Classy Abacadabras on the comeback trail after Champion Hurdle fall

3.25 Aintree
Betway Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m4f | 4yo+ | ITV/RTV

The winners of all seven Grade 1 hurdles at last month’s Cheltenham Festival were trained in Ireland and it is therefore no surprise that two of the top three in this market are based in the Emerald Isle.

Abacadabras could not hold a candle to Honeysuckle when second in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in February but it has since turned out that there are not many who can after the mare proved herself outstanding with victory at Cheltenham.

Abacadabras fell at the third flight in the Champion Hurdle and that is a concern. Backing last-time-out fallers in Grade 1 hurdles since the start of 2016 would have yielded a loss of £11.60 to £1 level stakes and only five have won from a total of 43 runners (12 per cent).

Henry de Bromhead saddled three of the seven Grade 1 hurdle winners at Cheltenham and his runner, Jason The Militant, recorded a career best when scoring at Fairyhouse last time.

Jason The Militant is closely matched with Abacadabras, who beat him by half a length in the Morgiana at Punchestown in November, and the rematch is fascinating over this longer trip. Neither has proved themselves beyond two miles but both have siblings who stayed at least this far.

Jason The Militant: locks horns with Abacadabras once againCredit: Patrick McCann

Paul Nicholls went without a winner at Cheltenham but the 11-times champion trainer has kept a strong team back for Aintree and McFabulous will be right at the top of that list.

There will be no worries about the trip for McFabulous and he is weighted to reverse the form of his National Spirit defeat at the hands of Brewin’upastorm on 6lb better terms.

Just a nose separated Song For Someone and Silver Streak when they finished first and second at Cheltenham in December. Song For Someone is 2lb better off at the weights, but Silver Streak has improved since and has the best piece of form in the race judged on RPRs.

That came when he won the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton but that was over two miles and Silver Streak doesn’t look a certain stayer judged on his Flat-oriented pedigree.

The final word must go to Buveur D’Air. The dual Champion Hurdle winner won this in 2017 and returned to finish second behind Supasundae two years ago. He is bidding to become the second ten-year-old to win the race and the first since Mister Morose in 2000.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

Abacadabras set for step up in trip

When you consider just how dominant the Irish were at Cheltenham, and the size and strength of the team Gigginstown alone bring to Aintree, it is perhaps significant that Eddie O'Leary believes Abacadabras possesses the best chance of the lot.

That is a team headlined by Aintree legend Tiger Roll, features Grade 1 winners like Notebook and Cheltenham-placed horses such as Shattered Love and Beacon Edge.

Yet it is their speedy hurdler who is deemed their most potent force. He fell at the third in the Champion Hurdle when sent off a 10-1 shot, but he remains the only horse to have got within eight lengths of Shishkin when he went down by a head in the 2020 Supreme.

O’Leary, racing manager for owners Gigginstown House Stud, said: "It’s two and a half miles but you’d imagine that, if he was to ever get the trip, he’d get it at Aintree. It’s vital that he switches off and gets relaxed.

"It was unfortunate what happened at Cheltenham as he’s usually a very good jumper. He just hit the top bar and paid the price. We were confident he was going to run a big race so hopefully he can show what we think he’s capable of here."

Connections have chosen to come to Aintree with the now Denise Foster-trained seven-year-old as much to avoid a rematch with Champion Hurdle winner Honeysuckle as anything else.

O'Leary added: "There was no point waiting around for Honeysuckle at Punchestown so we said we’d come here. I think he’s our best chance of getting a winner at Aintree."

What they say

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Ballyandy
He's got it all to do but the extra half mile should help him and he seems in good form.

Olly Murphy, trainer of Brewin'upastorm
He's in good form and this has been the plan for a good while. He skipped Cheltenham so is a fresh horse and two and a half miles on good ground are his optimum conditions so he should have a good each-way chance in what looks an open contest.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Buveur D'Air and Buzz
We kept Buveur D'Air out of Cheltenham for obvious reasons and I think two and a half will help him. I hope the ground is a bit on the slow side. The old boy is in good form. Buzz is coming out of handicaps running with near-topweight in races like the Betfair Hurdle. It'll be a tough race.

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Jason The Militant
We were looking at the Champion Hurdle for him but decided to wait and come here instead. It will be interesting to see him over two and a half miles. His best form is on soft ground but they are saying it’s good to soft. It has to be a concern but I hope he handles it. He seems to be in very good form.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of McFabulous
Cheltenham doesn't suit him so we were always going to come here. I've deliberated all week whether to go two-and-a-half [miles] or three [Ryanair Stayers Hurdle on Saturday], but we've opted to go two-and-a-half as he's good at this trip. It didn't happen for him at Fontwell last time, but the track is tight enough and he made an early mistake. He gave the winner six pounds there and back at level weights, you'd like to think he's got a chance at a course where he's won before.

Buveur D'Air: dual Champion Hurdle winner back in actionCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Hughie Morrison, trainer of Not So Sleepy
I don't think anyone thinks he has any chance and that's usually when he runs his best. We've every right to be there, we're the best two-mile hurdler in the country according to the Champion Hurdle after Epatante beat us three and a half lengths getting seven pounds. It's a different place and a different day, you never know with him but we're not going for a day out.

Evan Williams, trainer of Silver Streak
We thought we'd give it a go. Whether he stays or not I don't know but the ground should be grand so we thought we'd try.

Tom Symonds, trainer of Song For Someone
He missed Cheltenham and this looks a natural target as he's already won over two miles three furlongs. It's a better race but it's the first time he's running without a penalty this season. I don't quite know what happened at Wincanton, he didn't run too badly in the circumstances, but it just didn't happen on the day.
Reporting by Stuart Riley

Three from the last five

Irish-trained runners have won three of the last five runnings of the Aintree Hurdle, with Jezki (2015), Annie Power (2016) and Supasundae (2019) all successful.

Read more day one previews for Aintree:

Tiger Roll has 'no chance whatsoever' on Aintree return – Eddie O'Leary

Find out why our three experts are against Tiger Roll in the Bowl at Aintree

Fusil Raffles bids to pay big compliment to stablemate Chantry House

Can Nicholls' new approach pay off or will Cheltenham form hold sway again?

Can go-to Irish claimer land another big handicap on first ride for De Bromhead?

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