17:55 Aintree

Friday 19 May 2023

All17:2017:5518:3019:0519:4020:1520:50

Watch Aintree Live On Racing TV Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:56 | Winning time: 4m 56.21s

The Big Bite^p⁷⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 139| C| D

15/2

Useful sort on his day and back to that level in first-time headgear when narrow winner of Greatwood Gold Cup. Had a bit more in hand than bare margin suggests (idled) that day so must be respected up 4 LB.

Form: P24/P81-

La Domaniale²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 132| D

14/1

Successful 3 times switched to fences last summer and hasn't really been seen to best effect either outing this year, shaping as if amiss at Warwick before probably doing too much too soon at Cheltenham last time. Shouldn't be written off.

Form: 212146-

Presentandcounting³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 132| D

5/1

Prolific over fences in 2021/22 campaign, winning 5 times in novice company before enjoying another productive summer last year, winning another 4-times over timber. Shaped well after 6-month break at Cheltenham last time and he's fancied to add to his impressive strike rate here.

Form: 211136-

Jemima P²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Ben Jones| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 132| D

20/1

Lightly raced since winning 4 times in 2021 but shaped as if back in form when third of 7 in handicap chase at Chepstow (19.4f, good) 21 days ago. Now back at last winning mark.

Form: 11/2353-

Brief Times^t⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 131| D

5/1

Comfortably landed 3-runner Plumpton novices' handicap (19.7f) in November but compromised his chance with a bad blunder on Boxing Day on next outing and was too lit up at Newbury last time. Others make more appeal.

Form: 2/22153-

Captain Tom Cat³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 128| CD

5/2

Developed into a pretty smart chaser in 2021/22, successful 4 times, including in this race. Ran better than for a while from a much-reduced mark when runner-up at Plumpton (19.8f, soft) in April but unseated at Cheltenham next time, Still rates as a player.

Form: 7P762U-

Grandeur D'ame⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 127

13/2

Winning hurdler who dug deep to open his account in this sphere at Huntington in January and followed up from the front at Stratford (17f, soft) in March. Found life tougher when unable to dominate at Warwick last time and he'll need to improve.

Form: 6/37115-

Shang Tang²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 125| D

10/1

Useful hurdler who made winning start over fences in a 21f Newton Abbot novice in September 2021 before finishing fourth in this race last season on return from an 8-month break. Off another 12 months before returning over hurdles at Kempton last time and could still do better as a chaser.

Form: 5101/46-

Barton Knoll⁸⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Mackie| OR: 120| BF| D

12/1

Beaten only a nose in this race last season and ran well enough when second in a 4-runner event at Doncaster (19.1f, good) 86 days ago. Remains tricky to win with, though.

Form: 3/24452-

Forecasts

Captain Tom Cat (5/2), Presentandcounting (5/1), Brief Times (5/1), Grandeur D'ame (13/2), The Big Bite (15/2), Shang Tang (10/1), Barton Knoll (12/1), La Domaniale (14/1), Jemima P (20/1)

PRESENTANDCOUNTING has been prolific over both fences and hurdles and has slipped in the weights, so is fancied to regain the winning thread after a recent pipe-opener at Cheltenham. The Big Bite is still potentially well treated after his Newbury success, with Captain Tom Cat and La Domaniale others to consider in a strong contest.