The Worlds End goes for Aintree compo
Adrian Heskin rides The Worlds End
© Photo Healy Racing
Tom George left Cheltenham very much with a feeling of what might have been after The Worlds End came down but he gets the chance to make amends in the Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree this afternoon.
Travelling strongly under Adrian Heskin in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, he had just hit the front when he took a crashing fall at the second-last flight.
George has been happy enough with him since and the horse has given him no reason not to run.
"He just came alight and then came down. He was travelling very well and it looked like he was going to play a big part," said George.
"He has had a nasty fall but, touch wood, he has had two schooling sessions since then and he has been fine, there's been no ill effects."
Running in the same Max McNeil colours is the Warren Greatrex-trained Keeper Hill who finished seventh in the Neptune at Cheltenham and steps up to three miles for the first time.
On all known evidence the extra distance looks sure to suit.
Greatrex said: "He made a mistake at Cheltenham at a crucial time. Gavin (Sheehan) looked after him after that to be fair but he finished very well and the step up to three miles will suit. I am looking forward to running him.
"He is possibly a better horse on a flatter track but the step up will suit him looking at the way he ran at Cheltenham.
"To be honest, he is not ground dependent. He handles soft and has won on better ground. He is very straightforward at home. He looks a picture at the moment and we are very happy with him."
Nicky Henderson runs Beyond Conceit who turned his hand to hurdling late in life as an eight-year-old but was far from disgraced in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle when sixth.
"He ran very well, but it looked as if he wants further. He will come in there and he is another who has come out of Cheltenham well," Henderson told www.attheraces.com.
He will be joined by stablemate Constantine Bay who looked unlucky not to finish closer in the Albert Bartlett when hampered by the fall of The Worlds End before flying up the hill.
"He ran a very good race at Cheltenham when fourth to Penhill and just got taken out of the race at Cheltenham by a horse that fell at the second-last and that was game over. I don't know where he would have finished, but he would have been a lot closer," said Henderson. Get On The Yager from the yard of Dan Skelton, is another tackling the trip for the first time under Rules as he bids to complete a hat-trick of wins to follow up victories at Kempton and Market Rasen.
Rider Harry Skelton said: "Get On The Yager has had a good season and deserves to take his chance in this. It is a tough race, but the step up to three miles should suit as he stays all day."