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Sefton Novices Hurdle Betting: Sparky May tempting odds as she takes on the boys

Friday's Sefton Novices' Hurdle boasts a strong field of 20 as several top prospects take on the 3 mile 110 yard trip at Aintree. Back In Focus is set to live up to his name after missing Cheltenham as he battles for favouritism with Nicky Henderson's Mossley, who has also been well backed in the betting with Stan James. While Sparky May is an interesting challenger as the highly rated mare takes on the boys for the first time.

Howard Johnson's Back In Focus, 5/1 in the betting, looks a top prospect after building a fine reputation as a point-to-point winner and the 6-year-old made a winning start to life over hurdles. He was an impressive winner of a Grade 2 at Haydock, where he stayed on strongly, in February and in doing so beat off fellow Sefton Novices contender Court In Motion by five lengths. Johnson diverted him from Cheltenham Festival because of the faster ground and connections will be confident of success on the softer ground at the Aintree Meeting.

Mossley, also 5/1, is likely to mount a strong challenge though and caught many people's attention with his fine display at Cheltenham. Nicky Henderson's 5-year-old was a very fine second to stablemate Bob's Worth in the Albert Bartlett as he lost by two and a half lengths. Looking at the Irish hurdler's form makes for pleasing reading, despite a fifth at Warwick which can be put down to heavy ground, as he was a Grade 2 winner at Cheltenham in January. He is another that should enjoy the Aintree ground and he looks to have every chance this week.

Meanwhile, fellow 5/1 punt Sparky May has grabbed plenty of headlines as the only mare in the race as she takes on the boys for the first time. She is far from making up the numbers though as she was a gallant runner up to the exceptional Quevega in the David Nicholson Mares at Cheltenham and showed tremendous saying powers. Trainer Patrick Rodford had considered running her in Saturday's Aintree Hurdle but opted to keep her in novice company for now and he expects the 3 mile trip to suit. The 6-year-old boasts four wins and a place from five hurdle starts against mares and she could well improve that record against the boys this week.

Elsewhere, Emma Lavelle's consistent Court In Motion is available at 7/1 in the betting with StanJames.com. The 6-year-old has two wins and four places from seven starts over hurdles and was a very respectable third in the Albert Bartlett. Admittedly he has finished behind the two leading contenders in the Sefton already this season - coming second to Back In Focus at Haydock and third to Mossley in the Albert Bartlett - but we fancy he could be a decent each way punt.

Paul Nolan's Westmeath has also been well backed at 12/1 and the point-to-point winner notched a first hurdles win at Leopardstown over 2 and a half miles in February.

Paul Nicholls' French import Indian Daudaie also provides interest at 16/1 after the 4-year-old finished fourth in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey's Hurdle. He was third in a Cheltenham Grade Two and fifth in a Leopardstown Grade One this season after building a fine reputation over in France and could well be a decent each way chance.

8/1 punt For Non Stop and Handy Andy, at 12/1, are also interesting chances, although it could be a tasty battle between Back In Focus and Mossley for the win.

Latest Sefton Novices Hurdle Betting

5/1 Back In Focus
5/1 Mossley
5/1 Sparky May
7/1 Court In Motion
8/1 For Non Stop
12/1 Handy Andy
12/1 Westmeath
16/1 Indian Daudaie
20/1 Aikman
20/1 Fists Of Fury
22/1 Cantlow
25/1 Jetnova
33/1 Yurok
40/1 BAR

Odds supplied by StanJames.com, who provide a comprehensive betting service for the Aintree Meeting this week.

Posted: Thursday, 7th April 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: grand national, sefton novices hurdle, sparky may, back in focus, stan james,

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