Hargam bidding for Aintree compensation Connections believe Hargam has strong claims as he goes for handsome compensation in the Betfred Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree on Thursday. Conditions went slightly against the Nicky Henderson-trained grey in the Triumph Hurdle but he still ran a tremendous race at Cheltenham when third to stablemates Peace And Co and Top Notch. With the ground likely to be better on Merseyside, hopes are high that Hargam can run up to his best under Tony McCoy. "He ran a cracker at Cheltenham. Hopefully the race didn't take too much out of him, but Nicky's very happy with him," said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus. "He goes there with a live chance. The ground went a little bit against him at Cheltenham, but he performed well." Peace And Co is owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, who are represented by Bristol De Mai, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies. He won the Grade One Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow in December and was not disgraced when second to the older Glingerburn at Kelso. "It is nice to be going back against his own age group as the last two races have been in open-age races. He has run with credit each time," said Anthony Bromley, the owners' bloodstock advisor. "The owners purposely missed Cheltenham to keep him fresh for this. "The ground is the unknown with him but his action suggests he doesn't just want heavy ground. We are hoping he copes with the good to soft ground. The plan is for this to be his last run of the season." Alan King has decided to take a punt with Winner Massagot as this race has proved lucrative for the Barbury Castle trainer in the past. "The Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle has been a lucky race for is - four winners in the last eight years, courtesy of Katchit, Walkon, Grumeti and L'Unique," he told www.alankingracing.co.uk. "Though I probably should wait for the valuable handicap hurdle at Sandown with Winner Massagot, who is also wrong at the ratings here, he has been in such good form since he won so well at Kempton last week that I can't resist the temptation to go for the Grade One." Irish hopes rest with the Gordon Elliott trained Hostile Fire who finished down the field in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham on his last start.
