Dance in Step Again

Ben Morgan rounds up the final day on Merseyside.

AINTREE HANDICAP HURDLE

As mentioned before, DADSINTROUBLE has the look of a progressive young stayer and in my view would have enhanced that reputation if he got into the Pertemps final, but unfortunately he was balloted out. Connections had mapped the whole season around that and it almost paid off, and I now think they will be eyeing up this prize as an adequate source of compensation. The long straight at Aintree will play to his strengths, but expect him to be played late as he doesn’t like to see too much daylight too soon.

The winner of the Pertemps, Presenting Percy, looked mightily impressive and I doubt that we will see him in a handicap anytime soon as his mark will be blown out of the water now.

Second and third that day, Barney Dwan and Jury Duty, may well oppose and it will be interesting to see which one comes out on top this time as both seem to run to their best consistently.

The one I took out of the Pertemps was Ballymallin who was going well out in front for Noel Fehily but flattened the third last hurdle and lost vital momentum, which clearly took a lot out of him, but once gathered up he stayed on for a respectable seventh. If he can avoid silly mistakes like that he will be in the shake-up.

Golden Doyen looked as though he would come on for his appearance in the Pertemps as he seemed to tire in the final part of the race. He was laid out for that race and connections had protected his handicap mark all season which meant he was unable to get a run in prior to Cheltenham and that perhaps was his downfall. With a run under his belt he may prove a different proposition here.

If the ground came up soft, the warrior that is Silsol, would have to come into the reckoning despite him shouldering a fair bit of weight, but remember, they carry that weight for a reason.

1) Dadsintrouble

2) Ballymallin

3) Golden Doyen

MERSEY NOVICES HURDLE