Six Cheltenham handicappers to follow at Aintree


Our team pick out half a dozen horses from the Cheltenham handicaps that could make their mark at Aintree.

The Grand National aside, there are half a dozen handicaps run over the three days at Aintree and last season half of them went to horses that ran at the Cheltenham Festival.

All three were returned at double figure prices with Ubak (22/1), Eastlake (22/1) and Ivan Grozny (16/1) building on runs at Prestbury Park while Dandridge came within half a length of making it four from six.

Through our Cheltenham Festival eyecatchers and Weights & Measures column we've already highlighted a handful of horses that could make an impact at Liverpool, here are half a dozen more.

Caid Du Berlais


Saw action twice at Cheltenham, falling at the first in the Ultima Handicap Chase before finishing eighth in the Pertemps Network Final, some 14 lengths behind easy winner Presenting Percy.

The handicapper has dropped the eight-year-old by 2lbs which leaves him on 143 over hurdles, just 3lbs higher than when running out an impressive winner at Aintree in November. That wasn't the strongest handicap hurdle although it did include Pertemps fourth The Tourard Man and Brush Hurdle winner Kruzhlinin but it did reinforce Caid Du Berlais' liking for the hurdles track in Liverpool with his only other visit seeing him go down by a short-head at the 2014 Grand National meeting.

Caid Du Berlais didn't enjoy the bets of runs last week and could well have finished closer with a little more luck. He shapes as though he's still got some scope from his current hurdles mark but his relatively exposed nature and reputation as a chaser could see him overlooked in the market and he'll be worth more than a second look if lining up in Liverpool over the smaller obstacles whether the trip be two and a half miles or three. (Ian Ogg)

Croco Bay


Croco Bay has found life quite tough since winning a handicap chase at Ascot by 19 lengths in November 2014 and it's no surprise really considering he was clobbered with a 15lb hike in the weights.

That steep rise looked a bit harsh at the time but the admirable gelding went on to prove the reaction to be fairly justified with a fine third to Next Sensation the following spring and he even ended up contesting the Grade One Melling Chase won by Don Cossack at Aintree, where he was pulled-up.

It's been a losing battle for Ben Case's charge but he was a very respectable fifth in last season's Red Rum Handicap Chase having slipped to a mark of 147 and, on the back of a pleasing fifth to Rock The World in last week's Grand Annual, returns to Aintree with a mark of 140.

He's a 10-year-old now and will clearly be vulnerable to younger legs but the fitting of first-time cheekpieces at Cheltenham seemed to spark a positive reaction and if the headgear is retained then he's a live candidate to put up another bold show in the Red Rum. (Matt Brocklebank)

Double W's


I had thought that Double W's would improve for the step up in trip in the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase but as it turned out, he shaped like a blatant non-stayer having travelled strongly before losing any number of places after the last.

His one visit to Aintree proved a disappointment as he failed to get competitive in the Grade Two bumper behind Barters Hill in 2015 and it could be that we don't see him again until Ayr where he has performed creditably on both visits.

Either way his run at Cheltenham suggests that he can win races over fences from his current mark (dropped 1lb to 139) when dropped back to two miles. The Red Rum is the only option at Aintree and he'd be moving out of novice company but he's already taken on more experienced rivals at Doncaster when second to Upsilon Bleu and ahead of Grand Annual runner-up Gardefort so that shouldn't prove to be a problem. (Ian Ogg)

North Hill Harvey


It must be truly magical to be closely involved with a horse competing at Cheltenham but it's also the cruellest of landscapes for those still learning their trade and after being hailed a genius for preparing Superb Story to win last year's County Hurdle, incredibly there were one or two grumblings about the form of Dan Skelton's stable after he drew a blank at this year's Festival.

The signs were good after Two Taffs ran a big race to be third in Tuesday's Close Brothers Novices' Chase, but that was as good as it got with Born Survivor's sixth in the Martin Pipe a solid if unspectacular effort in the circumstances.

However, North Hill Harvey still has the potential to be a real star for the yard and it's worth forgiving him an ultimately disappointing run in the County.

Following the same path as Superb Story having not been seen in public since the Greatwood in November, unlike that horse the six-year-old looked like he needed the run here. He travelled with the same menace he had done when beating off Modus to win the Greatwood but just couldn't raise an effort when push came to shove turning in.

It was clearly a backwards step in terms of his overall profile but it's a run that can definitely be excused and looking at last year, when he built on a moderate effort in a red-hot renewal of the Sky Bet Supreme to finish fourth at Aintree, it's hard not to remain positive about his prospects.

Twelve months ago North Hill Harvey followed home Buveur D'Air, Petit Mouchoir and Limini in Liverpool, with more subsequent winners Bleu Et Rouge, Agrapart, Ball D'Arc and Three Stars in arrears.

On top of the expected progress he's entitled to make between the two major spring festivals, North Hill Harvey has also been gifted a 3lb drop in the weights which leaves him just 5lb higher than when beating Modus in November. The second has since won the Lanzarote and is one of four subsequent scorers from the Greatwood, so the form is rock solid and Skelton's runner has to be worth another chance with options on the Friday (two miles, four furlongs) and Saturday (two miles) presumably under consideration. (Matt Brocklebank)

Runfordave


Runfordave's revised BHA rating will not be published until he's entered in another British handicap but it looks pretty obvious the assessor has rated the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle around Gordon Elliott's five-year-old, who finished a very solid third under Donagh Meyler.

Runner-up Verni has been bumped up 4lb to 139, fourth Coo Star Sivola up 2lb to 140 and fifth Thomas Campbell is also up to 139 from 137.

This has a rich history of producing quality future chasers and while Runfordave could certainly be the next one to enhance the trend, he’s also of significant interest for the more immediate future.

He won so well on heavy ground at Clonmel in February and stamina looked his forte again at the Festival as he boxed on bravely on ground probably slightly quicker than he cares for.

He already looks to be crying out for three miles and a move up in trip is expected to bring about further progression. The opening event on Grand National day itself, a race Gordon Elliott ran three in last spring, looks tailor-made. (Matt Brocklebank)

Tin Soldier


The six-year-old picked up plenty of experience in France, running 15 times, but didn't put his head in front until joining Willie Mullins this season.

He opened his account at the first attempt for Ireland's Champion Trainer when beating Martin Pipe winner Champagne Classic over three miles at Fairyhouse in January and followed up in a Grade Three at Thurles last month over two and a half miles with Champagne Classic again behind, this time in third.

That run was in heavy ground and it looked as though the faster conditions caught him out in the Coral Cup over two miles five furlongs as he was never quite going the pace to get involved but he was sent off at just 5/1 for that handicap which is notable given the weight of support behind compatriot Tombstone who was the 7/2 favourite.

It's possible that the market may overreact to that defeat when he's next seen but it was by no means a bad performance and he would have to be of interest when stepped back up in trip to three miles. Whether that's at Aintree or in Ireland remains to be seen but the best should still be to come from this son of Soldier Of Fortune. (Ian Ogg)

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