13:32 Aintree

Saturday 7 December 2024

All11:4712:2212:5713:3214:0714:4215:17

BoyleSports Home Of The Early Payout Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

4YO plus | Class 2 | 2m 3f 200y | 8 Runners | Turf

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 145| BF| D

Very useful hurdler. Jumping improved as the race wore on when landing a 5-runner listed event on chase debut at Chepstow (19.5f, good) in October. Similar form despite refusing to settle when third in similar company at Cheltenham and of interest now handicapping in this sphere. Down in trip.

Form: 142U-13

Richmond Lake²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 142| CD

Had a prolific period in 2023, completing a four-timer in this race 12 months ago. Seemed to lose confidence in his jumping thereafter but right back to best after 7 months off when fourth in last month's Grand Sefton over the National fences. Respected.

Form: 149F0-4

Grandads Cottage^t²³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: James Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 133| D

Added to his chase tally in a first-time tongue strap at Leicester in January. Backed it up with a good fourth at Kempton the following month and probably remained in form when eighth of 24 in Topham here (21.1f, soft) back in April. Returns with yard in really good nick.

Form: 1/03148-

Real Stone^t²⁷³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Fergus Gillard| T: D Skelton| OR: 128| BF| CD

Took apart a small field with a run under his belt at Haydock (16.3f) 12 months ago. Best effort since when runner-up at Newbury in March but absent since falling at Hereford (2m) later that month. This outing may bring him on. Back up in trip.

Form: 41342F-

No Risk Des Flos^t³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 126| D

Useful hurdle/chase winner who returned from 5 months off/wind surgery with a creditable second behind the very exciting L'eau Du Sud at Stratford (19.4f) 37 days ago. That ought to have blown the cobwebs away and he's lurking on a handy mark.

Form: 3445-92

Salamanca Bay^h,t1¹⁹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 126WS

Headstrong sort who was well served by fitting of a hood when off the mark over fences for Lucinda Russell at Ayr (16.5f) in March. Below best at Cartmel in May (17.3f) and he's undergone wind surgery/fitted with tongue tie ahead of debut for new yard.

Form: 32312-4

Cerendipity⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Jack Tudor| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 122| D

Crucially produced a better round of jumping when running out an authoritative winner on final start of last season at Bangor (20.3f) in April. Shaped as if needing his Wetherby return in October and worth noting he's won second time out for each of the last 2 seasons.

Form: PF351-6

Dr T J Eckleburg¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Conor Ring| T: Evan Williams| OR: 119

Showed the benefit of his reappearance spin at Newton Abbot when proving too strong for his 6 rivals at Haydock (16.3f, soft) 14 days ago. Runner-up that day has bolted up since and he's not discounted as one who's unexposed at this sort of trip.

Form: 2434-31

Non-Runners

Whistleinthedark¹⁶⁰

Weight: 10-13| Age: 9

T: L Morgan J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Springwell Bay (5/2), Richmond Lake (10/3), No Risk Des Flos (13/2), Grandads Cottage (7/1), Dr T J Eckleburg (7/1), Real Stone (8/1), Salamanca Bay (12/1), Cerendipity (20/1), Whistleinthedark (25/1)

SPRINGWELL BAY's failure to settle ultimately compromised his chances late on when third in a listed contest at Cheltenham 3 weeks ago but a well-run race back at this shorter trip promises to see him in a much better light and he could be the way to go now handicapping in this sphere. No Risk Des Flos and last year's winner Richmond Lake both resumed with promising reappearance efforts and head up the dangers.