16:05 Aintree

Friday 9 April 2021

All13:4514:2014:5015:2516:0516:4017:15

Randox Topham Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (GBB Race) (National Course)

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 5m 30.66s

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Selected odds by:

Ibleo²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 157

14/1

Progressed rapidly over fences this season, winning cosily at Sandown/Doncaster before running well to finish a staying-on third in Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival. Worth a go at this trip.

Form: 2-22113

Magic Saint^t⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 157

40/1

Proved better than ever when putting up a high-class effort to win a Cheltenham handicap (2m) in November but disappointed upped in grade at Newbury latest and probably better over a shorter trip.

Form: 7-61445

Two For Gold^p³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 153| D

25/1

Tough and reliable chaser who has finished out of the frame only once over fences. Others look better treated as a result and not the most fluent of jumpers.

Form: 2-2P313

Caribean Boy²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 152

7/1

Taking winner of 20f Newbury Grade 2 in November and caught the eye in the Paddy Power Plate at the Cheltenham Festival 3 weeks ago, coming home well in a steadily-run race. High on shortlist.

Form: 31-1347

Modus¹²⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150| C| D

11/1

Very smart chaser who defied 16-month absence with ready win in 20f handicap chase here in November and fared best of those held up when third in Grand Sefton over C&D following month. Player.

Form: 370/6-13

Robin Des Foret¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148| D

33/1

Strong traveller who often finds less than looks likely but dug deep to snap a long losing run in a minor event at Clonmel last month. Likely will prove vulnerable up this long run-in, though.

Form: 202641

Huntsman Son^t²²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 145| D

16/1

Made light of an 18-month absence with impressive victory in 19f Wetherby listed handicap chase on return and better than bare result at Cheltenham both starts since. Can go well.

Form: 19/2-1P6

Livelovelaugh^t³³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145| BF| D

15/2

Better than ever when placed in handicaps at Leopardstown last 2 starts and took extremely well to these fences when mid-division in the 2019 Grand National (didn't stay). Big run expected.

Form: 637232

Precious Cargo^t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 143

16/1

Failed to meet expectations since impressing on chase debut at Newbury last season but shaped better than the result would suggest when fifth at Warwick 6 weeks ago, making rapid headway.

Form: 123F-25

Glen Forsa²³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Burke| T: M R Channon| OR: 143| D

40/1

Very smart novice in 2018/19. Lightly raced since and mostly disappointing, including in the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival 3 weeks ago.

Form: P/3-F740

Visioman⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 143

12/1

Boasts a good strike rate over fences (4-9) and was in decent heart in the autumn, winning at around 2½m at Kilbeggan and Limerick. Recent return over hurdles should leave him spot on fitness-wise.

Form: 4711P0

Snugsborough Hall^h³³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr Derek O'Connor| T: L P Cusack| OR: 143

20/1

Most progressive as a novice and turned in his most encouraging effort of the season when seventh of 14 in handicap chase at Leopardstown (21.4f, good, 25/1) 33 days ago. Probably no back number.

Form: 4P-4577

Dunvegan²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: B J Cooper| T: P A Fahy| OR: 142

10/1

Creditable fourth on handicap chase debut at Punchestown in November and bounced back from a couple of disappointing efforts (seemingly failed to stay 3m) when third at Gowran. More needed on balance.

Form: 32-4PP3

Kauto Riko^t¹⁴⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: S Bowen| T: T R Gretton| OR: 142

25/1

Winless since 2018 but is very useful on his day and returned after a wind op with good fourth of 16 in 20f handicap at Cheltenham in November, though getting going too late to land a blow.

Form: 8/2520-4

Storm Control^p,t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 140

14/1

Has had an excellent campaign, winning twice at Cheltenham and respectable fifth in Kim Muir. Bold-jumping front-runner who could go well if getting into a decent rhythm over this shorter trip.

Form: 7311P5

Ravenhill Road³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: Ryan Mania| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 138

28/1

Looked at least as good as ever when making all at Doncaster last month. This is much tougher from a 9 lb higher mark, however, and has not always been a fluent jumper.

Form: 14-FF31

Senior Citizen³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| OR: 137| D

10/1

Coped really well with the demands of a big-field handicap when seventh in the Grand Sefton over C&D, impressing with his accurate jumping. Creditable fourth at Newbury since and frame claims.

Form: 14-1274

Pink Eyed Pedro^t³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: D Brace| OR: 137| D

33/1

Likeable chaser but found a good run of form coming to a halt in Grand Sefton over C&D in December and well held back over hurdles 3 months later.

Form: 061308

Relentless Dreamer^p,t²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 10-6| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 137| D

100/1

Sparingly raced in 2018/19 but shaped encouragingly when third at Chepstow on last season's return. Reportedly finished sore on this year's reappearance and well held back over hurdles 3 weeks ago.

Form: 1/3P6-28

My Way^b,t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 134| D

33/1

Blinkered and finally got off the mark over fences when making all in Kempton handicap but was hammered by the handicapper and duly struggled there next time.

Form: 145315

Lust For Glory²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 134

25/1

Twice a winner over fences this season but struggled back in a handicap at Sandown last time and others make more appeal.

Form: 2-41413

Morning Vicar²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 133| D

12/1

Shaped like a non-stayer in the Kim Muir (3¼m) at the Cheltenham Festival so will be suited by dropping back in trip here. Others have more appealing profiles but is not handicapped out of things.

Form: 2F-2178

Realm Keeper¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: R T Dunne| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 131

33/1

Fairly useful ex-French chaser who has finally got his act together for this yard, suited by drop in trip to win at Fontwell and Carlisle. Will find this much more competitive, however.

Form: 74P411

Court Master^p¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: M Scudamore| OR: 129

25/1

Steadily progressive chaser who stayed on strongly to score over 2¾m at Kelso last month. Likeable type but a 5 lb higher mark (2 lb out of weights) in a stronger race demands more.

Form: 8-12461

Sir Jack Yeats^b²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: James Best| T: R Spencer| OR: 127

33/1

Fairly useful chaser who was runner-up in Grand Sefton over C&D but found good run of form coming to an end at Fakenham and struggled back over hurdles next time. 4 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 412387

Zalvados^b,t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 125

66/1

Arrives in good form but is a frustrating sort who won't be suited by this long run-in and is 6 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 28/3412

Non-Runners

Outlander¹²

Weight: 10-2| Age: 13

T: R Spencer J: Darragh O'Keeffe

Tiquer⁹⁰

Weight: 10-0| Age: 13

T: A E Jones J: T J O'Brien

Forecasts

Caribean Boy (7/1), Livelovelaugh (15/2), Senior Citizen (10/1), Dunvegan (10/1), Modus (11/1), Visioman (12/1), Morning Vicar (12/1), Ibleo (14/1), Storm Control (14/1), Huntsman Son (16/1), Precious Cargo (16/1), Snugsborough Hall (20/1), Court Master (25/1), Lust For Glory (25/1), Kauto Riko (25/1), Two For Gold (25/1), Ravenhill Road (28/1), Pink Eyed Pedro (33/1), Sir Jack Yeats (33/1), Realm Keeper (33/1), My Way (33/1), Robin Des Foret (33/1), Magic Saint (40/1), Glen Forsa (40/1), Tiquer (50/1), Outlander (50/1), Zalvados (66/1), Relentless Dreamer (100/1)

Nicky Henderson has won this on 5 occasions and his strong team is headed by CARIBEAN BOY, who caught the eye in the Paddy Power Plate at the Cheltenham Festival. That could prove the key piece of form as Huntsman Son also shaped well. Livelovelaugh took extremely well to these fences in the 2019 Grand National and should make much more of an impact at the business end over this shorter trip.

CARIBEAN BOY (FR)
HUNTSMAN SON (IRE)
LIVELOVELAUGH (IRE)

Prize Money

1st: £58,936.002nd: £22,166.003rd: £11,078.004th: £5,534.005th: £2,782.006th: £1,386.007th: £714.008th: £378.009th: £210.0010th: £105.00

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