16:40 Aintree

Thursday 3 April 2025

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

Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:41 | Winning time: 3m 54.54s

Tommy's Oscar³³

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 152| D

16/1

Very smart chaser who was successful from this mark at Ayr (16.5f) on final outing of last season. Respectable efforts in trio of starts this time around, off 11 weeks prior to finishing fourth of 9 in handicap chase at Doncaster (16.4f) 33 days ago. Still, others appeal more.

Form: 441-334

Hunters Yarn^t⁸²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: J J Slevin| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152| BF| D

22/1

Multiple bumper/dual hurdles winner who was successful on second of his 3 chase starts during 2023/24. Jumping didn't come up to scratch in 2 starts earlier this season though, and that has to be a concern ahead of this assignment. Tongue strap back on.

Form: 2/F15-6P

My Mate Mozzie^t,p²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 151| D

4/1

Useful on Flat/smart over hurdles and shaping up well in this sphere of late, runner-up at Leopardstown (17f) in February before a smooth travelling fourth in last month's Grand Annual at the Festival. Has a prize like this within his grasp and shortlisted with cheekpieces back on.

Form: 126-324

Gunsight Ridge^t,p⁶¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 145| CD

28/1

10-y-o who bounced back to form in refitted cheekpieces when landing 6-runner handicap chase at Sandown (15.5f) in February, by ½ length from Dr T J Eckleburg. All of his career victories have come in small fields however, and this undoubtedly tougher.

Form: 231-FP1

General Medrano²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Jones| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 143| D

14/1

Mightily impressive when opening his account for the season at Newbury (16.4f) and ran another cracker when runner-up at Doncaster in January. Went well for a long way when eighth in last month's Grand Annual and return to this sharper test at this trip looks firmly in his favour.

Form: 7-21428

Calico^t,p³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 140| D

10/1

Useful handicap chaser who defied a 2 lb lower mark at Cheltenham (15.9f) in the autumn and having shaped better than bare result on penultimate start, he ran creditably when third of 9 in handicap chase at Doncaster (16.3f) 33 days ago. Good showing anticipated.

Form: 4-P1343

The Folkes Tiara^t⁹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 138

10/1

Irish raider who bounced back to best following 7 months off when scoring at Fairyhouse (17f) in November prior to chasing home a subsequent winner at Leopardstown (17f) over Christmas. Career-high mark to defy but he arrives fresh and respected for yard who have landed this twice since 2019.

Form: 18P-012

Dr T J Eckleburg⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 130| D

28/1

Better than ever this season, winning twice, including narrowly at Chepstow in February, all out to hold on. 5 lb higher mark to contend with in this stronger race, but each-way claims nevertheless.

Form: 312321

Sans Bruit^t⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 130| CD

5/1

Fine winner of this race 12 months ago (his jumping slick). Has struggled for any sort of consistency in 6 starts so far this season but steadily fallen back down to last winning mark and may well enjoy his own way up front again back here.

Form: 33P5P4

Primoz^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: P W Wadge| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 130| D

17/2

Very much a chaser on looks and impressive when scoring on return/debut over fences at Wetherby (15f) in October. Hasn't really built on that since but successful in a match at Kelso prior to not being seen to best effect when down the field in Grand Annual 3 weeks ago. Not discounted.

Form: 14F310

Petit Tonnerre^p³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 130| BF| D

7/1

Ended a losing run stretching back 3 years when registering first chase victory at Doncaster (16.3f) in January, well suited by the strong gallop. Brought down through no fault of his own back there 33 days ago and no doubting he has the ability to play a part.

Form: 92661B

Galunggung⁵⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 129| D

25/1

Dual hurdles winner and even better form over fences, doubling his tally in this sphere in 6-runner handicap chase at Carlisle (15.9f, soft) 59 days ago, looking set to score more decisively than the bare margins imply. This tougher but he remains relatively unexposed.

Form: 1-16321

Inedit Star⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁵⁾| T: N Kent| OR: 129

18/1

Dual bumper/hurdles winner in France who ran well when finishing a close up last of 3 in a C&D handicap in December. However, he reportedly bled when fifth of 7 in handicap chase at Sandown a month later and this is his toughest assignment yet over fences.

Form: 222-235

Rath Gaul Hill^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 123| D

6/1

Much-improved over fences this time last year, landing handicaps at Newbury/Ayr and picked up where he left off when bringing up the hat-trick on return at first-named venue 5 weeks ago. Should be well suited by demands of this race (strong traveller) for all he's operating from out of the weights.

Form: 4P211-1

Forecasts

My Mate Mozzie (4/1), Sans Bruit (5/1), Rath Gaul Hill (6/1), Petit Tonnerre (7/1), Primoz (17/2), Calico (10/1), The Folkes Tiara (10/1), General Medrano (14/1), Tommy's Oscar (16/1), Inedit Star (18/1), Hunters Yarn (22/1), Galunggung (25/1), Gunsight Ridge (28/1), Dr T J Eckleburg (28/1)

A whole host arrive with claims and it could be worth chancing one at forecast longer odds in the shape of CALICO. A winner at Cheltenham back in the autumn, Dan Skelton's 9-y-o has returned from a break in good order and appeals as being on a workable mark. My Mate Mozzie has been shaping up well himself and is feared along with last year's winner Sans Bruit, who is on an attractive mark if bouncing back. The Folkes Tiara, Primoz and Petit Tonnerre complete a lengthy shortlist.