16:05 Aintree

Friday 8 April 2022

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

Randox Topham Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (GBB Race) (National Course)

Off time: 16:07 | Winning time: 5m 22.89s

Royal Rendezvous^h¹⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 161

8/1

High-class chaser. Three-time winner this term before good second of 4 to Fakir D'oudairies in Clonmel Oil Chase at Clonmel (20.7f) 148 days ago. Can give another good account.

Form: 20-1112

Notebook^t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 159

28/1

High-class chaser who made the most of a good opportunity at Navan on return. Not so good since though, 16¾ lengths third of 6 in Webster Cup Chase at Navan (16f) 27 days ago. Makes handicap debut with bit to prove.

Form: 77-1533

Battleoverdoyen^t⁷⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 157

33/1

Smart chaser who was in the process of running creditably when falling heavily last in Thurles Grade 2 in January. No forlorn hope after his break here.

Form: 6-3012F

Sizing Pottsie^t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 155

28/1

Smart chaser who got right back on track when landing Webster Cup Chase at Navan (16f) 27 days ago by ¾ length from Master Mcshee. Effective over this longer trip and in the mix.

Form: 5P-3U21

Annamix^t⁶¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 154

50/1

It's now twelve runs since his last win in 2020, and he was pulled up in handicap chase at Leopardstown (21.3f) 61 days ago. He needs to bounce back.

Form: 332F5P

Windsor Avenue^b³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Quinlan| T: B Ellison| OR: 150

50/1

Not the most consistent nowadays but back to his very best in first-time blinkers when winning Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster. Pulled up at Kelso since however so others are preferred.

Form: 60-2P1P

Killer Clown^t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 148| D

20/1

Tongue tied and dual winner in 2022, bagging 10-runner handicap chase at Kempton (20.5f) 20 days ago. Can make his presence felt once more.

Form: 3-661P1

Foxy Jacks^p²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Jonathan Moore| T: M F Morris| OR: 144

20/1

Won a valuable 20f handicap at the Punchestown Festival last spring and arrives in decent nick again, doing too much too soon when fourteenth of 24 in Ultima Handicap at Cheltenham (25f) 24 days ago, Enters calculations.

Form: 987P20

Senior Citizen³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| OR: 143| D

11/1

Scored at Market Rasen in October and posted encouraging third after 4 months off in handicap chase at Newbury (19.8f) 34 days ago. Third in this event 12 months ago and another bold showing is on the cards.

Form: 43-4123

Discordantly^p²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 143| D

33/1

Jumped much better with cheekpieces fitted when resuming winning ways in 21f Leopardstown handicap. Pulled up in second-time headgear at Cheltenham since though so others appeal mroe.

Form: P-6F61P

Janika^b1,t⁶⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 143

25/1

Grade 2 chase winner in 2019/20. His seventh of 16 in Grade 3 Cheltenham handicap on New Year's Day shows ability is still there but he was pulled up at Doncaster since. Blinkered first time.

Form: 950-67P

Tamaroc Du Mathan^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142| BF| D

28/1

Very useful winning chaser at his best who wasn't disgraced when second in handicap at Newbury (19.8f) 34 days ago. This demands another step forward, however.

Form: 21U-P52

Snugsborough Hall^h¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: E Walsh⁽³⁾| T: L P Cusack| OR: 142

33/1

Useful chaser who recorded creditable third over hurdles at Downpatrick (18.8f) 19 days ago. This stiffer test should suit so last year's fourth in this contest can make his presence felt.

Form: 094503

Palmers Hill⁷⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 142| D

18/1

Low-mileage 9-y-o who won back-to-back handicaps at Wetherby and Ascot. Disappointed in hat-trick bid at latter track in January but not discounted after a break.

Form: 409-11P

Mister Coffey²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 141| BF

5/1

Useful hurdler last term. Yet to score over fences but has shown better form, badly hampered when excellent second of 20 in Kim Muir Handicap at Cheltenham (26f) 22 days ago. Solid claims.

Form: 74-3222

Riders Onthe Storm^t⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Kielan Woods| T: R Hobson| OR: 140| C| D

33/1

High-class chaser in 2019/20 for Nigel Twiston-Davies. Returned for new yard with good Aintree second but well below par both runs since. Others appeal lot more.

Form: 33P-20P

Regal Encore^t⁴⁸

Age: 14| Weight: 10-4| J: R P McLernon| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 139

66/1

Not the easiest to catch right but useful on his day. Had wind op before good fourth in 3m Ascot handicap in February. More required here, though.

Form: 0P-3984

Fantastic Lady⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 137

14/1

Fairly useful winning hurdler who has taken well to fences with ready handicap wins at Warwick and Bangor before good third of 5 to Pic D'orhy in Pendil Novices' Chase at Kempton (20.5f) 41 days ago. Lacks experience, but can't be ruled out.

Form: 1-56113

Via Dolorosa^b,t⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 137| D

33/1

Useful in France and has matched that form for his present yard in landing 3m handicaps at Southwell and Fakenham. Pulled up in Scottish Grand National at Ayr 6 days ago, so needs to bounce back quickly.

Form: UP611P

Spiritofthegames^p²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 136

14/1

Regular in competitive handicaps and he arrives on back of good third of 15 under a patient ride in Plate at Cheltenham (20.6f) 22 days ago. Figures on a good mark. Player.

Form: 49P933

Francky Du Berlais^t¹⁰²

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

28/1

In fine form last spring/summer when landing the Summer Plate at Market Rasen. Out of sorts at present though, seventh in handicap chase at Chepstow (19.4f) 102 days ago. Hard to warm to.

Form: 316807

Mac Tottie^t³¹

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

8/1

Ended 2020/21 on a high and bagged Grand Sefton over C&D in October. Not so good since though, last of 3 in handicap at Newcastle (23.4f) 31 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 41FP63

Mister Whitaker^t1⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 134| D

50/1

Useful handicap chaser for Mick Channon. Landed a novice at Kelso over hurdles in November but below form over fences last two outings. Hard to enthuse over.

Form: 0-21234

Batcio³³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: T M Walsh| OR: 134

25/1

Dual winner last summer who has continued in good nick, fourth of 14 to Discordantly in handicap at Leopardstown (21.4f) 33 days ago. No forlorn hope.

Form: 105434

Five Star Getaway⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 133| BF

11/1

Useful chaser who scored at Kempton in December. Below form eighth of 14 in handicap chase there 41 days ago though, so needs to get back on track.

Form: 17-7138

Morning Vicar⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N J Henderson| OR: 133| D

50/1

Dual winner in 2020/21 but yet to fire in three runs this term, seventh of 9 in handicap chase at Kempton (24f) 56 days ago. Big step forward is required.

Form: 8U1-5P7

Colorado Doc⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Brace| OR: 132

40/1

Landed a 23f Worcester novice hurdle in October. Useful form without winning over fences since but pulled up at Exeter back hurdling last time. Has something to prove here.

Form: 422P2P

Cobolobo^p,t⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: W T Kennedy| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 132

80/1

Winless since 2020, but he arrives in decent nick, doing too muich too soon when sixth of 9 in handicap chase at Ascot (23.8f) 48 days ago. Not dismissed despite being 3 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 5P-8P26

Pink Eyed Pedro^p,t⁴⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: C Brace| T: D Brace| OR: 132| D

25/1

Useful and largely reliable handicap chaser, though wasn't at his best when last seen in this sphere at Ludlow in October. Fell only outing since over hurdles at Hereford in February and others are preferred.

Form: 32223F

Non-Runners

Romain De Senam²⁰

Weight: 10-4| Age: 10

T: D Pipe J: Philip Armson

Forecasts

Mister Coffey (5/1), Mac Tottie (8/1), Royal Rendezvous (8/1), Senior Citizen (11/1), Five Star Getaway (11/1), Spiritofthegames (14/1), Fantastic Lady (14/1), Palmers Hill (18/1), Killer Clown (20/1), Foxy Jacks (20/1), Batcio (25/1), Pink Eyed Pedro (25/1), Janika (25/1), Francky Du Berlais (28/1), Sizing Pottsie (28/1), Tamaroc Du Mathan (28/1), Notebook (28/1), Battleoverdoyen (33/1), Riders Onthe Storm (33/1), Snugsborough Hall (33/1), Via Dolorosa (33/1), Discordantly (33/1), Colorado Doc (40/1), Annamix (50/1), Windsor Avenue (50/1), Romain De Senam (50/1), Mister Whitaker (50/1), Morning Vicar (50/1), Regal Encore (66/1), Cobolobo (80/1)

Plenty are in with a shout. SPIRITOFTHEGAMES comes here on an attractive mark and is fancied to build on his good recent third in the Plate at Cheltenham when set a lot to do and gain a deserved first win since 2018. Mister Coffey rates a big threat on the back of his excellent Kim Muir second, with last year's third Senior Citizen another who commands plenty of respect. Foxy Jack looks the pick of the Irish challengers and needs considering too.