Sober Glory aiming for Aintree atonement

After falling agonisingly short at the Cheltenham Festival, Sober Glory can end his season in the spotlight when bidding for compensation in the ThatPrizeGuy Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree.

Trained by Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, the six-year-old had Supreme Novices’ Hurdle glory within his grasp before a final flight blunder handed the advantage to eventual winner Old Park Star.

He plugged on bravely for second, but with Nicky Henderson’s winner, nor the third Mydaddypaddy in action on Merseyside, hopes are high he can atone for that near-miss and head for his summer break with a top-level success secured.

“He’s come out of Cheltenham really well and I couldn’t be happier with him,” said White. “After his run in the Supreme you would say he deserves to round off his year with a big win, but that doesn’t guarantee you get it.

“The first and third from Cheltenham don’t run which helps our cause and he goes there with every chance. He’ll be a short price, but deservedly so and I think he deserves to be classed as the one to beat.

“He’s done nothing wrong other than that one run at Sandown which we try to forget about, but people keep reminding us of. He’s always done us proud, he’s looking great and he’s taking the training this year very well.

“We’re really looking forward to this but more importantly we know we could have even bigger days next season.”

Back in fourth in the Cheltenham Festival curtain-raiser was Alan King’s Baron Noir, who could prove to be Sober Glory’s main danger among a field of six lacking the usual presence from the powerhouse yards from Ireland.

Baron Noir is owned by the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate, and Fehily said: “He ran an absolute blinder in the Supreme and it was his first time running at that sort of level. It was the most competitive race he will have run in and he ran a stormer.

“We’ve rated the horse all season, but I’m so glad he went and ran that sort of race at Cheltenham and backed up his Punchestown bumper form over El Cairos.

“I think he’s a proper horse who can hopefully step forward again. He’s a big lad and I think there is no reason why he can’t improve now that he’s raced at that level.

“We’re happy to roll the dice again and looking forward to running him.”

There is further Grade One action for novice hurdlers in the Oddschecker Sefton Novices’ Hurdle, where Jamie Snowden’s Johnny’s Jury will be a warm order to follow up his Cheltenham Festival win in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

Victory would also give his handler back-to-back victories in this particular race having won at the highest level for the first time with Julius Des Pictons 12 months ago.

Fourth to Johnny’s Jury at Prestbury Park was Ben Pauling’s Mondoui’boy and the handler is predicting a bold bid with further experience now banked.

He said: “I think he’ll be very dangerous in a Sefton. He’s in very good order and came out of Cheltenham in fabulous form, he looks a million dollars.

“If Cheltenham hasn’t left its mark I’d be expecting him to go very close. I have very high hopes for this horse and I think he could be exceptional. If he’s in the form he went to Cheltenham in then hopefully he’ll put up a very good show.”

Also expecting to be in the mix is Joe Tizzard with his Cheltenham sixth Kripticjim.

“He ran a super race in the Albert Bartlett. He needs to improve a bit to win on Saturday, but he’s not a million miles away,” explained Tizzard.

“If he runs a race like he did at Cheltenham we’ll be delighted and we’re looking forward to running him over fences next year.”

Dan Skelton’s Dalston Lad will seek a four-timer stepping up to Grade One company, while Paul Nicholls will saddle both Challow Hurdle hero No Drama This End and the unexposed Talk To The Man, with Sam Twiston-Davies getting a first sit on the former ahead of playing a more central role at Ditcheat next season.