Who is going under the radar for the Aintree handicap hurdles? The Grand National Festival at Aintree is looming ever larger on the horizon with three days of top-class jumps fare on offer on Merseyside from Thursday April 3rd to Saturday April 5th. It's the second of the major spring festivals over jumps and the biggest in Britain outside of Cheltenham in March. Ahead of the action on Merseyside, we're taking a look at some possible contenders for handicap hurdles at Aintree that might be flying under the radar. Claim William Hill free bets for Aintree Check out the William Hill sign up offer and more from the best betting sites. Beckett Rock Henry de Bromhead's string ran well in the main at Cheltenham and it wasn't hard to leave the Cotswolds showpiece with the notion that the Knockeen handler will have more success in the spring after a slow winter. That is typical of De Bromhead and his modus operandi and Beckett Rock was one of the Cheltenham eye-catchers as he finished sixth in the Coral Cup won by Jimmy Du Seuil for Willie Mullins. Beckett Rock was ridden patiently by Darragh O'Keefe, but they experienced some traffic woes off the final bend and might have got closer granted a clear run. He was racing off a mark of 140 there and this lightly raced son of Kayf Tara might have more to give. Spirit D'aunou Gary & Josh Moore's Spirit D'aunou was 'best of the British' in the County Hurdle, behind a quartet of runners from Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott. He did plenty of the hard yards on or close to the pace and was still in front going to the final flight, showing a pleasing attitude up the Cheltenham hill. He hasn't won over hurdles since December 2023, but this latest effort suggests he has now dropped to the sort of mark from which he can expect him to bag a prize soon. He was fifth in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle over 2m4f at Aintree last season off a mark of 135 and will be much lower in the ratings for his next assignment. Patter Merchant Gordon Elliott's Patter Merchant finished fifth in the 25-runner Listed Race And Stay At Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle over three-miles at the Dublin Racing Festival in February. The Walk In The Park gelding was a maiden hurdle winner at Galway over 2m5½f on soft ground in October on his hurdles bow. He contested Graded novice events at Navan over 2m/2m4f on his next two starts before a novices' handicap hurdle at Leopardstown's Christmas Festival over 2m4f. He has since run a fair ninth in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival, where he wasn't done any favours by a mistake as early as the second flight. The Gigginstown House Stud inmate could have more in his locker off a mark in the mid-130s and he remains relatively unexposed at three miles. Act Of Authority Olly Murphy was unfortunate to see Act Of Authority bumping into a thriving mare in Wodhooh in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham last time out. Murphy's son of Authorized has demonstrated improved form over timber this season, winning at Sandown and Wetherby over intermediate trips in November under claiming rider Lewis Saunders. They essentially posted a career-best in the Cotswolds and could sign off for the season with another top effort given the sheer consistency demonstrated since going up in trip.
