'You'd like to think he'll take a bit of beating' - Elliott confident in Piper

Jewson Anniversary 4-y-o Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m1f | ITV/RTV

Six of the last nine winners of the 4-y-o Juvenile Hurdle ran at Cheltenham on their previous start but only Defi Du Seuil and Pentland Hills won at the festival.

That bodes well for hot favourite Pied Piper. Like Grumeti (2012 winner) and Guitar Pete (2014), Pied Piper finished third in the Triumph Hurdle last time, when he probably matched the form of his deeply impressive Trial victory in January at the meeting.

There is no Vauban or Fil Dor to deal with but punters are advised to tread carefully if considering taking a short price. Gordon Elliott is 1-24 in the last fortnight and the yard's form has regressed since the second day of the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Brazil, the likely pace angle along with outsider Inca Prince, has made vast improvements on his last two starts after finishing sixth, fifth and fourth in three maiden hurdles in the winter.

This brother to St Leger winner Capri is uncomplicated and managed to give 8lb and a beating to Gaelic Warrior in the Boodles last time, although the suspicion is he was well placed to capitalise on a suspect leap from an idle Gaelic Warrior at the last. A rating of 144 leaves him with only 1lb to find with Pied Piper, though.

Keep an eye on the market with Fautinette as she could be the fly in the ointment. Representing the same connections as star novice L'Homme Presse, Fautinette makes her debut for Venetia Williams and is unbeaten in France.

The value of her French form is difficult to weigh up, but the horse she beat at Vichy when last seen in May has won twice since.

Three-time Grade 2 winner Knight Salute has been kept busy this season and would appeal more if he had missed Cheltenham. Perhaps Petit Tonnerre, identically rated to Knight Salute despite running only once in Britain, has more long-term potential.

Petit Tonnerre got the last all wrong at Market Rasen but still managed to win off a mark of 135 on his handicap and stable debut in February.

While you can't crab the manner of the victory, it was a mickey-mouse three-runner race in which he was receiving 12lb in weight-for-age against exposed older horses. This is a different kettle of fish, but there is surely more to come.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

'Pied Piper hasn't done much wrong'

Gordon Elliott is confident Pied Piper can bounce back from his defeat in last month's Triumph Hurdle to land his first Grade 1.

After beating impressive Triumph winner Vauban in a three-year-old maiden at Punchestown in December, Pied Piper won the Grade 2 Triumph Trial at Cheltenham by nine lengths from Moka De Vassy.

Pied Pier: was an impressive winner at Cheltenham in JanuaryCredit: Edward Whitaker

He then finished third at last month's Cheltenham Festival behind his stablemate Fil Dor and Vauban, who won by two and half lengths.

"He hasn't done much wrong all season and ran very well in what was probably a very good Triumph Hurdle," said Elliott, who bids for his first success in this Grade 1.

"He's been in good form since and the track should suit. You'd like to think he'll take a bit of beating."

'He deserves his shot at a big one'

All the talk before the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at last month's Cheltenham Festival was about the well-backed Gaelic Warrior, but all the talk afterwards was about the winner Brazil.

The four-year-old was sent off 10-1 for the Grade 3 after winning a novice hurdle at Naas, his first success over hurdles, but toughed it out to beat his well-bred rival by a short head under Mark Walsh.

Brazil: denied hot favourite Gaelic Warrior at CheltenhamCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Padraig Roche won with his first runner in Britain and he believes Brazil has a good chance of extending his unbeaten record when lining up in his first Grade 1 in the colours of leading owner JP McManus.

"He's in great form and we're really looking forward to running him," said Roche. "He deserves his shot at a big one as it was a really good performance by him in the Fred Winter. He's travelled over well and we're all very happy."

What they say

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Impulsive One
He's a genuine fast-track two-miler. We kept him from Cheltenham as we knew he wasn't going to beat those Irish horses in the Triumph, but he won the Scottish Triumph at Musselburgh and that's a great track for him as it's a real speed track on good ground, which is what he wants. The less rain the better. He's been very consistent.

Ruth Jefferson, trainer of Inca Prince
He won well carrying a lot of weight for a small horse at Musselburgh and there wasn't really anywhere else to go. We thought we'd throw him in at the deep end. We've got quite a bit to find but he deserves to take his chance.

Gary Moore, trainer of In The Air
His work has improved since he won at Newbury, which it needed to. I'm happy with how he came out of that and he deserves to run.

Milton Harris, trainer of Knight Salute
We ran him at Cheltenham despite having reservations about the ground. He's been on the go a long time but seems in good form. We've changed a few little things: the hood is off and the earplugs are out. They'll go a good gallop and I'd expect him to run really well before we give him a break. He's got a proper each-way chance.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Too Friendly
It's a big ask in a Grade 1 but the track will suit him. I do think there are big days to be had with this horse and he ran very nicely in the Fred Winter. We know it's a massive step up for us.

Venetia Williams, trainer of Fautinette
We're throwing her in at the deep end but she had nice form early last year in France and we're hopeful of an encouraging run.
Reporting by Jonathan Harding

Thursday's Aintree previews:

1.45 Aintree: 'This was always the target' – Nicholls hoping to crack Grade 1 with Pic D'Orhy

2.55 Aintree: Gold Cup third Protektorat out to prove best of British in Bowl at Aintree

3.30 Aintree: intermediate trip sets up fascinating clash between Epatante and Zanahiyr

4.05 Aintree: is Jett ready for take-off? Expert analysis and key quotes on the Foxhunters'

4.40 Aintree: front-running Before Midnight could be the one in a fast and furious Red Rum

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