14:05 Aintree

Saturday 3 December 2022

All11:4512:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:15

BoyleSports Becher Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (National Course) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:07 | Winning time: 6m 50.97s

De Rasher Counter¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 147| D

20/1

Showed he still retains his ability when second in 3m Warwick veterans' event 17 days ago. Suffered an unlucky unseat at the first Canal Turn in the Grand National in April on his previous attempt over these fences.

Form: P2/4U-52

Francky Du Berlais^t⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 147

50/1

Found plenty for pressure when landing a second win in the valuable Summer Plate at Market Rasen in July. Ran a stinker over hurdles at Cheltenham in October but he's capable of bouncing back and his Topham fourth in the spring shows he acts around here.

Form: 153120

Snow Leopardess¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: B S Hughes| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 146| CD

16/1

Proved some sight over these fences when edging out Hill Sixteen in this 12 months ago. Followed up in listed race at Exeter in February but she never got in a rhythm when pulled up in Grand National on final start. Pulled up after mistake and rider lost irons first on Warwick reappearance.

Form: 6/111P-P

Hill Sixteen^t⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 145

12/1

Took to these fences very well when narrowly denied by Snow Leopardess in this 12 months ago. A good third on his Kelso reappearance 6 weeks ago suggests he could be set to make another bold bid in this race.

Form: 2P42U-3

Fortescue²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Hugh Nugent⁽³⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 145

33/1

Useful chaser who relished the emphasis on stamina when landing a listed handicap at Ascot (3m, heavy) in February. Should be sharper for a reappearance run over hurdles but he produced a laboured effort in the Grand National in April and these ground conditions may not be testing enough for him.

Form: 7231U-4

Recite A Prayer^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 144| BF| D

20/1

Three wins since switched to fences last autumn, the latest in a Killarney handicap in May. Arrives on the back of good placed efforts in the Kerry and Cork Nationals this autumn. Respected for top Irish stable.

Form: 12-1023

The Jam Man^p,t1⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁵⁾| T: R McNally| OR: 144| D

33/1

Has drawn a blank since his Troytown win at Navan in autumn 2020 and was well behind Recite A Prayer in the Kerry National at Listowel in September. Also down the field on the Flat since. Tongue tied first time. Others are more obvious.

Form: 4200-08

Fantastikas²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 141| BF

14/1

Largely progressive novice chaser last term and he showed up well for a long way in a 27f Cheltenham handicap on his reappearance 3 weeks ago, although his jumping was a bit ragged. Stable no stranger to success over these fences.

Form: 2317P-6

Cloth Cap^p,t⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 140| D

33/1

Classy stayer but has seen a promising career derailed by apparent physical problems, reportedly bled when pulled up in Grand National final start. Didn't see his race out again when fifth on his reappearance here (Mildmay Course) in October. Too much to prove.

Form: 46R3P-5

Dr Kananga^t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Ben Jones| T: Ben Clarke| OR: 140| D

8/1

Progressive chaser last season, winning 3 times. Switched to hurdles on his reappearance and ran well for second in a 23f Bangor novice. That should put him spot on for this. Potential for better still and high on the shortlist.

Form: 25112-2

Ashtown Lad²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 138

5/1

Useful hurdler who showed similar form over fences last season, shaping better than bare result when fifth of 23 in Scottish Grand National at Ayr final start. Warmed up for this with a good reappearance run over hurdles. Big player for his very much in-form yard.

Form: 14235-3

The Wolf^t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Adrian Heskin| T: O Murphy| OR: 138

14/1

Strong stayer who found just one too good in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh in February. Unable to make a telling impact held up in the Scottish National 2 months later but back on track when second on his 25f Cheltenham reappearance 6 weeks ago.

Form: 2/4227-2

Gesskille^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 137

4/1

Ex-French chaser with a progressive record for this stable, winning 3 of his first 4 starts. Improved again in defeat when edged out in Grand Sefton over these fences (21f) last month and of major interest with the return to further a help if anything.

Form: P11-212

Rapid Flight¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny McMenamin| T: James Moffatt| OR: 137

40/1

Likeable sort who won 5 chases at Cartmel during the summer. Found the concession of plenty of weight to a good prospect beyond him in a Hexham novice last time but he ran with credit in second. Stable won this in 2015.

Form: 1111U2

Fagan³⁵⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: D R Fox| T: A M Hales| OR: 137

100/1

Low mileage for age and resumed winning ways in emphatic fashion at Newbury in January. Good second in veterans' event at Warwick on return but struggled in a Grade 3 handicap at Cheltenham since.

Form: 6317/2P-

Captain Kangaroo^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: J B Foley⁽³⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135

16/1

Came good over fences when seeing off 16 rivals, including reopposing stablemate Recite A Prayer, in the Cork National (3½m, heavy) 27 days ago. Can likely be competitive off his new mark but he is prone to the odd jumping error.

Form: 664421

Enqarde^t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 134| D

33/1

Progressive over fences in recent years, landing Tommy Whittle at Haydock last term and ending campaign with creditable second there. Well beaten over hurdles on his reappearance but better can be expected returned to the larger obstacles.

Form: P/51P2-6

Domaine De L'Isle^b,t²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: K C Sexton| T: S Curran| OR: 132| D

33/1

Winless last season and he's beaten only a couple home in a handicap hurdle/chase this time round. Refitted blinkers will need to make a big difference.

Form: 20UP-69

Five Star Getaway²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 132

7/1

Useful chaser who scored second time up last season. Below best towards the end of the campaign, including in the Topham here, but his reappearance run at Bangor was encouraging. Not discounted for a yard which has plundered quite a few valuable handicap chases in recent seasons.

Form: 71380-4

Percussion^p,t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: G Sheehan| T: L Morgan| OR: 130| D

10/1

Revitalised by cheekpieces/tongue strap when scoring twice at up to 3m at Southwell in the spring. Made a solid return from a break when third (Gesskille 8 lengths ahead in second) in Grand Sefton here 4 weeks ago. Was out of the handicap on that occasion and runs off effectively 3 lb lower now.

Form: 841-123

Didero Vallis¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Miss Lucy Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 127

14/1

Useful chaser but he proved hard to predict last term, third in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival but pulled up here (Mildmay Course) final start. Respectable third on Exeter reappearance. Has completed on both previous starts over these fences without performing to his best.

Form: 4843P-3

Minella Bobo^p,t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 120

66/1

Low-mileage 9-y-o who made all at Ffos Las (3m) in May 2021 but has been well beaten on all 3 outings since, pulling up at Bangor last month. His claims aren't obvious.

Form: 15/17-0P

Non-Runners

Now Where Or When²⁹

Weight: 10-11| Age: 7

T: S R B Crawford J: L P Dempsey

Forecasts

Gesskille (4/1), Ashtown Lad (5/1), Five Star Getaway (7/1), Dr Kananga (8/1), Percussion (10/1), Hill Sixteen (12/1), Fantastikas (14/1), The Wolf (14/1), Didero Vallis (14/1), Snow Leopardess (16/1), Captain Kangaroo (16/1), Recite A Prayer (20/1), De Rasher Counter (20/1), Now Where Or When (25/1), Fortescue (33/1), Cloth Cap (33/1), Enqarde (33/1), Domaine De L'Isle (33/1), The Jam Man (33/1), Rapid Flight (40/1), Francky Du Berlais (50/1), Minella Bobo (66/1), Fagan (100/1)

GESSKILLE took really well to these fences when narrowly denied in the Grand Sefton and is taken to go one better now stepping back up in trip. The Dan Skelton stable has notched big chase wins on the last 2 weekends and Ashtown Lad heads the dangers on the back of a solid reappearance run over hurdles. Dr Kananga, another who should be sharper for a recent spin over hurdles, likely has more to offer over fences and is also on the shortlist along with last year's runner-up Hill Sixteen.