15:10 Aintree

Saturday 9 December 2017

All11:5512:2512:5513:3014:0514:3515:10

188Bet Grand Sefton Handicap Chase (National Course)

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 6m 5.0s

Sametegal^t³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 144

5/1

Useful chaser who took the 2016 Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury by 4L in March 2016. Sidelined thereafter, he returned from over 18 months off with a fair effort in a Listed Handicap at Wetherby last month. National fences debut.

Form: 1U221/2

Gas Line Boy^v⁴¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: R T Dunne| T: Ian Williams| OR: 142

9/2

Races prominently but stays well with his most recent success coming in a Veterans Chase at Kelso in December 2016 (2m6f). Beaten 16¾L by One For Arthur in the 2017 Grand National (fifth), and held every chance when falling on seasonal reappearance.

Form: 31445-F

Ultragold^t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 141| CD

16/1

Shock 50/1 winner of the Grade 3 Topham Chase over these fences in April (C&D), he has shaped up for this race with fair efforts in competitive handicap chases at Chepstow and Ascot (Sodexho Gold Cup), so has claims despite a 5lb higher mark.

Form: 6791-39

Dresden²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: L Treadwell| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 137| C

14/1

Lacks consistency and has become a shade regressive over fences having not won since November 2015 (2m1f Ascot). Has stamina to prove, and slowly slipping down the weights, but you never know whether or not a switch to these fences will rejuvenate.

Form: 2264-63

Captain Redbeard³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 137| D

9/1

The Coltherd's have a history with Aintree, and this eight-year-old has proved himself a capable handicap chaser, winning back-to-back 2m4f contests in early 2017. Outpaced but solid on his seasonal bow at Ayr last month, beaten 4½L by Cyrus Darius.

Form: 311P2-3

Mercian Prince³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 135| D

6/1

Enjoyed a solid first season over fences in the UK, winning twice over 2m4f for this trainer at Southwell and Sandown, before a fall at Cheltenham (in contention). Remains in good nick, and stronger for his Stratford return, but mark a shade high.

Form: 11F43-3

Rathlin Rose^b²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 132| BF

8/1

Suffered an over-reach (lame) when seeking a hat-trick at Haydock in April, but fine after a summer of rest, and plugged on to finish 10½L third to Cresswell Breeze at Fontwell latest (3m3f). Strong stamina wise over 3m on soft ground.

Form: 1/411P-3

Arctic Gold³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 132

5/1

Capable hurdler who lacks oodles of experience, but shaped well on just his fourth start over the larger obstacles at Ayr (2m4f) last month when splitting Cyrus Darius (¾L) and Captain Redbeard. More to offer if savvy enough for the National course.

Form: 033-722

Mystifiable^t⁵⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 130

8/1

An impressive winner at Newbury in March 2016 (2m6f), he wrapped up a light campaign last year with victory at Perth in April (2m4f good). Still 4lb higher, he needed his Chepstow return, but his fencing lacked any real fluency and that's a worry.

Form: 1P/971-4

Imjoeking^t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 129| D

20/1

Bossed a small field when hacking up at Ayr in March (2m heavy), but a faller at the 14th on his next start (over these fences) in the Topham Chase in April. Sure to have been well schooled, and had a spin on the Mildmay course last month (2m).

Form: 6471F-6

No No Mac^b,t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Henry Brooke| T: I A Duncan| OR: 127| D

33/1

Has seldom raced away from Ayr during the entire calendar year, and whilst a winner at that track in February (2m4f+ soft), he's looked well below that level of form this term. Not really a horse to consider today.

Form: 1373-56

Forecasts

Gas Line Boy (9/2), Sametegal (5/1), Arctic Gold (5/1), Mercian Prince (6/1), Mystifiable (8/1), Rathlin Rose (8/1), Captain Redbeard (9/1), Dresden (14/1), Ultragold (16/1), Imjoeking (20/1), No No Mac (33/1)

The Coltherd family have an association with the Aintree National fences through shock 100/1 2013 Foxhunters winner Tartan Snow (also runner up in 2014), and their Captain Redbeard looks a likely contender. He finished 3¾L behind the runner up Arctic Gold when the pair were both beaten by the classy Cyrus Darius at Ayr last month, but with more experience as a chaser than the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained runner, he looks the preferred option here. Ultragold has tackled a couple of decent handicaps since winning the Topham over C&D in April, and he must enter calculations despite a 5lb higher mark and softer ground, whilst the classy Sametegal heads the weights for a good reason. However, others also have claims, including the hardy three-miler Rathlin Rose and the prominent racing GAS LINE BOY. The selection comes here in preference to the Becher Chase (held an entry), and that looks a wise move, as this is a weaker contest, and the 2m5f trip looks much more suitable. He held every chance when falling on his reappearance on the Mildmay Course here last month, but was a fine fifth to One For Arthur in the 2017 Grand National, so has proved he can safely negotiate these obstacles, and competes from a very fair handicap mark of 142.