16:05 Aintree

Friday 13 April 2018

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

Randox Health Topham Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 16:07 | Winning time: 5m 50.5s

Devils Bride^p,t¹⁶⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Slevin⁽³⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 152| D

66/1

Useful individual on his day and still held chances when falling in the Galway Plate (good) last August. Held over the Mildmay fences here last October and making his first appearance since in this contest.

Form: 332F50

O O Seven³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N J Henderson| OR: 150

10/1

Finished fourth in this race last year and put in some decent efforts since, most notably when finishing third over 2m4f at Newbury (good-to-soft) in December. Held over 3m1f at Cheltenham last time and one for the shortlist dropping in trip.

Form: 54-3450

Top Gamble^t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 150| D

12/1

Grade 1 placed as recently as January last year and has run well in handicaps on his last three appearances. Finished third over an extended 2m at Cheltenham (soft) last time and cheekpieces worn that day are left off here.

Form: 6-P2443

Village Vic²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 150| D

40/1

Failed to complete in two of his three starts this season and well held at Cheltenham over this trip last time out. Beaten 65L in this race two years ago.

Form: 20P-FP0

Clarcam^p,t¹²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 149| C| D

16/1

Grade 2 winner on soft-to-heavy ground at Navan in November but finished well beaten at Cork the following month. Returning from a break here and finished 16th in this race 12 months ago.

Form: 6900-14

Flying Angel⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 148| CWS

10/1

Grade 1 winner at this meeting last spring but held since including over 3m at Doncaster (soft) in January. Has had wind surgery since that effort and is worth a check in the market here.

Form: 1P-5438

Polidam^h⁶⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: D A Jacob| T: W P Mullins| OR: 146WS

9/1

Useful handicap chaser in France and was a winner over 2m4f at Navan (soft) in December. Held the last twice but represents leading connections and is one to note on his first start over these fences.

Form: 137-105

Bouvreuil^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142

14/1

Placed in a valuable contest at Cheltenham 13 months ago but well held in this subsequently. Lightly raced this season and brought down at Cheltenham early on last time out.

Form: 630-76B

Ultragold^t²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 141| CD

14/1

Winner of this race off a 5lb lower mark a year ago and finished runner-up over this C&D on heavy ground in December. Well beaten the last twice but this course clearly brings out the best in him.

Form: 1-392P0

Eastlake^t²⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-1| J: B J Geraghty| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 141| CD

33/1

Pulled up in this race last year and well beaten in two subsequent outings including on his return from a break and first outing since having wind surgery last month. Looks up against it today.

Form: 1P0P-00

Midnight Shot²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 139| D

33/1

Uttoxeter winner over 2m4f in September and has run respectably in two subsequent outings most recently when 22L fifth at Cheltenham (2m5f, soft) last month. Interesting to see how he fares.

Form: 105138

Bigbadjohn⁶³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 138| D

14/1

Successful five times including on debut for this yard over 3m at Kempton (good-to-soft) last time out. Worth a check in the market racing off a 5lb higher mark.

Form: P-U7081

Ballyalton²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 138

11/1

Put a disappointing effort behind him when finishing fourth over this trip at Cheltenham (soft) last month. Stable are in great form (4/11) at present and he is one for the shortlist in this contest.

Form: 5/644P4

Deauville Dancer^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: B S Hughes| T: David Dennis| OR: 136

50/1

Completed a hat-trick over fences earlier this season but struggled in Grade 3 company at Cheltenham in December. Better effort dropping in grade last time and has a leading jockey in the saddle booked to ride.

Form: 411194

Kilcrea Vale²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 135| BF

12/1

Placed over 2m5f at Ascot (soft) in January but proved a disappointing favourite when finishing fifth at Kempton subsequently. Represents a leading stable and is worth a check in the market ahead of this contest.

Form: 8-23625

Shanahan's Turn^t²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 134

14/1

Galway Plate winner in 2015 but struggled in the main since including in two starts since joining this stable. Handicap mark is falling as a result but more needed.

Form: 40/70-89

Beau Bay^h,t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: W T Kennedy| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 134

33/1

Winner of two of his last five starts including over 2m at Hereford (soft) last month. Beaten a neck at Ascot subsequently and is stepping up in grade for this event.

Form: 231312

Rathlin Rose^b¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 133

16/1

In good form so far in 2018, including when winning a competitive 3m contest at Ascot (soft) last time out. Raised 5lb for that success and pulled up here in December.

Form: P6P121

Theatre Territory^p⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen⁽³⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 132

10/1

Finished in the first three on all five starts since joining this yard including in a valuable Grade 3 at Kempton (good) in February. Cheekpieces worn that day are retained here and she is one for the shortlist.

Form: 7-22323

Indian Temple¹⁰²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Harry Reed⁽⁵⁾| T: T Reed| OR: 132| D

50/1

Beaten 5L into third over 2m4f at Musselburgh (good-to-soft) when last in action back in January. This looks a much tougher contest however.

Form: 3-51353

Notarfbad^h²²

Age: 12| Weight: 10-5| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 131| D

66/1

Winner on good ground at Taunton in November but struggled on good-to-soft ground at Ludlow when returning from a break last time and looks up against it here.

Form: 354213

Minella On Line^p²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Conor Shoemark| T: O Sherwood| OR: 130

33/1

Likely to place when falling on soft ground at Fakenham over 3m last time out. Previously placed over hurdles but looks likely to struggle in this contest.

Form: P-8373F

Newsworthy²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Jonathan Moore| T: Mrs D A Love| OR: 130

66/1

Finished a close fourth in a handicap hurdle at Wexford (heavy) on his seasonal debut last month. Making his handicap debut returning to fences and is worth a check in the market.

Form: 251354

Rogue Angel^p,t¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: M F Morris| OR: 130

20/1

Pulled up on three of his last four starts including over these fences in the Becher back in December. Probably best watched with cheekpieces returning having been replaced with blinkers last time.

Form: 96PP5P

Greybougg⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: N J Hawke| OR: 126

66/1

Successful off a 3lb lower mark in a novices' handicap chase at Uttoxeter (soft) just over a year ago. Held since however and likely to find life tough in this contest.

Form: 331-U65

Mystifiable^t²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 126

12/1

Good effort in finishing 24L fourth over C&D on heavy ground in December. Finished third over an inadequate trip at Newbury on his only subsequent start and is an interesting runner.

Form: 971-443

Flying Eagle^b,t¹⁷⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 124| D

40/1

Dual point-to-point winner in 2017 and successful twice at Cartmel last summer. Held in a claiming chase last time out however and racing from out of the handicap in this event.

Form: 41P103

Non-Runners

Art Mauresque⁴⁸

Weight: 11-9| Age: 8

T: P F Nicholls J: Nick Scholfield

Vibrato Valtat⁴⁸

Weight: 11-5| Age: 9

T: Miss E C Lavelle J: Adam Wedge

Highland Lodge⁸³

Weight: 10-9| Age: 12

T: James Moffatt J: Henry Brooke

Forecasts

Polidam (9/1), Theatre Territory (10/1), Flying Angel (10/1), O O Seven (10/1), Ballyalton (11/1), Kilcrea Vale (12/1), Top Gamble (12/1), Mystifiable (12/1), Ultragold (14/1), Shanahan's Turn (14/1), Bigbadjohn (14/1), Bouvreuil (14/1), Highland Lodge (14/1), Clarcam (16/1), Art Mauresque (16/1), Rathlin Rose (16/1), Rogue Angel (20/1), Vibrato Valtat (20/1), Eastlake (33/1), Minella On Line (33/1), Midnight Shot (33/1), Beau Bay (33/1), Flying Eagle (40/1), Village Vic (40/1), Indian Temple (50/1), Deauville Dancer (50/1), Devils Bride (66/1), Greybougg (66/1), Newsworthy (66/1), Notarfbad (66/1)

BALLYALTON put in a pleasing effort when fourth at Cheltenham last time and he can provide in form trainer Ian Williams with a winner in a highly competitive renewal of this Topham Handicap Chase. Sam Waley-Cohen has a good record over these fences and he is taken to finish runner-up on Theatre Territory who has been running well in defeat since joining Warren Greatrex's yard while last years winner Ultragold who seems to save his best for these fences can claim third ahead of O O Seven and the ex-French gelding Polidam.