16:40 Aintree

Thursday 12 April 2018

All13:4514:2014:5015:2516:0516:4017:15

Zut Media Red Rum Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 4m 4.3s

Gino Trail^p²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 153| D

10/1

Forecast conditions and trip are ideal for this consistent veteran who has been as good as ever in his last three starts. Nudged up 1lb for his latest second in an ultra-competitive Grand Annual at Cheltenham and is again an each-way player.

Form: 311212

Overtown Express²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 147| D

14/1

Produced his best chase effort when fresh, scoring at Newbury (2m½f, good to soft) in December. Was not far off that level again at Chepstow (soft) two starts ago and from same mark here he has each-way claims if able to produce his best.

Form: 1F3425

Tommy Silver^t³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 144| BF| D

8/1

Acts on soft ground and produced his best chase run so far on that going description at Kempton (2m) in a Grade 2 novices' event in December. Arrives here after a jumpers' bumper back there last month. Unexposed and very interesting.

Form: 6-21232

Sizing Platinum^t²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 144| D

20/1

Handicapper took a dim view of his 14L Newton Abbot win (2m½f, heavy) in October and raised him 12lb. Held in two better races since then, including 35L defeat in Grand Annual last time. Dropped 3lb here but needs to eke out a bit more to compete.

Form: F07-130

Wisty¹⁸⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: M Todhunter| OR: 141| D

33/1

Reeled off a hat-trick of wins at Cartmel over 2m1½f, including on soft last year and looked progressive. Beaten 21L when last seen at Kelso in October. Has yet to win when fresh and this is a tough ask on ground that could be too testing.

Form: 06-1117

Theinval^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 141| C| D

5/1

1lb better off with Gino Trail for finishing ¾L behind him in the Grand Annual, when soft ground was not ideal. Similar going comments apply here but he was second in this last year from 3lb higher and again has claims with a strong pace to suit.

Form: 7-4F364

Robinshill³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 140| D

33/1

Was out of his depth in the Arkle last time out but his wins at Ludlow (both 2m) earlier in the season suggest that he is no forlorn hope from this mark at this level. Appears to handle any ground and has each-way claims if back to form.

Form: PU11P5

King's Socks²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 140| D

7/2

Sole chase win was in France (2m1f, vsoft) in 2016 (also added a Listed hurdle to his CV). Has shown that he retains ability in two starts for this trainer after a long absence. Drops in trip here but travelled well last time and not ruled out.

Form: 2/152-35

Bun Doran²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: T R George| OR: 139| D

11/2

Goes well on testing ground and has become a consistent performer over fences, despite having just one chase win to his name. 8lb better off with Gino Trail for 1¼L earlier in the season and if in that sort of form he should be thereabouts.

Form: P63-233

Doitforthevillage^t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Henderson| OR: 139| D

10/1

Took a bit of getting going this term but produced a career-best when scoring at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft) in October. Not at that level since, including when beaten 16L in Grand Annual last time and needs to bounce back to figure.

Form: 961426

Theflyingportrait^t¹⁶⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 139| CD

25/1

All his winning form has been on a sound/fast surface, so the forecast conditions here are a concern. 4lb higher than when last winning over C&D in June and although you couldn't rule him out at his best, he is far from certain to produce that.

Form: 514539

Vosne Romanee^p,t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: B S Hughes| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 138| D

25/1

Another who has not won on ground slower than good on turf. Best two runs have come on a sound surface at Worcester (2m½f). 4lb higher than the latter (in September) and not seen over fences since. Unexposed but conditions a concern.

Form: 123145

Baby King^t⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 137| CD

20/1

Scored over C&D (soft) on his only previous run here in November. Bettered that on first run post-wind op at Musselburgh in February, though his inconsistent season continued last time. Tries to bounce back in a very competitive contest.

Form: 1-F1825

Noche De Reyes¹⁷²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: C Gethings| T: T R George| OR: 137| DWS

66/1

At his best on good ground and yet to win on slower than good to soft. Lost his way a bit after the ratings rise that followed a 10L Perth win last summer. Returns after a break/wind surgery. Yet to win when fresh and forecast ground not ideal.

Form: 2-2216F

Bentelimar^p1²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 135| D

10/1

Goes well on testing ground and stays 2m4f, which is no bad thing in what is likely to be a true run race. Has solid form on his CV but one win from 14 starts over fences is slightly off-putting come into such a race. Gets first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 603227

Savello^p1,t³³

Age: 12| Weight: 10-2| J: Bridget Andrews⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 129| D

33/1

Won the 2014 Grand Annual from an 18lb higher mark but powers have been on the wane since his last success in 2016. Recent efforts none-too-encouraging and others preferred in this field.

Form: 7F36-3P

Forecasts

King's Socks (7/2), Theinval (5/1), Bun Doran (11/2), Tommy Silver (8/1), Bentelimar (10/1), Gino Trail (10/1), Doitforthevillage (10/1), Overtown Express (14/1), Sizing Platinum (20/1), Baby King (20/1), Vosne Romanee (25/1), Theflyingportrait (25/1), Savello (33/1), Wisty (33/1), Robinshill (33/1), Noche De Reyes (66/1)

Only one of the last nine winners has been outright favourite for this race (plus one joint-favourite), with four of those successful being sent-off at 16-1 or bigger. Gino Trail is the benchmark performer in this field and his consistency marks him out as a strong contender once again, despite a 1lb upward nudge. Much less exposed, however is TOMMY SILVER, who handles cut in the ground and this former decent handicap hurdler should be suited by the likely strong pace of a race like this, so he is suggested. Similar comments apply to the more exposed Theinval, who is respected, while King's Socks, Bun Doran, Robinshill and Overtown Express are others for whom cases can be made.