Brighterdaysahead, The New Lion & Alexei to battle in Aintree Hurdle Brighterdaysahead, The New Lion and Alexei, second, third and fourth in the Champion Hurdle, will all meet again in the William Hill Aintree Hurdle on Thursday. Gordon Elliott’s Brighterdaysahead was a course and distance winner over this two-and-a-half mile trip as a novice, while The New Lion’s career highlight to date also came over a similar trip at Cheltenham last season. Alexei will be stepping back up in trip although his rapid improvement has all been over two miles. Jeremy Scott’s Golden Ace lost her crown as the champion hurdler back in fifth last month, but is another who has some strong form over this trip. Potters Charm, El Fabiolo and Lucky Place make up an intriguing field. Nicky Henderson’s Gold Cup runner-up Jango Baie is likely to be a short price in the Racing Welfare Bowl Chase. While no match for impressive winner Gaelic Warrior, he was clear second best. There are two 11-year-old up against him, Protektorat and Pic D’Orhy, while Spillane’s Tower has been declared for this in preference to running in the Grand National on Saturday. The field is completed by Willie Mullins’ Impaire Et Passe, a dual Grade One winner at the track. In the William Hill Manifesto Novices’ Chase, all eyes will be on Lulamba stepping up in trip after his defeat in the Arkle. He is well clear on official figures but Henry de Bromhead’s Koktail Divin, Ben Pauling’s Mambonumberfive, Paul Nicholls’ Blueking d’Oroux and Lucy Wadham’s Jax Junior are all capable of smart form. Maestro Conti, Minella Study and Selma De Vary, second, third and fourth in the Triumph Hurdle, all meet again in the Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle. Barton Snow, so impressive for John O’Shea at Cheltenham, will attempt to double in the Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase in a field of 25, while Jeremy Scott’s Princess Day will aim to remain unbeaten in the Goffs Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.
