Shaneshill rang a mighty of a race but was outstayed by Blaklion, a battler who gave his all as usual; when NMH jumped to the front two out most thought he was going to pull from the pack - MOT was weakening. When NMH didn't one could see NMH was not himself and this became more evident after jumping the last where he pecked slightly his left front leg was not right. I just hope NMH recovers to race again or retires.

The question is would Black Hercules have outstayed Blaklion given NMH and MOT both not right towards the end of the race?

I like Shaneshill, completely wrote him off for the RSA as I just thought he wouldn't come close to getting home but he made that theory out to be a load of tosh.

One reservation I have about backing him for Aintree is it seems to be that he saves his best for Cheltenham. You could argue his best three career runs have all been at the festival. I started to think they just train him for Cheltenham but looking at his form he has had two other noticeable wins, one at Punchestown in the bumper and one at Fairyhouse where he smashed Outlander, but they're both testing tracks too.

His only run on a flat track was at Doncaster in january which is similar to Aintree. He ran like an absolute pig that day. That may have been down to an inadequate trip but he ran far worse than you could ever imagine.

Maybe 25f on a flat track is just his bag but it's one thing to bear in mind. On the plus side he was close enough to Blaklion at Cheltenham to turn the tables at Aintree and I'd rather take Shaneshill at 5/1 than Blaklion at 5/2.

Is Shaneshill definitely going to Aintree?

One can dismiss Shaneshill's run at Doncaster in Jan behind Vaniteux when 'fav' - Up For Reviw ran a stinker too - WPM put it down to catching a bug during transit; Shaneshill (5 here) could be joined by Douvan in the manifesto Novice Chase (20f), according to the RP.

Down to winning money to win the title, is going to finish 3rd at least. Gets more cash for finishing in the 3mile hurdle than the novice chase.

Shaneshill in the Stayers over 3 miles again - 4th time lucky perhaps despite was outstayed twice over the same distance here last year and at Cheltenham in the RSA Chase.

He should WIN

Going for the CH

Only third today
Bit Willies are only starting NOW

He ran well for a season pipe opener.
Should of dusted off the cobwebs for when back over fences

Did he not run in America or France during the National Hunt break?

I think he's a live World Hurdle contender, and 20's is a good price - not that I'd back him because I'm really trying to reign in my anteposts this year (last year I would have taken that at this stage).

He will never win a Gold Cup with the extended 3m2f, I think the owner will have Black Hercules for the Ryanair, and he hasn't got the pace to drop back to 2m (over fences or hurdles), as was shown in the Supreme.

For me, that only leaves the World Hurdle, although Wylie does have Nichols Canyon as a potential runner in that.  NC would be Wylie's obvious Champion Hurdle horse though, considering he was only beaten 4.5 lengths last year.  The World Hurdle is wide open, with no standout horse, so at 20's, I'm almost talking myself into it!!

Impossible. His run in the US was in May, almost 6 months ago. So I'd say it was very likely fitness was to blame.

I think Shaneshill gets 3m impossible, but I know we disagreed about this last year, so don't want to dig up old arguments!

Yes, he is 0 from 5 over 3m, but all of those were Grade 1's against tough opposition, so to me that indicates he may well not be good enough, rather than him not staying.  After all, Mullins has ran him over 3 miles 5 times now, so if Willie has continued down the staying route that's good enough for me.

Take out the freak that is Thistlecrack and he wins the Liverpool Stayers Hurdle convincingly, he was travelling like a dream when taking a tumble at the last in the Punchestown Stayers Hurdle and although I haven't seen the America race, to finish 1/4 of a length down after running at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown is one hell of a run (fourth G1 run in 2 months, plus the travel to America).

Also, since the RSA, all four of his runs have been over hurdles, so I think a World Hurdle campaign could be on the cards, regardless of where Black Hercules goes - just a hunch.  20/1 is a fair price in my view considering the weakness of the division.