The first Grade 1 on Friday’s Aintree card sees the Supreme Novices’ third River Wylde lead a market of nine.
Two miles is the trip and it’s good ground, whereas the times were slow on the opening day of Cheltenham this year, suggesting River Wylde will get improved conditions.
That may suit as he looked right at home at the flat Kempton on decent ground in his penultimate start, jumping soundly.
He looks a good horse but no world beater, and he only narrowly beat a luckless Ballyandy at Cheltenham, who had endured a nightmare passage.
9/4 seems a bit skinny for River Wylde given he won’t have had the easiest of races at Cheltenham – and time and again we see horses leave their best form at Prestbury Park when running at this meeting.
MOON RACER was the big talking horse ahead of the Supreme, given connections publicly flirted with the Champion Hurdle before succumbing to the lure of its glory and riches.
That ultimately ended up fruitless as he was pulled up three out, however I’m not so quick as some to write him off given The New One time and again jumped right, right in front of him throughout the race.
That caused the error that cost him his chance, and he shouldn’t be any worse off for the run whereas others in contention for this had hard races.
Moon Racer had previously looked really good this season, twice beating Ballyandy with plenty in hand, so there’s a collateral form line with River Wylde in his favour.
I’d certainly have him shorter than the second-favourite Mount Mews, who doesn’t jump nearly good enough to be worthy of the superlatives he’s been given ahead of this.
This is a significant step up in class and at the prices I’d not touch him with so much to prove.
Official ratings reckon River Wylde has the best form in the race with his run in the Supreme, but the time was a couple of seconds slower than the Champion Hurdle and he was a good nine lengths back from the winner, so who is to say Moon Racer wouldn’t have bettered that with a clear round?
With no Petit Mouchoir at the front this might be run at a more sedate pace which could tidy up his jumping, and you’d fancy Moon Racer’s chances at the business end if in contention.
When I first saw the market I was a little surprised not to see him favourite, so with that in mind I’d have to say 4/1 looks good value.
1pt win Moon Racer @4/1, 14:20 Aintree, Friday
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