16:05 Aintree

Friday 5 April 2019

All13:4514:2014:5015:2516:0516:4017:15

Randox Health Topham Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (National Course)

Off time: 16:07 | Winning time: 5m 32.20s

Janika²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 162| BF

9/2

Multiple chase winner in France and has finished runner-up on all three starts since joining this stable including over an extended 2m4f at Cheltenham (good-to-soft) last time out. One for the shortlist on debut over these fences.

Form: 111-222

Double Shuffle²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 158

33/1

Beaten 1L when runner-up in a 3m Grade 3 handicap at Kempton (good) on his penultimate start. Outclassed at Cheltenham subsequently and is an interesting runner on his return to handicap company.

Form: 4-F252P

Sub Lieutenant^t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 155

25/1

Good short-head second in a Grade 2 event over an extended 2m4f at Thurles (good) in January. Pulled up in a Grade 1 at Cheltenham last time out and has a top jockey booked to ride in this contest.

Form: 11572P

San Benedeto^p,t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 154| C

18/1

Successful in a highly competitive Grade 3 2m4f handicap chase on good-to-soft going at Newbury early last month. Raised 7lb for that victory and represents a leading stable in this contest.

Form: 634601

Cadmium¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152

8/1

Victorious in a 2m Grade 3 chase at Naas (good) in February and finished a good second over the same trip at Navan (soft) subsequently. Represents a top stable but stamina to prove over this distance.

Form: 134412

O O Seven^b²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 151

20/1

First start since wind surgery when winning over 3m at Doncaster (good) in December. Well beaten twice subsequently and mixed fortunes in two previous starts in this contest (fourth in 2017 and pulled up 12 months ago).

Form: 0P3-190

Adrien Du Pont^t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 151

12/1

Returning from a break when finishing 5L third in a Grade 3 handicap chase at Kempton (3m, good) in February. Previously a winner over the same C&D and is one to note on his first start over these fences.

Form: 2F-4713

Peregrine Run^b¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: B J Geraghty| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 151| D

14/1

Finished a good second in a hurdle over an extended 2m7f at Thurles (good) last month on his return from a break. Top jockey in the saddle once more and is an interesting contender on his return to fences.

Form: 123142

Activial²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: T R George| OR: 150

16/1

In good form so far this season and not beaten far when finishing sixth in a big field over 3m1f at Cheltenham (soft) last time out. Drop in distance no issue but likely to find a few too good off this mark.

Form: 321266

Mercian Prince³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 146| D

33/1

Impressive 17L winner of a four runner chase over an extended 2m4f at Kempton (good) in January. Well beaten at Newbury (2m4f, good-to-soft) subsequently however and others hold stronger claims.

Form: 05-6718

Woods Well^p³³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 142| D

20/1

Returned to form with victory in a valuable handicap chase over an extended 2m5f at Leopardstown (good-to-yielding) early last month. More needed if he is to follow-up in this contest.

Form: 100901

Ballyhill⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 142| C| D

9/1

Successful over the Mildmay fences here in a soft ground 2m4f handicap chase in December. Run well in defeat since and represents a stable who have done well over these fences in the past.

Form: 821333

Bigmartre^p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: L P Aspell| T: H Whittington| OR: 142| D

40/1

Fair 7L third in a small field event over an extended 1m7f at Wincanton (good) in February. Struggled at Cheltenham last month however and others hold stronger claims in this contest.

Form: 1-6P430

Flying Angel^t,v²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 142| C

10/1

Returned from a break with a promising 7L fifth in a Grade 3 3m1f handicap chase at Cheltenham (soft) last time out. Races off the same mark here but looks the stable second string on jockey bookings.

Form: 628755

Fact Of The Matter^p,t²³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 140

66/1

Had wind surgery following a victory in a 3m6f cross-country race at Cheltenham (good) in December and finished well beaten over that same C&D last month. Best form has come over much further than he races over on this occasion.

Form: 22F218

Doitforthevillage^t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Henderson| OR: 140

25/1

Placed twice from three starts since winning over an extended 2m3f at Chepstow (soft) in December. Usually ridden with restraint and racing off a mark 7lb higher than for that Chepstow victory.

Form: 631230

Polidam¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140

25/1

Well beaten when sent off favourite for this race 12 months ago and handicap mark is falling following some heavy defeats so far this season. Remains on a mark 4lb higher than for his latest success.

Form: 4-40703

Indian Temple^p²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: T Reed| OR: 136| D

50/1

Finished runner-up in a four runner contest over an extended 2m4f at Musselburgh (good-to-soft) last month on his return from a break. Finished seventh in this race 12 months ago and more needed if he is to improve on that.

Form: 216352

Henryville²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: R T Dunne| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 135| D

33/1

Put a couple of non-completions behind him when finishing runner-up in a 3m handicap chase at Fakenham (good-to-soft) last time out. Taking a marked step up in grade and racing from out of the handicap.

Form: 069PU2

Divine Spear⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 135

33/1

Pulled up on seasonal debut at Cheltenham (good-to-soft) in January and finished well beaten at Sandown subsequently. Useful jockey in the saddle but looks up against it from out of the handicap.

Form: 5/112-P0

Call It Magic^b⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: M A Enright| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 135

6/1

Good 6L second in a small field contest over an extended 2m7f at Fairyhouse (good-to-yielding) last time out. Previously fourth over these fences in the 3m2f Becher Chase in December but is racing from out of the weights.

Form: 37-7042

Highland Lodge^p¹¹⁸

Age: 13| Weight: 10-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: James Moffatt| OR: 135| C| D

50/1

Winner over 3m2f here in December 2015 but has failed to score since and was a faller early on when racing over the same C&D on soft ground back in December. Has run well fresh however and is interesting despite racing from out of the handicap.

Form: P2P/3P-F

Equus Secretus³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: J E Moore| T: B Pauling| OR: 135

66/1

Hurdle and point-to-point winner has placed on two of his three starts over fences including at Huntingdon (good) just over a month ago. Lacks the experience of many of his rivals and is racing from out of the weights on handicap debut.

Form: 136-252

More Buck's^t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 135| D

66/1

Ludlow handicap chase winner over 2m4f on good ground in January but disappointing since and finished 17L last of four at Leicester (2m4f, good) in first time blinkers (absent here) last time out. Racing from out of the handicap.

Form: P7P1P4

Forest Des Aigles^t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 133| D

22/1

Winner over an extended 2m5f at Ayr (good) in November and best effort since came when finishing runner-up on soft ground over an extended 2m there last time out. More needed from out of the weights.

Form: 1P-1572

Beau Bay^h,t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 132

66/1

Held in recent starts including in a 2m handicap chase at Hereford (good-to-soft) last month. Stamina to prove stepping up in distance and racing from out of the handicap.

Form: 641655

Kilcrea Vale^p³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 132

16/1

Well beaten third in first time cheekpieces (retained) in a 3m handicap chase at Ludlow (good) at the end of February. Others hold stronger claims racing from out of the handicap.

Form: 54-3583

Non-Runners

Born Survivor⁹⁴

Weight: 10-6| Age: 8

T: D Skelton J: Non Runner

Voix D'Eau²²

Weight: 10-0| Age: 9

T: Miss Lucinda V Russell J: Callum Bewley

Dimple⁴¹

Weight: 10-0| Age: 8

T: A M Thomson J: Sean Quinlan

Forecasts

Janika (9/2), Call It Magic (6/1), Cadmium (8/1), Ballyhill (9/1), Flying Angel (10/1), Adrien Du Pont (12/1), Peregrine Run (14/1), Kilcrea Vale (16/1), Activial (16/1), San Benedeto (18/1), Woods Well (20/1), O O Seven (20/1), Born Survivor (20/1), Forest Des Aigles (22/1), Sub Lieutenant (25/1), Doitforthevillage (25/1), Dimple (25/1), Polidam (25/1), Double Shuffle (33/1), Henryville (33/1), Mercian Prince (33/1), Divine Spear (33/1), Bigmartre (40/1), Highland Lodge (50/1), Indian Temple (50/1), Voix D'Eau (50/1), Beau Bay (66/1), Fact Of The Matter (66/1), Equus Secretus (66/1), More Buck's (66/1)

Top weight JANIKA can register his first victory since joining this yard by taking a highly competitive renewal of this valuable handicap chase. The selection has shown good form over further since joining this stable and can get the better of Adrien Du Pont who ran well in a Grade 3 handicap last time out. Third place can go the way of the veteran Highland Lodge who has won over these fences in the past.