18:50 Aintree

Friday 15 June 2018

All17:4518:1518:5019:2019:5520:2520:55

Betfred 'Treble Odds On Lucky 15' Handicap Chase

Off time: 18:50 | Winning time: 6m 22.30s

No Duffer^p,t⁴¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: P J Brennan| T: T R George| OR: 137| D

11/1

Ran a solid race off a similar mark in a veterans handicap chase at Ascot in March when beaten just over 2L by Rathlin Rose (3m soft), and should be strongly considered at a Flat track given his run style (prominent racer).

Form: 5/PP52-5

Upswing^p¹¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: B J Geraghty| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 136| D

14/1

He's not seen much racing since July 2017 (Listed Summer Cup, Uttoxeter), but the forecast ground conditions will suit judged upon his back-to-back wins in April 2017 (3m-3m2f).

Form: 311/806-

Ballyboker Breeze²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 134| BF

7/2

Extended absences have curtailed a once promising career, but the handicapper has given him a chance over fences and we know that he stays very well; up 2lb for his fine comeback Southwell second last month (3m good).

Form: 31217/2

Petrou^p²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 133| BF| C

5/2

A winner on this card 12 months ago (2m4f) he's proved to be a solid acquisition for the Skelton's. Drops back to a Class 3 handicap after being found wanting in stronger races lately; finished 9½L third to Martiloo over 2m4f here latest.

Form: P2244-3

Silver Man^b¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: W T Kennedy| T: J Hughes| OR: 132| CD

28/1

Winner of this race in 2015, he also managed to win around this time in 2017 over a marathon trip at Cartmel (3m5f soft); raced sparingly since, but not over leniently handicapped.

Form: P/610-P5

Fact Of The Matter^t⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 128| DWS

10/3

Seemingly didn't stay the 4m trip in the Scottish National in April, but is a four-time winner from 11 starts over fences (2m4f-3m2f), and has had wind surgery since that latest start.; career best effort required off a mark of 128.

Form: 3013P9-

Knockaderry Flyer⁴⁰⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Lily Pinchin⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 125| D

13/2

A 25/1 winner on his rules debut at Cheltenham in early May (3m1f+ good, Hunters' Chase); has since joined a new trainer and could have more too offer, but the handicapper hasn't taken any chances with his opening mark.

Form: 52P12/1-

Lofgren^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 124

8/1

Better efforts on his most recent couple of starts (2m-2m4f good), but still comfortably held by the winner on both occasions and yet to prove his stamina for this sort of trip.

Form: 565P2-2

Non-Runners

Good Man Vinnie¹⁹

Weight: 10-11| Age: 7

T: P Henderson J: T J O'Brien

Forecasts

Petrou (5/2), Fact Of The Matter (10/3), Ballyboker Breeze (7/2), Good Man Vinnie (4/1), Knockaderry Flyer (13/2), Lofgren (8/1), No Duffer (11/1), Upswing (14/1), Silver Man (28/1)

The eased in grade Petrou is a definite for the shortlist with past course winning form in the book coupled with the fact that the Skelton's are knocking in winners left right and centre, whilst the hat-trick seeking Good Man Vinnie needs more from a upwardly rising handicap mark. However, we'll take a chance on the top-weight NO DUFFER. He likes to front run and at a track which will play to those strengths also has conditions to suit (3m, good ground).