18:05 Aintree

Friday 18 May 2018

All17:3518:0518:4019:1019:4520:2020:50

smarkets.com Handicap Chase

Off time: 18:05 | Winning time: 5m 4.90s

Cold March^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: D A Jacob| T: H Whittington| OR: 142| D

12/1

Restricted to three starts during the 17-18 campaign and shouldn't show his best on any of those occasions. That level of form makes this weight a big ask in this contest.

Form: 1P3/3P0-

Play The Ace^p,t⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 139| CD

12/1

Two starts so far in 2018 have left plenty to be desired, and though he was in fine form towards the end of last year he needs to bounce back now.

Form: 1111P-6

Katachenko²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 135| C| D

10/1

Not exactly the most straightforward but talented performer on his day and won the Grade 3 Red Rum off 1lb lower than this at this course two years ago.

Form: 20U/26F-

Petrou^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 134| CD

7/2

Has been running in better races than this, including a Grade 2 two starts back. This is the easiest race he has run in for some time and he should be able to get more competitive.

Form: 1P2244-

Deauville Dancer^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: David Dennis| OR: 134| D

9/1

Not the most consistent, but won easily in December off just 4lb lower than this and this contest looks much easier than his last couple of assignments.

Form: 119404-

Enjoy Responsibly³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Harrison Beswick⁽⁷⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 132| D

16/1

Outclassed in Grade 2 company last time out but form in Class 3 handicaps has been much more encouraging. 10lb higher than when winning at Fakenham two starts back but that was a very easy success.

Form: 154310-

Indian Temple³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Reed⁽⁵⁾| T: T Reed| OR: 131| D

4/1

Couldn't get involved over the National fences here last time out, but this is a weaker race and this trip on a sound surface usually sees him to good effect; considered.

Form: 513537-

The Tailgater¹²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 126| D

7/1

Not at his best last time out when down the field at Kempton, but has been given a break since January now and better can perhaps be expected off the same mark.

Form: F/13414-

Ravished^t²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 118

12/1

No win since July 2015, when trained in Ireland, and has looked no closer to getting back to winning ways on his last couple of starts; others hold more convincing claims.

Form: 290/5P6-

Martiloo^t¹¹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 108| D

9/2

Carries a 7lb penalty for winning at Ayr last time out, but that would unlikely have been enough to stop her from winning that contest, and though this looks tougher she should be right up there again.

Form: 2U234-1

Forecasts

Petrou (7/2), Indian Temple (4/1), Martiloo (9/2), The Tailgater (7/1), Deauville Dancer (9/1), Katachenko (10/1), Cold March (12/1), Ravished (12/1), Play The Ace (12/1), Enjoy Responsibly (16/1)

Even under a 7lb penalty, there's no getting away how well MARTILOO won last time out at Ayr, and though this may be a deeper race there's every chance the extra weight won't be enough to stop her from winning again with trip and ground both looking ideal. Of the others the class-dropping Petrou and the quirky but talented Katachenko, look the most likely dangers to the selection.