15:20 Aintree

Saturday 10 November 2018

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

Racing UK Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 3m 55.10s

Positively Dylan²⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Aspell| T: Evan Williams| OR: 137| D

16/1

Won takingly at Wetherby last January in a small field handicap but fell early next time out at Haydock and errors were again costly next when a remote second of five at Fakenham. Still lightly raced over fences but must jump better here.

Form: 33U1F2-

Baby King^t¹⁹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 136| CD

11/1

Winner of this last season bounced back from a couple of below part efforts when winning a three-runner contest at Perth to close the campaign. 4lb higher than last year and likely much quicker ground but not ruled out.

Form: 1825P1-

Robbing The Prey¹⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 135| D

14/1

Made all and won quite comfortably at Haydock in final start last season (2m3f, good) taking record to two from five over fences. 5lb rise for that far from harsh and starts out for new yard here with realistic claims.

Form: F/2163-1

Mcgroarty^t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 135| BF| D

5/1

Won back-to-back starts at Huntingdon and Southwell before falling when infront in a two-runner race at Ludlow. Hopefully that leaves no mental scars because he is clearly an improving sort and represents a bang-in-form yard.

Form: 65-511F

Theflyingportrait^t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J Candlish| OR: 135| CD

9/1

Gained seventh chase victory at Wetherby last time out where not for the first time he showed a liking for good ground. Also previous C&D winner on good off this mark so plenty of reasons to be optimistic here.

Form: 742531

Tommy Silver¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135| D

9/2

A winner on good to firm last season, he couldn't add to that in six subsequent starts. Recent return saw him well beaten by useful Modus at Cheltenham and yet to compete in three handicaps.

Form: 32P3-05

I'dliketheoption^t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: B J Geraghty| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 132| D

14/1

Wins at Worcester and Newton Abbot this summer followed by second and third at same venues since raised to this mark. Still quite lightly raced so open to more improvement although it is needed here.

Form: 641123

Luckofthedraw^h²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 132| D

7/2

Won one of three over hurdles and jumped well apart from a mistake at the first when making a successful chase debut at Carlisle last month. By top chase sire and looks likely to be much improved now for fences so big player here.

Form: 13412-1

Yorkist^t⁵³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 130| D

14/1

Three-time chase winner missed all of last season so returns here from 18-month absence. Mark falling but not persuasive enough to chance after such an absence.

Form: 1344/23-

Mercian King¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 123| BF| D

11/1

Consistent sort but arrives here on a career high mark after recent second at Worcester which followed a win at the same course. In form and race fit so has positives but little doubt this is a tougher ask.

Form: 232612

Burrenbridge Hotel³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: T J O'Brien| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 122| D

10/1

Dual winner last season was held up too far back by a 10lb claimer on return at Worcester behind Mercian King although he kept on well for fourth. Should get closer to that rival off revised terms but still plenty to do overall.

Form: 112P3-4

Forecasts

Luckofthedraw (7/2), Tommy Silver (9/2), Mcgroarty (5/1), Theflyingportrait (9/1), Burrenbridge Hotel (10/1), Baby King (11/1), Mercian King (11/1), Yorkist (14/1), I'dliketheoption (14/1), Robbing The Prey (14/1), Positively Dylan (16/1)

LUCKOFTHEDRAW looked a chaser to follow when winning on his debut over fences at Carlisle and Nigel Twiston-Davies youngster can overcome lack of experience here to defeat more exposed rivals. There are plenty of solid rivals however if his inexperience tells and chief among them is Mcgroarty who may well have landed a hat-trick but for falling last time out. Theflyingportrait is another arriving in good form and he also has a previous C&D win to his name off this handicap mark.