14:40 Aintree

Saturday 10 November 2018

All12:2513:0013:3514:1014:4015:2015:55

Rewards4Racing Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 4m 55.1s

Warriors Tale^t²¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 149| D

16/1

Most of his best form at around 2m4f although won over 3m as a novice. Headed late on in 3m Skybet at Doncaster last season before not staying in the Grand National. Handicap not impossible especially over this sort of trip so respected.

Form: 15/U22P-

Hell's Kitchen^h,t²⁷⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: B J Geraghty| T: H Fry| OR: 145| BF| D

4/1

Lightly raced (eight starts) but showed ability when beating smart Mister Whitaker (won all 3 subsequent including Cheltenham Festival) over 2m4½f last season at Kempton. Pulled-up next as if something amiss but looks very fairly treated now.

Form: 23/2U1P-

Mercian Prince²⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 143| D

16/1

Won twice last season at Kempton (2m4½f) and Wetherby (2m3½f) before coming up well short at Cheltenham and Ayr. Handicap eases back a little but probably remains high enough for a contest such as this.

Form: 381105-

King's Odyssey²⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: L P Aspell| T: Evan Williams| OR: 139| D

6/1

Four starts last season all resulted in third placed finishes, the latest at the Cheltenham Festival. Handicap remains one he can be competitive from but below par in only previous run on good ground so that the concern.

Form: 30/3333-

Romain De Senam^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 138| BF

10/3

Won first two starts last season at Chepstow and Stratford but struggled a little subsequently. Shade disappointing return fourth at Market Rasen but now 1lb lower than last win and given his relative youth he should be capable of that level again.

Form: 15507-4

Kauto Riko²¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R Gretton| OR: 137

20/1

Won first two chase starts and first past the post in third although subsequently disqualified and placed second. Found out here next in Grade One but still open to more improvement as he now steps up in trip from 2m.

Form: 23/11D5-

War Sound¹⁹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 136| BF

11/2

Made the frame in seven of his eight starts last season without success having missed all of the previous season. Seconds in last three starts not done him any favours and starts out here 3lb higher than latest.

Form: 234222-

Captain Chaos¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 135| C

25/1

3m1f win here last term one of three over 3m plus. Outclassed in last start last season here in Grade One and two very disappointing runs to start this season make him now hard to fancy.

Form: 1415-00

Candy Burg^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 134| D

14/1

Dual French winner over fences claimed out of Olly Murphy's stable when gaining second chase win for that yard latest at Ffos Las over 2m3½f. Steps up markedly in class here but still unexposed and four from five over fences.

Form: 7-3P171

Some Invitation^p,t¹⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 133| BF| D

12/1

Won first start over fences last season although only two of three finished. Subsequently pulled up at Kempton, fifth at Cheltenham and last (of 17) at Uttoxeter. Plenty of question marks here.

Form: 16/1P5-0

Martiloo^t¹⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 123| BF| CD

10/1

C&D win in May (good) following on from a win at Ayr was very impressive. Fourth next although possible 3m more than 8lb rise the reason for that step back. Up in class here but liking for course and ground plus progressive profile give her claims.

Form: 234-114

Non-Runners

Bouvreuil²¹¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: B Haslam J: R P McLernon

Forecasts

Romain De Senam (10/3), Hell's Kitchen (4/1), War Sound (11/2), King's Odyssey (6/1), Martiloo (10/1), Some Invitation (12/1), Candy Burg (14/1), Warriors Tale (16/1), Mercian Prince (16/1), Kauto Riko (20/1), Bouvreuil (20/1), Captain Chaos (25/1)

HELL'S KITCHEN's victory over Mister Whitaker last season could hardly have worked out better and although he under-performed next he starts this season a potentially very well handicapped horse so makes the most appeal here. Paul Nicholls runs two here and both have claims with the currently well handicapped Romain De Senam particularly dangerous off this mark. Improving mare Martiloo takes a step up in class but could be capable of overcoming it with conditions ideal.