14:30 Aintree

Saturday 11 April 2026

All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0516:0017:00

William Hill Handicap Chase (Registered As The Freebooter Handicap Chase) (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:34 | Winning time: 6m 27.60s

Leave Of Absence^t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 145| D

11/1

Won a 25f Cheltenham novice chase on reappearance. Better form in defeat since, including narrowly denied by Deep Cave in Silver Cup at Ascot (3m, good to soft) in December. Creditable fifth of 22 in Ultima at Cheltenham latest. Tongue tie back on. Player for yard which won this in 2022.

Form: 1-1P235

Lookaway⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 145| C

7/2

Likeable front-runner who bagged a big pot at Kempton 7 weeks ago, staying on well tackling 3m for the first time. A 6 lb rise demands more again but he has a good history at this meeting, having won a Grade 2 bumper and finished third in Grade 1 novice hurdle.

Form: 13-3311

Konfusion³²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: G Sheehan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 145

20/1

Has taken his form to another level this season, winning 3 times, including the Rehearsal at Newcastle and Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby. Also a good third to Imperial Saint off this mark in Peter Marsh at Haydock in January. Fell around halfway in the Ultima at Cheltenham since.

Form: 1U113F

Bad^p⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 143

18/1

Hasn't always been a strong finisher but has won 3 times at up to 20.5f at Kempton in the last 14 months. Another good run there (20.5f again) when 5 lengths third on latest outing 7 weeks ago. Cheekpieces back on. Whether he possesses the stamina for this trip remains to be seen.

Form: 5-15423

Cruz Control^t¹²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 140| CD

8/1

Has won the last 2 runnings of this race. No impact in 2 outings before Christmas but has dipped to only 1 lb above last year's winning mark. No surprise were he to bounce back to form with a bang.

Form: 4/7P1-6P

Deep Cave⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 140| CD

18/1

Finished last season with success in the 3m handicap hurdle on this card and further progress back chasing this winter making it a cross-code hat-trick in Silver Cup at Ascot in December. Winning run ended in slightly laboured fashion at Doncaster but excuse (bad early mistake) at Kempton since.

Form: 61-1150

Brave Fortune⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 138| BF| D

9/2

A useful winning hurdler who signed off for Pat Doyle with a stylish victory in 25f Roscommon maiden chase last June. Made a promising start to his handicap career for new yard when second of 14 at Thurles (21f, good to soft) in January. Will be suited by the step back up in trip. Considered.

Form: 15-3142

Uncle Bert⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Toby McCain-Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 137| C

10/1

Useful hurdler who resumed his chase career with victory in 2½m course handicap in December. Failed to get home in Welsh National at Chepstow before let down by his jumping at Cheltenham (20.5f) in January.

Form: 159-1F7

In Love^b³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Jordan Gainford| T: H Merienne| OR: 134

50/1

Useful chaser in France but gone over 2 years without a win. Looks on a competitive mark for his first start in Britain but others are still preferred.

Form: 6P-73F4

Josh The Boss^t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Jamie Neild⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 131| C

20/1

Multiple hurdle winner who also scored twice over fences in November. Also runner-up over 2½m here and at Newcastle since but needs to shrug off a poor run in the Greatwood at Newbury. Back up in trip.

Form: 11262P

Mr Hope Street³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 130

4/1

Progressive over hurdles last term. Useful effort on second chase start when third to The Jukebox Man and Iroko in a Haydock graduation event in November and possibly needed it after 4 months off when fourth in 2½m Sandown novice handicap 5 weeks ago. Remains open to progress now back up in trip.

Form: 123-634

Glengouly^v1,t³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: Faye Bramley| OR: 129WS

50/1

Sprung a 33/1 surprise in the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham (20.5f, good). Has shaped better than being pulled up suggests on all 3 starts since but leap of faith still needed after a breathing operation. Also visored first time.

Form: 341PPP

Chance Another One^t⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: E Mullins| OR: 129

15/2

Won first 2 chases, including a 3m Kempton handicap in November, but below-par in a big-field race back there last time. Has a tongue tie refitted now.

Form: 191400

Non-Runners

Imperial Saint³²

Weight: 11-13| Age: 8

T: P Hobbs & J White J: Non Runner

Amirite³⁷

Weight: 11-13| Age: 10

T: H De Bromhead J: Non Runner

Ain't That A Shame⁴²

Weight: 11-11| Age: 12

T: T Ellis J: Jack Andrews

Myretown³²

Weight: 11-9| Age: 9

T: L Russell & M Scudamore J: Non Runner

Stolen Silver³²

Weight: 11-2| Age: 11

T: G Nicholls J: Miss O Nicholls

Forecasts

Lookaway (7/2), Mr Hope Street (4/1), Brave Fortune (9/2), Chance Another One (15/2), Cruz Control (8/1), Imperial Saint (8/1), Myretown (8/1), Uncle Bert (10/1), Leave Of Absence (11/1), Bad (18/1), Deep Cave (18/1), Konfusion (20/1), Josh The Boss (20/1), Amirite (20/1), In Love (50/1), Glengouly (50/1), Ain't That A Shame (66/1), Stolen Silver (100/1)

MR HOPE STREET looks well handicapped on the form of his Haydock third in November and can prove the point now tackling 3m+ for the first time over fences. Brave Fortune is another lightly-raced chaser who likely has more to offer and is second choice ahead of Leave of Absence. The shortlist is completed by Cruz Control, who bids for a third successive win in this.