result may help clarify which runners are best placed to make the leap into top-level company.
More updates from Aintree continue throughout the day as the Grand National meeting unfolds.
Race time: 1.55pm
Race: Mersey Novice Hurdle
