StarForm TELLY VERDICTS
Best bets for today’s TV action from our experts
MARIE’S ROCK (3.35) looks ready to roll in the JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.
Nicky Henderson’s mare flopped at the Festival but pulled her chance away off a dawdling early pace – draw a line through that one.
Before that she had been ultra consistent, winning four in a row, two in Grade One company.
Henderson probably regrets not running her in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham. But she now gets a chance to show what she can do upped to three miles, a move that looks overdue.
Flooring Porter won’t be hanging around so Marie’s Rock should settle this time and she gets the 7lb fillies’ allowance to add further gloss to her case. MEXICO (2.25) was a revelation upped to a staying trip last time, turning in a huge career best to win with ease. It was only a small race but he scored on the bridle and the time was good.
Now he has found his niche, he could be well handicapped and is fancied to defy a 7lb rise in the Village Hotels Handicap Hurdle.
IRISH POINT (3.00) has some decent form behind big rivals from earlier in the season, notably when just denied by subsequent Supreme winner Marine Nationale. He was dropped in class for a warm-up victory at Naas last time and should be pitch perfect for today’s Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle.
The market for the William Hill Handicap Chase is top-heavy with suspect stayers but one who will relish the 3m1f is COCONUT SPLASH (4.15).
Evan Williams’ (left) grey had become frustrating over shorter trips, but he showed that staying is likely to be his game when seeing out today’s trip well to finish second to one of Nicky Henderson’s in a three-runner affair last time out.
Now that the penny has dropped, he looks well handicapped on the best of his form and can finally start to fulfil some of his early potential.