12:25 Aintree

Saturday 8 December 2018

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

Betway Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:25 | Winning time: 5m 10.2s

Chef D'Equipe^h³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 135| D

9/2

Heavy ground winner in January only ran once more last term. Encouraging reappearance effort when a close second of 13 at Newbury. Handicap raised again to new career high but likely his best days remain ahead so respected here.

Form: 36517-2

Ballyhill²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 134

7/2

Fell last time at this course but won a warm Cheltenham contest next before seemingly losing his way. No show on return this season but much better next when second over hurdles and now just 1lb higher than last win so chances here.

Form: 109P-82

Granville Island²⁷⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 132| D

14/1

Won final three starts of last campaign going up a total of 19lb for his trouble. Competitive off this sort of mark in his prime in 2015 but would suggest he will struggle now especially first time out.

Form: 443111-

Creep Desbois²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: B Pauling| OR: 131

14/1

Fakenham winner last season ran well next before disappointment at Haydock. Unseated rider on return and fell when running loose so would have to be a risky proposition now.

Form: 05126-U

Cave Top⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 129| D

9/1

Three-time hurdle winner last term on good to soft and heavy ground made an uninspiring start to his chasing career at Carlisle when ninth of 10 beaten 21L. More to come for sure but hard to be confident on basis of that run.

Form: 15582-9

Caltex⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J McGrath| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 127

5/1

Built on promise of first two chases when running away with a Downpatrick contest before falling next at Listowel for Gordon Elliott. Starts out for new yard here but has few miles on the clock and genuine potential off this mark.

Form: 6-0421F

Lord Bryan^t²⁰²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 126

7/1

Three-time chase winner on soft and heavy ground last term showed he remains competitive off this sort of mark with a good third when last seen. Returns to action here and capable of going well if ready for last year's winning yard.

Form: P7311-3

Katachenko^b1³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 125| C| D

6/1

Previous course winner in 2016 but not won since. Beaten a nose in this race last year although failed to fire afterwards and in first two starts this season. Softer ground here will help and big danger 6lb lower than last year.

Form: 26F-446

Bestwork¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 124| D

33/1

Six-time chase winner but five of those on good and the other good to soft so ground conditions here a major concern. Last three efforts below best and trip on short side so plenty of doubts overall.

Form: 312P05

A Place Apart⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: James Bowen| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 122

10/1

Irish raider landed the spoils in his first chase race at Kempton in October despite not always jumping fluently. Since finished fourth twice in hurdles contests back home but of interest back over fences and left handed track will suit better.

Form: 021144

Forecasts

Ballyhill (7/2), Chef D'Equipe (9/2), Caltex (5/1), Katachenko (6/1), Lord Bryan (7/1), Cave Top (9/1), A Place Apart (10/1), Creep Desbois (14/1), Granville Island (14/1), Bestwork (33/1)

BALLYHILL showed signs that he is on his way back to form when second over hurdles at Bangor last time out and Nigel Twiston-Davies charge could now be ready to return to the winners enclosure back over fences off a mark just 1lb higher than his Cheltenham win last term. Katachenko was beaten a short head in this race 12 months ago and now arrives 6lb lower so has to be considered, most of his best form comes at this track. Also on the shortlist is Chef D'Equipe after an encouraging return and as a six-year-old Philip Hobbs charge could be open to further improvement this season.