15:00 Aintree

Sunday 28 October 2018

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Monet's Garden Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:03 | Winning time: 4m 51.3s

Frodon^t¹⁹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryony Frost⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 158| DWS

9/2

Rather lost his way after winning a top-class Cheltenham handicap off a 4lb lower mark in January. Has won 7/18 chases overall and returns to action having had a wind op over an ideal trip having won when fresh before.

Form: 321350-

Cloudy Dream¹⁹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 157| D

11/4

Effective when fresh his 2nd in this contest last year was his first defeat in his last three seasonal reappearances. 2m4f looks to be his optimum trip although his finishing attitude can be questioned on occasions; first run for a new yard.

Form: 222235-

Javert³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 149| D

6/1

Winner of four of his last six completed starts he returned from a long absence to win in good style last time (2m4f, good). Two unseats stand in the way of a 4-4 record over fences; he deserves a chance at this level albeit off a career-high mark.

Form: 1U1U1/1

Voix D'Eau^p,t⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Callum Bewley| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 147| D

40/1

Smart handicap chaser (quirky) who took advantage of a slipping mark to land two of his last three starts when with Harry Fry. First run for this new stable (£40,000 purchase) and his recent forcing style will suit this track; up 8lb for last win.

Form: 233131

Flying Angel¹⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 145| CD

3/1

C&D winner (took Grade 1 novice in 2017) but has rather struggled to match that level since in six starts. Fared poorly when last seen (first run back from wind op) over the bigger fences here and questions to answer back on conventional track.

Form: P/54380-

Templehills^h²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 144| D

12/1

Some of his chasing form is useful although his jumping usually leaves something to be desired (four-time winner). Had a simple task on most recent start dispatching two out of form rivals and this will prove far tougher; harsh 7lb rise for last win.

Form: P/241-41

Theo^h⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: S Bowen| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 141| D

12/1

Has an excellent chase record for this yard (4/7) but all his wins have come over fairly easy "summer" fences and these obstacles will be a greater test. Left clear at the final fence last time he's flying far higher here off a career-high mark.

Form: 1U43-11

Value At Risk¹⁹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 138| D

13/2

Frustrating and inconsistent sort who finally made all the chasing pieces fit together when taking a Listed handicap chase at Ayr (2m4) in April. Jumping much better (for a change) the 8lb higher mark here and long break make him a risky player.

Form: 271651-

Non-Runners

Ramses De Teillee¹⁹³

Weight: 10-7| Age: 6

T: D Pipe J: T Scudamore

Forecasts

Cloudy Dream (11/4), Flying Angel (3/1), Frodon (9/2), Javert (6/1), Value At Risk (13/2), Templehills (12/1), Theo (12/1), Ramses De Teillee (20/1), Voix D'Eau (40/1)

There was more quality in last year’s renewal but we are presented with an intriguing contest for all that. Cloudy Dream making his first start for Don McCain is presented with an ideal chance of going one better than last year under what are likely to be optimum conditions but his weak finishing effort does leave doubts. Frodon if he can reproduce his Cheltenham handicap form from earlier in the year is given a big chance especially as his wind has been tinkered with. Several of the others have question marks against them but JAVERT wouldn’t be far off the best of these and deserves his chance at this level. Positive tactics would see Voix D’Eau in a good light on his stable debut.