15:15 Aintree

Saturday 8 December 2018

All11:5512:2513:0013:3014:0514:4015:15

Betway Grand Sefton Handicap Chase (National Course)

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 5m 42.6s

Warriors Tale^t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 147| D

15/2

Ran well for a while in the Grand National and certainly jumped the fences well until eventually stamina unsurprisingly ran out. Well beaten fourth here on return but should strip fitter now and this trip over these fences may be ideal.

Form: 5/U22P-4

Crievehill⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 146

8/1

Dual winner on soft ground last season made a pleasing reappearance at Uttoxeter when second and only beaten 2L. Improving sort and hails from a stable whose runners are usually fine jumpers of these fences.

Form: 24212-2

Voix D'Eau^p,t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Callum Bewley| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 145| D

50/1

Won four times for Harry Fry but all of them on a sounder surface. Tough assignment first time for this yard in a Grade Two here so this more realistic but would have to be concerned about the ground.

Form: 331317

Captain Redbeard¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 144| BF| D

7/1

Loves heavy ground so his first two runs this season on good ground (thirds) represent really solid efforts. Now gets his ground again so genuine contender if he jumps round although he unseated at the seventh in the National.

Form: 121U-33

Catamaran Du Seuil^b²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 142| D

9/2

Won twice on heavy ground last term including final start and showed that progression continues when readily winning first time out at Wetherby on a sounder surface. Fluent jumper so should handle these fences and is respected.

Form: 21421-1

More Buck's^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 137| D

40/1

Ex Paul Nicholls inmate won first two starts for this yard in the summer on good ground but has flopped the last twice at Ffos Las and Ascot. Handles softer ground in the past but recent form concern enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 7-211P7

Shanahan's Turn^t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 135

9/2

Yet to win for this yard but second to stablemate Ultragold over C&D showed he relishes these fences. Not at his best last time but combination of 2m and good ground likely against him. Genuine chance now with ground in his favour.

Form: 892P-37

Kilcrea Vale²³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 135

9/2

Lightly raced last season but ended season with best effort when fourth in the C&D Topham (Shanahan's Turn second). Same mark here so has each way possibilities although more needed to win.

Form: 236254-

Forest Des Aigles^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Henry Brooke| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 134| D

13/2

Won first three starts last season before pulling up at Haydock and not seen again. Showed he remains a horse on the up when winning first time out this season and trainer knows how to get them jumping these fences; chances.

Form: 3/111P-1

Brandon Hill⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: P J Brennan| T: T R George| OR: 130

11/1

Won four times for Tom Lacey and competitive most of last season for this yard albeit without success. Weakened badly on return here and was ultimately tailed off so arrives here with a few doubts.

Form: 23204-5

Tiquer²²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: T J O'Brien| T: A E Jones| OR: 130| BF

40/1

Lightly raced four-time winner seems to go best fresh which is a positive here. Won at Newbury last March before struggling off higher mark. This the time to catch him but career best needed.

Form: 131/714-

Forecasts

Kilcrea Vale (9/2), Shanahan's Turn (9/2), Catamaran Du Seuil (9/2), Forest Des Aigles (13/2), Captain Redbeard (7/1), Warriors Tale (15/2), Crievehill (8/1), Brandon Hill (11/1), Tiquer (40/1), More Buck's (40/1), Voix D'Eau (50/1)

SHANAHAN'S TURN was only just touched off in the Topham last season and having struggled last time out on good ground he can bounce back to form now with the combination of testing conditions and these fences in his favour. Catamaran Du Seuil tackles these fences for the first time but is a very progressive sort so if he takes to them he has a big chance. Also on the up is Crievehill for Nigel Twiston-Davies whose runners are always respected over these fences.